Two Book Recommendations

PowerShell, SQL Server
I have two new books that I can heartily recommend. This isn't a review of either book since I've only just started reading them. However, I've used each to solve a couple of small problems within a day of having them on the shelf. To me, that proves their worth. First up is Michael Coles new book "Pro SQL Server 2008 XML." I'm still a bit jittery with XQuery... OK, I have a hard time writing XQuery and I have to look up how to do every step and I still get things wrong. Anyway... There are two entire chapters devoted to how to use XQuery and an appendix with an XQuery & XPath reference. Great stuff. Look for an extended review several weeks from now after I've had a chance to…
Read More

SQL Server Standard Writing Guidelines

Misc
Well, actually, these are the guidelines for submitting anything to SQLPASS, but it includes the guidelines for SQL Server Standard. If you're considering submitting an abstract (and please, don't consider it, do it) read through there for the basic information. I've accepted six different abstracts so far on a variety of topics. It's going to be some good stuff from some really smart people. A sampling of topics includes; expanded use of tally tables (table of numbers), designing partitioning schemes (I'm looking forward to this one), multi-level SSIS project dependency and communication, how to read and interpret execution plans (not by me), and a full description on triggers. We need more. If you've got writing experience, please, write an article for SQL Server Standard. Abstracts are all that is required…
Read More

Excellent Blog List

SQL Server, T-SQL
For the one or two you that are not reading Buck Woody's blog (and why aren't you), you may not have seen that he's posted a recommended reading list of the blogs that he reads on a regular basis. This list must be reviewed by you, now. Go on, I'll wait here till you get back.
Read More

SQL Quiz 5: SANs Mirroring

SQL Server
My turn to answer Chris Shaw's questions "Do I feel I have a reliable SAN solution?" and "Describe Database Mirroring for the layman?" Thanks Tim. I've a feeling you're going to be disappointed. SAN: Hell, how should I know? Want to talk about a black box? Our SAN, as far as I'm aware, is run by a group of crack-shot ninja assassins and powered by pureed virgin unicorn. This strange mix of esoteric skill, magic and blood is evidently able to provide us with just about perfect up time. Once, one of the ninja's must have gone rogue (speculation) and had to be put down by his brother ninjas because we had a drive disappear on the cluster server. It took us a couple of hours, but it recovered as if it…
Read More

Some Statement Start Times!

SQL Server, T-SQL
I thought I had captured statement start times within the DMV sys.dm_exec_sessions. I was absolutely wrong. However, this has sparked a bit of discussion, as you can see in the link to my correction. John Vanda (I couldn't find a blog by him, but I think this is his LinkedIn profile), suggested possibly joining between the sys.dm_exec_requests and sys.dm_tran_active_transactions through the transaction_id available in the requests DMV. He ran a series of tests that showed it to be promising. I re-ran my original test, a few long-running statements within a batch; BACKUP, CHECKDB, etc.. This time I captured the transaction information along with the other DMV's. The results were interesting. Rather than pull together any particular set of data as I was testing, I just collected all three DMV's once…
Read More

Microsoft Thrive

Misc
I was introduced to the Thrive program when my user group held a Thrive event back in March. Since then I've referenced some of their material several times. It's a decent little program from Microsoft to try to help out IT pros in this tough economy. Hopefully this won't create a circular reference and bring down one or more web sites, but I got picked to be the IT Pro of the month for August over at Thrive. Nothing comes with it except ever-lasting glory (measured in weeks).
Read More

Active August #2

Misc
Hrmmm... 198. Up four pounds. That just doesn't seem possible. I did a tabata on Monday. I did have a light workout on Thursday, but I went walking several days this week and I haven't been overeating (except last night at sushi...hmmmm sushi). It may just be last night & a bit of water. However. I will try to be more aware of my intake and try to get an extra workout or two in during the coming week.
Read More

Pain of the Week Webcast

Misc
Thursday this week I get to hang out, virtually, with some of the heavy hitters of the industry, Brent Ozar, Ross Mistry and Kevin Kline. We'll be talking about SQL Server books. Writing them, reading them, reviewing them, finding the right one at the store... It'll be fun. All the details are on the Quest web site.  Come and see why I have a perfect face for radio.
Read More

SQL Server Standard

Misc, PASS
PASS is relaunching the SQL Server Standard with a wholly new approach and format. I'll put more out about it as it becomes available. I just wanted to get the word out now, as far and as wide as I can. Basically submissions are open for articles. We're only interested in publishing experienced writers who've published in some other tech-reviewed medium (Simple-Talk, books, SQL Server magazine, the old SQL Server Standard, are a few examples).  If you're interested, send me a direct tweet @GFritchey or an email to grant.fritchey -at- sqlpass.org. All the details will be published soon over at the PASS web site. Short info for those interested: experienced writers who are members of PASS abstracts can be 4-6 sentences describing the thrust, scope & length of the article…
Read More