We travel to SQL Server user groups and give seminars on SQL Server training, database administration, performance tuning and more. They’re usually arranged in a class-style setup: we’ll talk through demos and slides for about an hour, and then you can ask questions. Sometimes these are taped for video release later.
Brent and Tim at the PASS Summit 2010
January 28 – SQLCruise Miami
SQLCruise is one of our favorite events of the year because it’s such a cool mix of training and one-on-one time. You get personal access to some of the best and brightest in the SQL Server industry – not just the presenters, but your co-cruisers too. Bring your toughest challenges and get advice from MCMs, MVPs, and your peers. I’ve seen fifteen minute sessions where people solved technical problems that had stopped their projects dead in the water for months.
Plus, you get training! Brent will be giving these three presentations aboard the Norwegian Epic:
- Scaling SQL with Solid State – SSD prices are coming down and adoption is going up. My clients have used them to solve all kinds of performance problems, and we’ve found some surprising results. In this session, I’ll explain the internals of these fast drives and show the pros and cons of the various connection methods (SATA, PCI Express, SAN). Then we’ll switch over to the SQL Server world to see how to tell when and where you need SSDs. You’ll even get real-world before-and-after metrics to help make the case to management.
- Procedure Cache BI – SQL Server stores tons of data about SQL statements and execution plans in memory, but unfortunately a lot of it is hard-to-query XML. I’ve got the fix: we’ll treat it like a BI project. We’ll build an ETL process to get the data out, normalize it into a reporting structure, and then make smart tuning decisions based on the aggregated findings. You’ll step off the boat armed with ready-to-go scripts to do consultant-style analysis right away.
- SAN Features for Senior DBAs – SAN snapshots and SAN replication can be the DBA’s best friend. They bring one-click disaster recovery options to antiquated SQL Server 2000 instances, and one-minute backup options to even the largest data warehouses. In this session, we’ll cover how my clients have saved time, money, and manpower with these features. We’ll briefly dig into the “how” using NetApp as an example SAN, and then cover the SQL Server management techniques that work regardless of the SAN vendor.
To learn more, check out SQLCruise.com.
Tim, Kendra, and Jeremiah at the Microsoft MVP Summit 2011
Jan 31 - SQL Server Certifications: What to Take and How to Prepare
Kendra Little, Tech Triage Tuesday
Whether you’re already a database administrator 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 explain what certifications are available, what the advantages are of becoming certified, and give practical tips for making the most of your exam. Register now.
February 7 – DBA Darwin Awards: Index Edition
Brent Ozar, Tech Triage Tuesday
Right after the DBA says “Uh oh,” they call in the consultants. You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff I’ve seen, but here’s the worst of it: some of these things are probably happening in your environment right now. If you’re a production DBA of any experience level, do yourself a favor and look for these common mistakes before they call in the consultants. We’ll discuss heaps, duplicate indexes, and the Database Tuning Advisor’s stupidity so you can learn what you’re doing wrong before your boss has to hear it from the outsider. Register now.
Feb 21 - Anatomy of the SQL Server Transaction Log: Limitations and Performance
Kendra Little, Tech Triage Tuesday
How does the SQL Server transaction log impact the performance of your code? What impacts the performance of the transaction log, and how do you know when you’re pushing the limits of your log? Kendra Little explains the role of the transaction log in SQL Server and what you can do to optimize your use of the log– we’ll discuss everything from the physical structure of the log to using minimal logging in your code. This talk is aimed toward database administrators and developers who have been working with SQL Server for one year or more. Register now.
Want One of Us to Speak At Your Event?
We would love to give a presentation at your next user group meeting or conference. With today’s economy, travel costs can be tough to justify, though, so we’ve started doing remote presentations via Microsoft LiveMeeting. If you’ve got a projector and a good set of computer speakers, we can present remotely anytime. We use a webcam, too, so your attendees can see me making faces when they ask tough questions.
Check out our list of presentation topics, and contact us to let us know what dates you’d like us to present. We’d be honored!
