💠SQL Server: SQL Server 2012 is almost here [new feature]

I was quite quiet for the past 3-4 months, and this not because of the lack of blogging material, but lack of time. Instead of writing I preferred reading, diving in some special topics related to SQL Server (e.g. tempdb and security), in the near future following to post some of my notes. For short time I was busy learning for ITIL® v3 Foundation Certification, the topics on Knowledge Management giving me more ideas for several posts waiting in the pipe. I started also the online “Introduction to Databases” course offered by Stanford University, attempting thus a scholastic approach of the topic, of importance being the material on Relational Algebra, material I didn’t had the chance to study in the past.

From my perspective, during this time two  important events related to SQL Server took place – the launch of AX Dynamics 2012 and, more recently, the introduction of SQL Server 2012 at PASS (The Professional Association of SQL Server) 2011.

SQL Server 2012

At PASS Summit 2011 were disclosed 4 of the newest SQL Server Products: SQL Server 2012 (code Denali), Power View (code Crescent), ColumnStore Index (code Apollo) and SQL Server Data Tools (code Juneau). The PASS 2011 streamed sessions are available online with quite interesting materials on SQL Server topics like application and database development, database administration and deployment, BI, etc. If you want to learn more about SQL Server, check the CTP 3 Product Guide, which contains datasheets, white papers, technical presentations, demonstrations and links to videos, or the SQL Server 2012 Developer Training Kit Preview (requires Microsoft’s Web Platform Installer).

Dynamics AX 2012

Because lately I’ve been spending more and more time with Dynamics AX, Microsoft’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution, I’d like to include related content in my posts, at least presenting resources if I can’t get yet into technical stuff. As its backend is based mainly on SQL Server, AX is the perfect environment to see SQL Server at work, or to perform configuration and administration activities. In addition, AX material (best/good practices, methodologies, various other papers) related to SQL Server could be extended to other environments. I’m saluting Microsoft’s decision of making available publicly more Technet and MSDN content, previously most of the technical content being accessible mainly though Microsoft’s Partner Network and Customer Network. A good compilation of resources is available on AX Technical Support Blog and Inside Microsoft Dynamics AX blog.

As pointed above, recently was launched Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 (see global and local launch events).  It’s interesting to point out that, with this edition, SSRS becomes the reporting platform for AX, a considerable step forward.

Books

In what concerns the free books there are 3 free “new” appearances: Jonathan Kehayias and Ted Krueger’s book Troubleshooting SQL Server: A Guide for the Accidental DBA (zipped PDF), which provides a basic approach to troubleshooting, Fabiano Amorim’s book on Complete Showplan Operators (PDF, Epub), and Ross Mistry and Stacia Misner’s Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (PDF, requires registration).

💠🛠️ SQL Server: Learning Resources

During the past weeks I found several interesting learning resources on SQL Server 2008 topics, so here they are:

For those interest to upgrade their knowledge to SQL Server 2008 R2 Edition check the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Update for Developers Training Course videos on Channel9. They cover topics like Location Awareness, CLR Integration, StreamInsight, Reporting Services, Application and Multi-Server Management, improvements on BLOB, T-SQL and tools for Excel 2010 or SharePoint 2010.

The ER diagrams of SQL Server’s DMVs or DMFs are available for download as PDF at SQL Server 2008 Systems Views Map, and the same for SQL Server 2005, respectively SQL Server 2008 R2. Even if not all objects and possible relations are shown, they could still save you from lot of effort as the diagram depicts the relations between the most important entities and the cardinality existing between them, plus the additional constraints participating in the joins. The entities represented: Objects, Types and Indexes, Linked Servers, CLR, Database Mirroring, Service Broker, Resource Governor, Transactions, Databases and Storage, Traces and Events, Execution Environment, Server information.

There are several free SQL Server books on SQLServerCentral.com coming from Redgate: A. Kuznetsov’s Defensive Database Programming, B. McGehee’s SQL Server Maintenance Plans, How to become an Exceptional DBA, Mastering SQL Server Profiler and Brad’s Sure Guide to SQL Server 2008, J. Magnabosco’s Protecting SQL Server Data, G. Fritchey’s SQL Server Execution Plans and SQL Server Crib Sheet Compendium (coauthor with A. Prasanna), R. Landrum’s SQL Server Tacklebox, plus several volumes of ‘Best of SQL Server Central’ authors in Vol. 1-4, Vol. 5, Vol. 6 and Vol. 7, and several other books to come.

It seems there are a few new books also on Scribd website: R. Colledge’s SQL Server Administration in Action, R. Vieira’s Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Programming, M. Lee and M. Mansfield’s SQL Server 2008 Administration Instant Reference, plus many other books that can be retrieved by searching SQL Server 2008 on the respective site.


There are several papers coming from Microsoft and several professionals. It worth to check them:
-   K. Lassen’s paper on Using Management Data Warehouse for Performance Monitoring, in which he provides several best practices for performance management of SQL Server 2008. Except the introduction in Management Data Warehouse features, he provides also an extension of the built-in functionality for indexes, plus several functions and queries.
-  D. Kiely's paper on SQL Server 2008 R2 Security Overview for Database Administrators covers some of the most important security features in SQL Server 2008. There is a similar paper targeting SQL Server 2005.
-  B. Beauchemin’s paper on SQL Server 2005 Security Best Practices - Operational and Administrative Tasks describes the best practices for setting up and maintaining security in SQL Server 2005.
-  SQL Server 2008 Compliance Guide a paper written to help organizations and individuals understand how to use the features of the Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 database software to address their compliance need.
-  SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide essential phases, steps and best practices to upgrade existing instances of SQL Server 2000 and 2005 to SQL Server 2008.
-  Technet Wiki Checklists on Database Engine Security, Database Engine Security, Database Engine Connections and  Data Access. (probably more to come)
-   Also Microsoft maintains a list of White Papers on SQL Server 2008, respectively SQL Server 2005.

Market Review: What's New around the World

Instead of Introduction

    May is gone and it was quite a stressful month because given the fact that I had to start with a new job, a new position I will have to grow in, I had also to find a new apartment, move, install myself, so I barely had time for my blogs, the little time I had spending it reading stuff related to the new requirements, trying to improve my German, etc. Even so, I found a few interesting resources, adding them to the pile of other interesting links I collected over time. So, I realized that maybe it makes sense to group some of them in a set of postings under the title “What's New (In My World)”, hopefully they will be of interest for other people too.

Free Universities and Resources for SQL Developers & Co.

    I was kind of positively surprised to discover that several known authorities in their fields opened their own online Universities for the masses, a new free formal form of study on the web that takes advantage of the latest trends in online learning – webcasts, PowerPoint presentations, blogging posts, online communities, new technologies and applications, etc. The most unexpected appearance is the SQL University having as faculty known professionals and bloggers like Jorge Segarra, Adam Machanic, Pinal Dave or Kendal Van Dyke, to mention only the ones whose blogs I previously known, but also others not less important professionals. The posts cover topics like SSIS, PowerShell, parallelism, database administration, etc. and I find them quite a useful resource of knowledge not only for beginners but also for experienced professionals.

   Early this year I discovered the BeyeUniversity that currently offers a series of 5 free certificate programs for BeyeNetwork members, covering Business Intelligence related topics, the online video courses having an easy to follow format, the content being approachable also by non-professionals. Between the instructors could be recognized Bill Inmon, one of the pioneers in data warehousing, leading the course on Unstructured Data and being also a columnist in BeyeNetwork newsletters, several others webcasts with him being also available. Ralph Kimball, the other important personality in the area of data warehousing has opened the Kimball University and even if its courses are not free, on his website could be found a big collection of articles reflecting the ideas of his school of thought. 

   The MIT OpenCoureWare initiative is quite old, though maybe not so many people know that there are made available also courses on Database related topics, for example Database Systems, Database, Internet, and Systems Integration Technologies or Data Mining, the lecture notes and study materials offering a high level overview of the concepts related to the mentioned subjects. Some of the other courses offer also video or audio content, though more such resources could be found on YouTube EDU, Academic Earth, Lecturefox or similar resources, being covered a growing range of database related topics. Similar such resources could be found also with a simple search using the favorite search engine, many Universities have made available online, voluntarily or involuntarily their text, video or audio lecture notes.

Microsoft News

    With SQL Server 2008 R2, Visual Studio 2010 and MS Office 2010 Microsoft closes a new cycle of releases, the products reflecting Microsoft’s philosophy and the degree to which the company made it to hold their promises. It will be interesting to see how the products will be regarded by professionals and press, how they fit in the general technology trends, how they could be used together in order to provide highly scalable and available solutions. I really hope that Microsoft have made some important steps in bridging the gaps existing in their tools integration on 64 bit version, and that the new added functionality makes a difference.