30Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey 11 Comments

One for My SQL Sisters

Misc
Women, for the entire male half of the population, I apologize. Those who know me well recognize, pretty easily, that I am hardly "politically correct." My mode of address can be blunt and even rude. But... I think it's also recognized that I'm very even-handed with my blunt statements. Female or male, if you have in some way crossed me, I'm generally pretty clear about letting you know. So while I absolutely have prejudices (and I won't get into what I think mine are), they are not around Male/Female abilities. Yes, there are differences between the sexes coming from a million+ years of biology and Darwinism, but by & large, especially when talking about cognitive abilities, we're evenly matched. In the computing world, I'm an "old guy." With three or…
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29Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Windows Azure SQL Database and Throttling

Azure
When I present on Windows Azure SQL Database, one of the biggest concerns comes up around throttling. Just the concept that your queries might be shut down because they use too many resources tends to freak people out. I'm not sure why. I think we ought to have the same facility in the on-premises product. But, Microsoft recognizes that this is a concern and that people need better information. A new set of documentation around this topic was recently posted. Read Resource Management in Windows Azure SQL Database to get a great overview of how the throttling works and how to detect it. There is more and more information coming out on this all the time. I learned quite a few things from this documentation. Remember, the most important thing…
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28Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Learn Query Tuning in Dallas

SQL Server, T-SQL
I am excited to be able to tell you about an all day seminar that I'll be putting on prior to the Dallas SQL Saturday #255. The seminar will be on November 1, 2013. It's called Query Performance Tuning in SQL Server. We're going to cover the topic from an understanding of the optimizer to collecting data using extended events to reading execution plans and then on to lots of standard problems and their solutions. If you sign up before September 21st you can get a substantial early-bird discount, so I'd jump on it. Also, seats are limited, so don't wait too long. Let's get together and talk query tuning.
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27Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey 1 Comment

Check Your Azure Account Usage

Azure
It is absolutely not cool or fun to pay money to learn new technology. One of the main complaints people had for learning Azure (and AWS for that matter) is that they had to register with a credit card and actually put their own money on the line to try stuff out. One could argue that maybe a cost to learning isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, there were a number of horror stories of people inadvertently being charged hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars because they didn't track their usage. If you register your Azure account through MSDN, that problem is completely eliminated.  No credit card at all, and a free account that can never cost you money. But, there is a budget, a cost limit, that you have…
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26Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey 3 Comments

Make the PASS Summit Work For Your Employer

PASS
It was pointed out to me that since PASS is such a huge networking event, any employer would be crazy to send a good employee to the event. They'll just come back and hand in their two weeks notice. You know, that's entirely possible. But, let's not confuse networking with job hunting. Funny enough, while I did get my latest job while at the PASS Summit, it wasn't through the personal network that I had built up over the years of going to, and speaking at, the Summit. I use that network as an extensive knowledge base. If I have a question about Availability Groups, I have at least three different people I can reach out to. If I get stuck on some internals question, I have other individuals I…
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23Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

SQL CAT is on the Move

Misc
Not a big deal really, but they're consolidating from the SQLCAT.COM to put everything on MSDN. Read all about it here. I love the SQL Customer Advisory Team. They tackle some of the hardest problems out there and then tell us about how they did it. That's a resource you can't ignore.
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22Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey 2 Comments

Get Started with Windows Azure SQL Database

Azure
Learning new things can be daunting. First, you have to come up with the spare time. Then you have track down resources. For computers, computing and programming, this is both extremely easy and extremely difficult. That difficulty is especially true when it comes to gathering resources for learning things that, while you learn, are potentially going to cost you money. It's a difficult decision to make to risk cash on exploring a new technology. Here's the good news, for several reasons, you don't need to sweat this to get going with Windows Azure SQL Database (WASD). A couple of years ago Jamie Thompson (b|t) set up an account on Azure, all on his own, that allowed people to connect up to it and play with a copy of the AdventureWorks…
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21Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Speaking this Fall

PASS, Redgate Software
I've been at home through the whole month of August, restingworking hard, but it's time to get on the road again. First up, it's off to San Diego for two events. On Friday, September 20th, Red Gate (my Lord and Master) is hosting a free afternoon session of training. Steve Jones (b|t) and I will be walking through several sessions oriented towards the DBA and the skill sets they need to get things done. It's a free event, training done the Red Gate way, so register here, get some free training, a little networking and finish up with a frothy beverage. Then it's off to SQL Saturday San Diego the next day, Saturday, September 21st. As I write this, they haven't posted the schedule, so I'm not sure what session I'll be doing,…
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19Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Azure Changes, While I’m Working

Azure
My laptop is out for repair. I'm working currently on a Surface Pro instead. It's spurred me to do something I've been meaning to do anyway. I've started setting up a full demo & testing VM on Azure. I already had the VM up and running (it takes 5 minutes for crying out loud), but I hadn't bothered setting up Red Gate software on it and getting it fully prepped to support my work, demos, or whatever else I might need. But, I finally did. It's working out surprisingly well. I just have to remember to shut the silly thing down when I'm done with it or it does start to bite into my MSDN credit. Anyway... I was working on the VM for a big chunk of the day…
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15Aug 2013 by Grant Fritchey 3 Comments

Azure and Your MSDN Account

Azure
I've heard over and over again that the reason people don't want to learn Azure, to explore it, to understand where it's applicable to them and their business (and where it's not, because, it does have well-defined limitations) is because they don't want to pay for it. Fine. Don't. Do you have an MSDN account? What? You do? Then you have access to a credit in Azure and an account with a spending limit. Your credit level is dependent on what level of MSDN you currently subscribe to, but who cares. You not only will NOT pay anything to play in Azure, you will NEVER pay anything. You can't go beyond your limit. Want some more incentive (not that you should need any now)? Cool. Set up your Azure account…
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