Chaos or order?

Managing objects in large and small installations of SQL Server can be a job in itself at times. In particular, for the DBA, objects we create on the instances we manage more often than not are found littered over the user and system databases. These objects more often are found in the master database in SQL Server. Really, why not put them there? We are the “masters” over the database server right? SSMS has this quality to it that when we connect to it, we get the master database glaring us in the face by default just like a booby. So o...

The SQL Saturday in Chicago team has been working pretty hard lately on the schedule. It was difficult to complete due to all of the sessions being so good. I was close to trying a two day event so we could get all ~70 submissions up the weekend of April 17th.



You can now see the schedule up on the SQL Saturday site

Over the last few weeks I have been working on the task of bringing an Oracle database into my SQL Server landscape. The basic process that needs to be accomplished is to get this Oracle database pumped into the existing SQL Server structure primarily to address the reporting aspect and requirements. The software that utilizes the Oracle database could easily sit in their own little world without much need for us to go outside that shell but given my completely SSRS reporting structure, there is a need to build off the new data store for the users taking into account the completely native...

I’ve found that many companies find out what true Disaster Recovery is only in the presence of a true disaster. Obviously this is not a very optimal time to start thinking about what could have done to keep the money flowing through the veins of the company.

In the near future I will be writing a series based around DR. The series will be mostly geared towards your SQL Server instances and some tricks and tips to make recovery quicker for you. I'll also be touching on some important factors that are not commonly part of planning. Some of those are

• DBA obj...

One thing these days that there is not a shortage of is tools to monitor, tune and process our database servers. We have all the big wigs providing you with dozens of packaged utilities that ensure everything you have worked hard for stays where it is and meeting your hard 99.999999% availability goals. So is that a good thing? Obviously using these tools are a good thing and they make DBAs look that much better with real-time proactive performance tuning and preventative actions before issues are even issues. The one thing I think it bad with all these bells and whistles is the concept...