eZines and eBooks for SQL Server professionals

Chapter2: Gearing up for SANs on a SQL Server

Using iSCSI SANs on a SQL Server can improve performance, reduce infrastructure costs and facilitate system scalability. Get details on how to configure an iSCSI SAN for optimal SQL Server performance and growth.

View all three chapters available in this ebook.

SQL Server consolidation: Why, when and how to consolidate SQL Servers
A SearchSQLServer.com eBook
By Hilary Cotter
December 13, 2006

Chapter 1: The case for consolidation

Many SQL Server shops suffer from uncoordinated installations, wasted hardware and licenses, lack of standards and security holes. In this chapter we look at the causes and pitfalls of SQL Server sprawl. 20 Apr 2006

• Defining consolidation
• Causes and pitfalls of SQL Server sprawl
• How consolidation can help
• What to consolidate: Servers and storage
• Key consolidation questions to ask

Download chapter 1

Chapter 2: Planning your consolidation

You've reviewed the benefits and decided to consolidate your SQL Server databases. But how should you approach the project? 21 Jun 2006

• Plan early
• Six steps to consolidation
• Identify candidate servers and databases
• Review version, software and hardware dependencies
• Consolidate on the 32-bit vs. 64-bit
• Consolidate on single vs. multiple instances

Download chapter 2

Chapter 3: Performing your SQL Server consolidation

You've learned the benefits of SQL Server consolidation and the necessary steps to perform the move. Now it's time to put that wisdom into practice and design your own SQL Server consolidation. 13 Dec 2006

• Consider dependencies in your design
• Know the role of stored procedures
• Develop a test environment
• Migrate and consolidate
• Time to test
• Deploy to production
• Stabilize new environment

Download chapter 3

eZine: SQL Server INSIDER

Utilize Analysis Services partitions and aggregations
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Baya Pavliashvili
Feb. 21, 2008

Microsoft Analysis Services offers two powerful features for tuning query performance. In this SQL Server INSIDER, get familiar with two powerful features: partitions and aggregations. Improve your analytical applications with partitions to divide data into manageable chunks, and aggregations that are pre-calculated summary values MSAS uses at query execution time – rather than scanning partition files and getting summary values on the fly. Read this latest ezine article and achieve the best possible performance in MSAS with step to:

• Partition a measure group
• Build useful aggregations
• Implement MSAS wizards
• Utilize Aggregation Manager

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 7

Selecting the right SQL Server recovery model
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Denny Cherry
Sept. 14, 2007

SQL Server database administrators must have a backup and recovery strategy in place and they must be certain it's the best plan for their SQL Server environment. Choosing the right recovery method is imperative for minimizing, or even preventing, data loss. In this edition of SQL Server INSIDER, expert Denny Cherry examines the backup and recovery strategies available and discusses how to make the correct decision for your SQL Server environment. Read this ezine from SearchSQLServer.com for tips on selecting the right backup method. Learn how to choose from the six main backup methods in use today:

• File-level backups
• Full backups only
• Full backups with differentials
• Full backups with transaction logs
• Full backups with differentials and transaction logs
• File group backups

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 6

Designing databases for performance
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Baya Pavliashvili
July 15, 2007

SQL Server database architects and administrators have many choices to make if they want their applications to perform well right from the start. To ensure successful database performance, it's important to make the good choices during the design phase, in order to avoid post deployment problems. In this edition of SQL Server INSIDER, expert Baya Pavliashvili discusses how to make database design decisions that will optimize performance. Read this ezine from SearchSQLServer.com for tips in designing a database that contains appropriate:

• Data models
• Data types
• Indexing strategies
• Code modules
• High Availability options

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 5

New security model in SQL Server 2005
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Michelle Gutzait
May 15, 2007

Security at the server level is typically the responsibility of the DBA or developer, rather than an organizational initiative. With this in mind, Microsoft added a number of security features to SQL Server 2005 intended to make it an easier task.

The new security model in SQL Server 2005 defines two main security objects – principles and securables. In this edition of SQL Server Insider, expert Michelle Gutzait reviews the new security model in SQL Server 2005 and argues the importance of defined security standards and ways they should be applied, managed and controlled. Read this ezine from SearchSQLServer.com to get SQL Server security information about:

• Security configurations for SQL Server
• Surface area configurations
• Data encryption
• The strength of the new schema model and more!

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 4

Backup and recovery in SQL Server 2005
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Hilary Cotter
March 20, 2007

It's essential that database administrators have a reliable backup and recovery plan for their SQL Server databases. Microsoft reports that the majority of its support calls are incidents that were preventable if DBAs had been following best practices. This ezine examines new database backup and recovery methods and also includes articles on SQL Server 2005 performance and upgrade management. In this issue, you'll find:

• New backup and recovery methods for SQL Server 2005
• Partition indexes for improved SQL Server 2005 performance
• SQL Server upgrade hurdles

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 3

Search Me: Using SQL Server Full-Text Search
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Hilary Cotter
January 31, 2007

The full-text search built into SQL Server 2005 is a hugely powerful feature that can improve the performance of your databases. With an index that's remarkably like the only you'll find in the back of a reference book, your users can find the content they seek swiftly, by concept as well as by spelling. A search for "color" can find "colour", if you like, and the keyword "chocolate" can return results that include "cocoa." In this ezine, you'll find:

• FTS advantages
• Create a full-text catalog
• Tables using T-SQL
• Indexes using the Wizard
• XML in FTS
• Testing FTS

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 2

How to build a SQL Server cluster (and keep your hair, too)
A SearchSQLServer.com ezine
By Geoff Hiten
December 14, 2006

Clusters help you run a highly available SQL Server, but setup requires a whole bunch of steps. We walk you through the process, and help you make the right configuration decisions before you click on Install. In this ezine, you'll find:

• Cluster basics
• Networking concerns
• Configuring storage
• Installing the cluster
• The final setup
• Live talk with Geoff (podcast)

Download SQL SERVER INSIDER issue 1