21Nov 2011 by Grant Fritchey 3 Comments

Installing SQL Server 2012 RC0

Uncategorized
Very short informational post. If you’re like me and you’ve been running the public Client Technology Preview (CTP3) of SQL Server Denali, uh, I mean 2012, then the news about the release of RC0 is pretty exciting stuff… until you realize that you’re going to have to tear down your virtual test machine, removing the CTP in order to prep for the install of RC0. I love playing with the toys, but I hate working on the toys, if you know what I mean. Great news. You can upgrade from CTP3 to RC0 in place. I know because I’ve done it. When you run the install and you get to the screen that asks what type of install you want, select Upgrade, as highlighted below: I know it doesn’t say…
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18Nov 2011 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Thank you

Misc
I somehow made the Top 10 Community Choice Bloggers in the SQL Server Magazine 2011 awards (keep scrolling to the bottom). This was evidently a write-in list and some of you who read my rambling attempts to understand this SQL Server stuff thought enough to actually write down this blog. I’m completely and utterly gobsmacked, humbled, surprised… and yeah, happy. #6 …. Wow! Thank you. Gotta go get some posts written now.
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07Nov 2011 by Grant Fritchey 2 Comments

Meme Monday: SQL Family

Professional Development
Tom LaRock’s (blog|twitter) question this month: What does #sqlfamily mean to me? Wow… Geez Tom, couldn’t you ask a hard question for once? Hmmm… Just saying #sqlfamily and a whole series of images of people flashes through my head. And those images are accompanied by all sorts of fun, amazing, interesting situations. And you know what, they’re all very positive. I don’t have flashes of people I dislike or bitter acrimony or really strange relationships. In short, maybe it’s not a family. I have a huge, complex, and very extended real-life family. When I compare that to my #sqlfamily, parts of the real family don’t shine quite so bright as that #sqlfamily does (parts, of course, shine brighter, I love my family). The #sqlfamily is impressive. I get so much…
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07Nov 2011 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Book Review: Guerilla Leader, T.E. Lawrence and the Arab Revolt

Professional Development
As part of my commitment to read and review 12 books in an effort to be active in my own personal development, a commitment made on the SQL Cruise back in June, I’ve completed another book, Guerrilla Leader: T. E. Lawrence and the Arab Revolt by James J. Schneider. This was not the book I was scheduled to read. I’m still reading it, but, frankly, it’s boring. This book came to my attention, a history book that is also an exploration of leadership, and I got excited. I’ve long been a student of history and I’ve had a fascination for World War I for a long time. I have over twenty books on the subject that I’ve read. So the chance to combine reading about a subject that I already…
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25Oct 2011 by Grant Fritchey 6 Comments

SQL Server XQuery Against Execution Plans

SQL Server, T-SQL
One of the greatest things about all the DMOs is how you can combine the information they present to you with execution plans. It allows you to see what a query is doing, even as it’s executing, because the plan is created first. I couldn’t possibly emphasize enough how important that’s going to be in your day-to-day troubleshooting. Even better is the fact that you’re going to be able to make use of XQuery to pull useful information out of the execution plans that are in cache. Or are you? Here’s a query to pull some information out of the procedure cache: SELECT  deps.type_desc, deps.last_execution_time, deps.execution_count, deps.total_logical_reads, dest.encrypted AS EncryptedText, dest.text, deqp.query_plan, deqp.encrypted AS EncryptedPlan FROM    sys.dm_exec_procedure_stats AS deps CROSS APPLY sys.dm_exec_sql_text(deps.sql_handle) AS dest CROSS APPLY sys.dm_exec_query_plan(deps.plan_handle) AS deqp WHERE  …
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24Oct 2011 by Grant Fritchey 5 Comments

I Can’t Go To Space

Redgate Software
If I could win the DBA In Space contest, I’d be all over it like white on rice. But I can’t win (and yes, that grinding sound you hear is my teeth, not tectonic plates). But, one of my friends might. I already know several of them that have entered. Maybe you can’t win either (what’s up with Tennessee anyway), or maybe you don’t want to win (I don’t understand this stance, but I know it’s out there). But you know what? Your friends probably do want a chance to slip the surly bonds of earth. Give it to them. It’s easy. Step 1: Get five (5) friends to register for the contest. Step 2: After they register, send their names & email addresses to dbainspace@red-gate.com. Done. Send in five…
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17Oct 2011 by Grant Fritchey 4 Comments

PASS Summit 2011: Wrap-Up

PASS
Another Summit done gone by and I’m exhausted. You know you did the Summit correctly if you’re crawling onto the plane to leave because you can no longer stand. That’s where I was on Saturday. I’m going to go ahead and write down a few thoughts about the Summit, but I want to point you over to Andy Leonard’s (blog|twitter) blog for what is a truly great summary. I won’t blame you if you read that & skip this. Still here? This year the Summit was amazing. I think it’s probably the best run Summit I’ve attended. From registration on Sunday night, to the final sessions on Friday, everything was dealt with in a timely and professional fashion that made the place a joy to attend. Huge kudos to the…
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17Oct 2011 by Grant Fritchey 1 Comment

Extended Events Data

Uncategorized
I’ve been working quite a bit over the last week or so with extended events in Denali. The sheer magnitude of what you can do with extended events is just becoming clear to me. The interesting thing though is how much the basics are similar to trace. Similar mind you, not the same. For example, the best way to gather trace data is to output it to a file and then read the file into a table for later querying. It’s the same with extended events. There’s even a function that acts as a table: SELECT * FROM sys.fn_xe_file_target_read_file ('C:\APath\Query Performance Tuning*.xel', NULL, NULL, NULL); This can take advantage of roll-over files just like the old function used for traces. You can also provide offsets to read a sub-set of…
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14Oct 2011 by Grant Fritchey 4 Comments

PASS Keynote Day #3: Dr. Dewitt

PASS
And we’re off. We opened with a video of people saying “Connect, Share, Learn” and “This, is Community” Rob Farley & Buck Woody came out with a song about long running queries. [8:20]Wayne Snyder has been working with the PASS organization since 1999. He spoke at the first PASS Summit and he’s been on the board forever. He has finally hit the point as immediate-past president where he has to leave the board. We’ve got a great little thank you for him from all sorts of people. Wayne is a magnificent guy, seriously. If you see him, thank him for his service. [8:28]We have a new executive committee, Bill Graziano as President, WHOOP, Douglas McDowell is Executive Vice-President and Thomas LaRock is VP of Marketing and finally, Rushabh Mehta is…
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13Oct 2011 by Grant Fritchey 3 Comments

PASS Summit Day 2–Key Notes

PASS
Bill Graziano has come out on stage, looking marvelous, in a traditional kilt and stockings. Thanks Bill. For those who don’t know, Day 2 at the Summit every year is Kilt Day. [8:19]Outstanding volunteers being recognized are Tim Radney and Jack Corbett. These are some outstanding people who work their bottoms off for the PASS Community. If you meet them, thank them. The 2011 PASSion Award goes to Lori Edwards. She’s simply amazing. Congratulations Lori and thank you for all the work you’ve done! [8:23]Time to eat our vegetables. We’re looking at the financials. It’s a slightly painful process, but important to understand where the money goes since this is a non-profit organization managed by volunteers. You should understand where the money comes from and where it goes. [8:25]Quentin Clark…
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