SqlServer-Qa.net

How to keep a track of list of SQL Server versions and builds releases?

SQL Master — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:01:00 GMT

I believe until SQL Server 2000 (or even SQL 2005) it was easy to remember the release version of your SQL Server instance. Since the changes affected from SQL Server Release Services and inception of Cumulative Update packages it is hard to keep a track of list of builds and version releases. Let it be a controlled installation of service packs and cumulative update packages, you must know the information in order to check what is fixed in the release.In general the best practice is to apply only...(read more)

Master SQL Chef series: Troubleshooting multi-server instances with #sql2k8r2cookbook

SQL Master — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:45:00 GMT

Managing multiple instances of SQL Servers and databases is a challenging task, having a third party tool is not a problem however it is always BEST to manage the show using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). SQL Server tools are easy to use and help to manage multi-server management through automated multi-server jobs, event forwarding and the ability to manage multiple instances from a single-machine console. Since SQL Server 2008 R2 version (and SQL Server 2008 SP2) onwards the SSMS tool has...(read more)

Cut cost on SQL Server Certified Master lab exam - use remote delivery option, for limited time only! #sqlmcm

SQL Master — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:08:00 GMT

The Master blog from Technet announces a wonderful (new year gift) news to the Pros who are willing to attempt the SQLMCM certification exams. If you are taking SQL Server Certified Master lab exam then for a limited time only Microsoft Learning is offering remote delivery of the SQL Certified Master lab exam for a reduced price of US$2000. Altogether Remote Delivery option will cut the costs and better option to take the exam from a quiet location that you desire. The only pre-requisite is you must...(read more)

SQL Server Opertional practices: Support ended for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 and its time to upgrade too!

SQL Master — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:20:00 GMT

As of today the support for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 ends, though the mainstream support for SQL Server 2005 was ended on 12th April 2011. This means only extended support is available for this version until 12th April 2016. Though there is a differnt set of support policy for service pack releases on every Microsoft product, which is nothing but support ends 12 months after next service pack releases or at the end of product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. You can find more information...(read more)

Master SQL Chef series: Implementing Availability feature #sql2k8r2cookbook

SQL Master — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:51:00 GMT

When we talk about availability the key step in providing the feature is to ensure such feature is available and easily implemented. High Availability is purely dependant on hardware and software that will activate the failover or failback whenever the system is affected with the problem. Similarly, more complex and larger a database application, the more important it is to automate administrative tasks with proactive maintenance tasks to ensure data is available. The key factors for hardware and...(read more)

Master SQL Chef series: Implementing Security features #sql #sql2k8r2cookbook

SQL Master — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:01:00 GMT

Security is key aspect to restrict access to your data, any platform or database that stores information needs a robuts infrastructure to control the access. The process to access the data will need a secure process or setup the system as 'secure-by-default'. Windows Server 2008 operating system has several configurable features such as platform, architecture and access layer. Similarly SQL Server 2008 also consist similar configurable features such as services, architecture, database objects and...(read more)

Master SQL Chef series: Designing automated administration #sql #sql2k8r2cookbook

SQL Master — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:44:00 GMT

The administrative tasks such as managing backups, jobs, alerts and database maintenance activites are essential for every DBA. The tasks will be more complex and larger when the data platform is spread across the Enterprise, key task is to be able to automate the routine tasks and develop proactive maintenance to ensure that data availability and integrity is maintained without any interruption. The management of automated processes is a different topic and in order to accomplish part of the task...(read more)

Master SQL Chef series: Designing a best practice approach - Upgrading SQL Server data platform #sql #sql2k8r2cookbook

SQL Master — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:27:00 GMT

There is no doubt that SQL Server users have been keeping up their knowledge up to the level since last few years (at least since 2008 version release). In this regard the Upgrade of SQL Server data platform has taken utmost priority that can offer advantage of new features and enhancements/automation to existing processes that will keep up the availability & scalability. The initial and important aspect of SQL Server platform upgrade is to manage the steps with a prior planning, to prepare for...(read more)

Cumulative Update package 11 for SQL Server 2008 R2 is available for download

SQL Master — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:05:00 GMT

The latest instalment of Cumulative Update package for SQL Server 2008 R2 is available for download, before implement it on production make sure you test the installation. Build 10.50.1809.0 (cumulative update) and the parent build of this build is 10.50.1807.0. The list of issues are as follows with their KBA: VSTS bug number KB article number Description 834627 955850 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955850/ ) Error message when you try to use the binaries from the SQL Server System CLR Types package...(read more)

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 6.5 Now Available for Download

SQL Master — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:14:00 GMT

Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) toolkit helps the migration of your IT environment, in specific I use this product whenever a database and instance upgrade projct is planned. The MAP 6.5 adds the cloud migration planning too, that confirms journey to the cloud is now smoother than ever with the MAP Toolkit 6.5. The new features include securely assess the enviornment while enabling the workload evaluation for migration to private or public 'cloud' platforms. For me the most interesting part...(read more)

SQL Server Performance series: Trace Flag 845 and Lock Pages in Memory

SQL Master — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 09:05:00 GMT

A discussion about trace flags 845 lead to explain the information about the requirement and necessity in case of 32 bit and 64 bit environments. The Lock Pages in Memory has gained importance since version 2005 due to the fact that 32-bit and 64-bit environments are managed. As you may be aware it was only available in Enterprise and Developer editions, since CU4 for SQL Server 2005 SP3 and CU2 for SQL Server 2008 SP1 it is enabled as a trace flag 845 for Standard Edition environment too. Lock Pages...(read more)

Super save promotion: Get 40% off on all e-books from Packt Publishers, grab it for world class SQL Server books

SQL Master — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 08:24:00 GMT

As a part of Super save promotion you have a golden choice to grab 40% discount straight on all e-books that are available from Packt Publishers . So browse through the library of eBooks and choose your favourite ones to get 40% off on the price, to get it enter the code APMD40 at 'Enter promotion code' field or click on 'Add promotion code' where the discount will be applied. Not to mention you can get my book too, titled: SQL Server 2008 R2 Administration cookbook and browse through list of books...(read more)

Cumulative Update #7 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 is available for download

SQL Master — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:08:00 GMT

The next instalment of Cumulative Update package for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 is availabel for download, the build number for this CU7 will be 10.00.4323. Further the cumulative update package includes updates for all the component packages. However, a cumulative update package updates only those components that are installed on a system. You cannot apply this CU7 straight away, the pre-requisite is SQL 2008 SP2. Here is the big list of bugs and issues fixed with this CU7 for SQL2008 SP2: VSTS...(read more)

Cumulative Update #2 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 3 available for download

SQL Master — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:02:00 GMT

Another instalment of Cumulative Update package for SQL Server 2008 SP3 is available now, which is CU2 and the build number is known as 10.00.5768.00. As usual this CU2 for SQL2008 SP3 contains hotfixes for issues that were fixed after the release of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 3 (SP3). KBA2633143 list the following article numbers about more information on the fixes: VSTS bug number KB article number Description 794387 2522893 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2522893/ ) FIX: A backup operation...(read more)

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 RC0 available for download

SQL Master — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:09:00 GMT

Well here it is the next version of SQL Server is getting out step by step, few months ago CTP3 and now Release Candidation 0 is available for download. The version number will be 11.0.1750.32, make a note of it. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 RC0 enables a cloud-ready information platform that will help organizations unlock breakthrough insights across the organization. Quick details Version: 11.0.1750.32 Date Published: 11/17/2011 Change Language: Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) English French...(read more)

SQL Server 2012 Developer Training Kit Web Installer Preview

SQL Master — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:34:00 GMT

The product guide and Developer trianing kit are very usefl to get to know on the new product features. In this regard we got a SQL Server 2012 Developer training kit that is designed to learn about 2012 solutions and features, as a web installer preview which mean its an on-demand download to use with web installer preview. Download SQL 2012 Developer Training kit web-installer preview and also Microsoft® SQL Server® code name 'Denali', Community Technology Preview 3 (CTP 3) Product Guide › Microsoft®...(read more)

SQL Server Days 2011 – Last Chance to Register

SQL Master — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 10:15:00 GMT

. SQL Server Days 2011 – Last Chance to Register One more week before the SQL Server Days. The team at SQLUG.be together with our partners and speakers are ready to deliver another spectacular edition. We have over 250 people registered so far, so don't hesitate and register now if you want to be part of this two-day event. Join us on 14/15 November 2011 at San Marco Village in Schelle to learn all about best practices for SQL Server 2008 R2 and all about the upcoming SQL Server 2012. With four tracks...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 R2: OLE DB provider "SQLNCLI10" for linked server "x" reported a change in schema version between compile time and run time

SQL Master — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:46:00 GMT

The OLEDB provider for the linked server reported a change in schema version between compile time and execution time. For a moment the error throws out spanner in works, application stalls and complaints about timeout issues. A search on forums reveals its a real problem when you perform changes to table schema with REORG or column change in an object. A REORG is quite common on a production environment but not that schema changes, which is managed as a seperate implementation. See this SQLConnect...(read more)

SQL Server 2012 editions licensing overview - changes, good and great

SQL Master — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:23:00 GMT

SQL Server 2012 is a big release compared to what we have seen from 2005 to 2008, though R2 has been an additional release with BI capabilities. Now SQL 2012 equipped with much more enhancements and new features to manage your data platform. In specific to this release its good to know about new edition in SQL Server 2012 Business Intelligence, so it keeps 3 core editions Enterprise, Business Intelligence and Standard. The new licensing method from 2012 version will be as follows: Licensing by computing...(read more)

SQL Server performance series: PAGELATCH_ and PAGEIOLATCH_ wait types: relates to concurrency, take steps in diagnosing and resolving latch contention issues.

SQL Master — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 06:26:00 GMT

Contention is the word that you need to concentrate in resolving the performance issue, page latches contention is common in multi-CPU systems due to the nature of w hen multiple threads concurrently attempt to acquire incompatible latches to the same in-memory structure. Going back to basiscs a latch is an internal mechanism that is used by SQL DB engine automaticatlly to determine when to use it. By design they are deterministic and any behavior of schema design can affect the issue.One of the...(read more)

Analysis Services database and OLAP systems: building and tuning for the best possible performance

SQL Master — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:43:00 GMT

When it comes to performance tuning there is no magic wand or short cut to wipe out the issue. The process is a constant learning and primary step is to ensure no issues are occuring repeatedly, which means you are not utilizing the time to reduce the issue. The goal in performance monitoring and tuning includes the understanding of design patterns of the database with underlying data models. For me OLAP is always a mystery and whenever I get into OLAP or BI based performance issue I always go through...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 3 - SP3 is released, test and upgrade relevant instances

SQL Master — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:40:00 GMT

Well, its time now again for all DBAs and System Administrators out there to do some real-world testing on their SQL Server 2008 instance platform, service pack 3 for SQL Server 2008 is released now. If you are already testing the CTP version then its not a big issue to perform the test and upgrade the existing instances of 2008 version. Once you apply the SP3 for SQL Server 2008 the version will be 10.00.5500.00 and also the download page clearly states the key enhancements out this SP3 release:...(read more)

SSIS restart issues, message: application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Launch permission for the COM Server application with CLSID

SQL Master — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:03:00 GMT

SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is an important service that is required to continue the ETL (extract transform load) tasks on your data platform. You may notice that since SQL Server 2005 version onwards the database maintenance plans will always use SSIS packages to perform the key maintenance activities. Though SSIS service is not imporant here but it is ideal to continue the key ETL activities using SSIS packages than TSQL methods. Just going back to basics running SSIS provides many capabilities...(read more)

Perform SQL Server Upgrade with the help of tools, best practices too #sqlbpa #upgrade

SQL Master — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 07:24:00 GMT

SQL Server upgrade is no small task, no big task either when you have perfectly planned and tested the process! Since last 2 years the most popular topic and talk that I presented in various conferences, usergroup meetings and consulting projects is upgrade of SQL Server platform. Having said that for any task or process you need a trusted and proven set of commands, statements and tools irrespective of hardware configuration or support arrangements (ISV or Managed Services). Whenever I engage with...(read more)

SQL Relay - Cardiff Usergroup my presentation #sqlserverfaq #sqlrelay #upgrade #bpa

SQL Master — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:41:00 GMT

It was a great opportunity to meet and greet the SQL professionals in Cradiff on 05th October 2011 as a part of SQL Relay Usergroup metings across UK. Thanks to Adam Morton for giving me chance to present, since last year and half we have been trying to get connected in Usergroup presentation. I must admit its a good attendance and presence of questions was good which keeps up the enthusiasm during the presentations. I presented two topics that surrounds on Best Practices for SQL Server users: SQL...(read more)