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Month: January 2010

What’s In Your Bug-Out Bag?

Last Updated February 9, 2017

Backup and Recovery, Processes and Practices

In a recent webcast on disaster recovery planning for small businesses, I talked about building a bug-out bag. My Bug-Out Bag Every IT professional should have a bug-out bag in the trunk of their car with enough stuff to let them hit the road for 24-48 hours straight. This gear helps you react more confidently to…

BSOD-T

SQL Azure Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated March 13, 2018

Microsoft Azure

On Monday 2/1, SQL Azure goes commercially live. Microsoft’s charging for service now, and that means it’s officially official. I talk to a lot of enterprise DBAs, project managers, and developers about SQL Server in the cloud. Here’s some of the questions I get asked most often. What is SQL Azure? SQL Azure is Microsoft’s…

The Usual Suspects

Book Week: The Politics of Writing Books

Last Updated April 14, 2010

This week, I’ve talked about the economics of writing books, interviewed Robin Goldstein about The Wine Trials, and interviewed Tom LaRock about his upcoming book. This week I’m finishing off the series with my thoughts about the mental costs involved in writing a book. First Things First When my book contract with Wiley/WROX was initially…

Tom LaRockStar

Book Week: Interviewing Tom LaRock on Writing

Last Updated February 12, 2017

This week I’m focusing on books – writing, publishing, and marketing. So far I’ve covered how to make (or lose) money writing a book and how the Wine Trials might work as a business model, and today I’m talking to a first-time author. Enjoy! Tom LaRockStar Tom LaRock needs no introduction, but you know that…

SQL Server 2008 R2 Release Date: May 2010

Last Updated March 14, 2010

The Data Platform Insider just broke the news: “Today, SQL Server 2008 R2 received an official release date. It will be listed on Microsoft’s May price list, and will be available by May 2010.” You can read the full press release on the DPI blog, and read carefully. It notes that customers with Software Assurance…

The Wino and The Wine Trials

Book Week: The Wine Trials 2010 Review

Last Updated January 22, 2010

The Wino and The Wine Trials When I reviewed the first edition of The Wine Trials, I called it “a wine book for donut lovers,” saying: “I don’t have a very sophisticated palate (mmm, donuts) and I gotta think there are some wines that basically taste good to everybody – like, well, donuts. You don’t…

Book Week: The Economics of Writing a Book

Last Updated February 13, 2017

Book Reviews, SQL Server

This week I’m focusing on books and the book business. Today I’ll be covering the money thing for authors, and tomorrow I’ll be reviewing a book I like for both the content and the business. Enjoy! Now that I’m holding a physical copy of our book in my hand, the pain of the experience has…

Typical BBS Menu

You may ask yourself, How did I get here?

Last Updated June 7, 2020

Paul Randal (Blog – @PaulRandal) tagged me in a post about the three events that brought him here. I had to think about this one for a while, and I even talked it over with Erika. Discovering BBSes Typical BBS Menu Long before the public got access to the Internet, I was logging onto Bulletin…

John Jones of NetApp

Chicago #SQLPASS Meeting Recap

Last Updated February 12, 2017

John Jones and Ray LaMarca of NetApp came to the Chicago PASS Chapter tonight, and John did a presentation about storage performance. One of my measures of a good performance is the number of questions asked during the presentation, and John’s presentation was definitely a winner there. Lots of good questions. John Jones of NetApp…

Free Day-Long Virtual Event for SQL Server

Last Updated January 14, 2010

SQL Server training, come get your fresh hot SQL Server training here… On Wednesday, March 3rd, we’re doing an all-day live virtual conference on how to use dynamic management views (DMVs) to do SQL Server performance tuning and troubleshooting. We’re going to have sessions at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels taught by: Kevin Kline…

Performance Tuning Presentation for #SQLPASS on Jan 13th

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Eric Humphrey (Blog – @LotsaHelp) asked if I’d help out the Northwest Arkansas PASS chapter tomorrow and present remotely. Because I know that you, reader, like to watch, here’s the coordinates: Start Time: Weds Jan 13th 11:45 AM Central (17:45 GMT) Attendee URL Meeting ID: ZRW878 Attendee Entry Code: X/~x]ZNH3 Audio: will be through your…

Should We Hold #SQLPASS in Seattle?

Last Updated February 12, 2017

A survey just went out to SQLPASS members and it focuses some attention on where to hold the PASS Summit each year. In November 2010, it’ll be held in Seattle for the third year in a row, and some folks think it should stay in Seattle permanently. I just don’t agree. Microsoft Doesn’t Have a…

Meet the Author: Steven Wort

Last Updated January 2, 2010

Steven is one of my coauthors on Professional SQL Server 2008 Internals and Troubleshooting. He’s quite an experienced SQL Server writer – his other books include: Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Administration Professional SQL Server 2005 Performance Tuning Professional SQL Server 2005 Administration I interviewed him over email to learn a little more. Tell me…

How to Make a Dell PowerEdge Quieter

Last Updated December 9, 2018

I’ve got a few servers in my home lab and I’ve always taken steps to make sure they’re quiet. I like running my lab out of my office closet, but I don’t want to hear any of them running. I’ve blogged about how to build a silent PC, but today I’m tackling another noisy beast…

My Favorite WordPress Plugins Lately

Last Updated December 29, 2009

In my series on how to start a blog with WordPress, I discussed a few plugins, but I’ve added a few more lately. These are focused more at advanced bloggers who want to tweak the way their blog works. Align Images in RSS Feeds – does what it says on the box. WordPress uses styles…

My Favorite iPhone Apps

Last Updated December 29, 2009

Buying a new iPhone? Here’s my favorite apps that I use regularly: Travel Apps Ambiance – $.99 – in my bedroom at home, I use a white noise generator to mask outside noise like trains, neighbors, Erika watching TV, and so on. On the road, I fire up this iPhone app, which does the same…

Book Review: The Secrets of Consulting

Last Updated February 13, 2017

Book Reviews, Consulting

This book paid for itself in less than ten minutes. Secrets of Consulting I do consulting work on the side, and like many consultants, I’m never sure if I’m quoting the right billable rate. When I picked up this book several months ago, the first thing I did was turn to chapter 12, “Putting a…

PowerTraveller MiniGorilla Battery Review

Last Updated December 29, 2009

I’m on the road again this week, but this time it’s for fun – I’m going on a week-long Caribbean cruise with Mom (Twitter). While I’m away, I’ve scheduled a series of review posts. Today I’m focusing on the last gadget I bought on the road. The Problem: Too Many Chargers and Batteries I travel…