The options for high availability can get confusing. I was lucky enough to begin working with SQL Server clusters early in my career, but many people have a hard time finding simple information on what a cluster does and the most common gotchas when planning a cluster. Today, I’ll tell you what clusters are, what they’re…
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Three Consulting Tools to Make You a Better DBA
As a consultant, I solve hard problems, and I use cool tools. These tools could help you, too– and in ways that may surprise you. Problem 1: The DBA’s Time is Money, and It’s Limited You know what, DBAs? You’re expensive. DBAs are frequently involved in every task that touches a database. This includes Windows…
How to Test Your Backup Strategy: Five Simple Questions
Backup strategies are like rashes: people tend to ignore them for as long as they can, then they ask a specialist if it’s going to be OK. There’s a lot of good ways to back up databases. The challenge is finding best strategy for your data. To find out if your SQL Server backup strategy measures…
SQL Server Certifications: What to Take and How to Prepare
Whether you’re already a database professional or would like to become one, you’ve probably thought about getting certified in SQL Server. Do you need to be certified? What certifications are available and which should you take first? How should you prepare for the exams? Kendra Little is a Microsoft Certified Master in SQL Server. She’ll…
What’s Going On in My SQL Server? Video
What do you turn to when you need to find out what’s happening in SQL Server? Do you know the pros and cons of using SQL Server Profiler? Kendra Little shows you two lightweight alternatives for collecting activity and bottlenecks from SQL Server. She’ll show you how these methods are even *more* powerful than a…
Perk Up Your Career with the SQL Server Troubleshooting Checklist
When an application is offline or performing so badly that the users are complaining, what do you turn to? When your cellphone says a major incident is ongoing and you can’t get to a computer, where do you send the team at the office? When you’re putting out fires with whatever you can find, how…
SQL Server First Responders Kit Video
When your SQL Server is critically injured you need a first responder kit to help you diagnose the problem and apply emergency aid. In this session, Kendra Little introduces you to invaluable tools and techniques for triaging an emergency. If you have one year’s experience with database administration, this half-hour session will set you up…
Three Things That Rock About SQL Server
When something remarkable is around for a while, it becomes easy to take it for granted. Today, I’ll share three awesome things about SQL Server with tips to give you an edge when using each one. #1. The Free Online Documentation is Mind Blowing SQL Server is a huge product. We’ve got the database engine,…
There’s Something About Nolock: Webcast Video
The NOLOCK hint: we all use it sometimes, and some of us use it almost all the time. In this session Kendra Little shows three phenomena which will cause you to look differently at the NOLOCK hint. If you have two years of experience working with TSQL and database structures, this session is for you….
Data Driven Promotions: How DBAs and Developers Should Ask for a Raise
The Women in Technology lunch and panel discussion at the PASS Summit last week had a great topic: negotiation. When it came time to Q & A, I knew exactly what topic I wanted to introduce. How Should You Prepare to Ask for a Raise? It’s funny this was my question, because I don’t need to…
