Strate SQL

We all like free stuff.  Especially when we already know it’s something we love.  And if you are reading this blog, you likely love or really like SQL Server.  Or just maybe you are paid to like it.

What ever the reason, the more you know about it the better you will be in applying the features to your business issues.  Which it turn could lead to things like bonuses and a brand new car.

So speaking of free training,  Pragmatic Works, WROX, SQL Server Central, and SQL Server Magazine have gone together to provide a monthly series on SQL Server training. 

This month’s topics are:

SQL Server Parallel Data Warehousing (PDW)
Register!
May 18, 2010 11:00 a.m. EDT
Bruce Campbell, Microsoft

SQL 2008 R2 Parallel DW Appliance (PDW) – formerly known as Project Madison, PDW, is Microsoft’s first DW Appliance. PDW utilizes Massively Parallel Processing (MPP) and will scale out SQL Server 2008 R2 DW from 10’s to 100’s of TBs. PDW has standard support for MPP, High Availability, Linear Scalability and a HUB and Spoke DW Architecture.  In this session Bruce Campbell will present the underlying architecture of PDW and how Parallel processing will improve upon your current data warehousing designs.

The role of Solid State Storage (SSS) in Modern Data Warehouses.
Register!
May 20, 2010 11:00 a.m. EDT 
Sumeet Bansal

Solid State Storage (SSS) is making a significant contribution towards modern Database systems.  In this session, Sumeet will talk about the challenges that traditional storage systems pose for Data Warehouses, and how SSS can alleviate them.  He will talk about the impact of an SSS based Data Warehouse for vastly increased performance and energy efficiency.

Creating Dashboards in PerformancePoint 2010.
Register!
May 25, 2010 11:00 a.m. EDT
Mark Stacey

With the release of Sharepoint 2010, Performance Point Services has evolved into a enterprise ready rapid development dashboarding and scorecarding toolkit.

Creating KPIs, scorecards and dashboards has never been easier.

During this training session, Mark will show how to connect to disparate data sources such as Analysis Services cubes, databases, and information stored in Sharepoint lists, and present this data in scorecards and charts.

If this sounds appealing – run out and get registered at the links above.  Also, keep up to speed with upcoming sessions from the webinar page.

Almost time to hit the road… and I’m heading to SQL Saturday 31 in Chicago.  Rumor has it that this weekend will provide an awesome experience.  From the presentations being provided to the karaoke after party – I’m expecting a great time.

If you will be at SQL Saturday 31, please stop by and introduce yourself.  And if it suits your fancy, sit down and listen in on my topics.  I am scheduled for the following topics:

Using XML to Query Execution Plans

SQL Server stores its execution plans as XML in dynamic management views.  The execution plans are a gold mine of information.  From the whether or not the execution plan will rely on parallelism to what columns are requiring a key lookup after a non-clustered index seek.  Through a the use of XML this information can be available at your finger tips to help determine the value and impact of an index and guide you in improving the performance of your SQL Server databases.

Goals:

1. Discuss information available in an execution plan
2. Demonstrate use of XQuery to query execution cache
3. Demonstrate methods to performance tune

Extended Events – Work Smarter, Not Harder

There are many ways to performance monitor your SQL Server environment.  In this session we’ll review Extended Events, which is one of the newer SQL Server monitoring platforms.  Learn the ins and outs of how to get detailed information on the errors and events that occur within SQL Server and how to dig into the information.  With a few T-SQL statements, issues that could take weeks to research can be investigated in minutes.

Goals:

1. Define the architecture for Extended Events
2. Identify scenarios where Extended Event can be used to troubleshoot performance
3. Demonstrate solutions to real-world performance scenarios

I’ll be staying an extra day in Chicago after the conference, so if anyone has ideas on what I should do please leave a comment.  I haven’t been in Chicago since I was 10 or 11 years old so it’s probably changed a bit.  So far I have been told to get a hot dog from a street vendor and check out the piers.  Any other ideas are very welcome.

PASSMN Meeting Next Tuesday

The Minnesota SQL Server User Group (twitter | website) is meeting next week on Tuesday (4/20/2010).  The meeting should be smoking and I’m not meaning the 4-20 kind.  The meeting will start with a Visual Studio 2010 for the SQL Developers.  Next, Fusion IO (twitter | website) will be on of the presenters on SSD and they have an awesome giveaway – A DRIVE VALUED AT $7,000.  If you plan to attend, please, please, please RSVP so that we can order enough food.  We were a little too close last month and too little is always awkward.

Yesterday I mentioned the upcoming SQL Server 2008 R2 launch event, and today I’m going to bring up this months Minnesota SQL Server User Group (twitter) meeting.  This month’s meeting will be sponsored by Fusion-IO.  Besides the pizza and drinks, they’ll be discussing SSD and some of their products.  If you want to get an idea what could be seen at this meeting, check out some reviews at by Brent Ozar (blog | twitter) and Paul Randal (blog |twitter).

If you can make it to the event, please register here.  This way we can get a good count on the number of people for pizza.  The meeting will be at our regular location at 8300 Norman Center Drive, 9th Floor, Bloomington, MN  55437 on the 9th floor.

Do you have the time but can’t make the drive?  Join us via Live Meeting and get in on all of the information:

• URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=Z5DKHG&role=present&pw=2%5B%29%2Bq%2Cq%40B
• Meeting ID: Z5DKHG
• Entry Code: 2[)+q,q@B

More meeting details…

Agenda:

2:30 –3:00 : Networking
3:00 –3:15 : Announcements
3:15 –3:25 : Sponsor
3:25 –4:25 : Visual Studios (Mike)
4:25 –4:30 : Break
4:30 –5:30 : SQL at the Speed of Light (Fusion-IO)

Presentations:

What’s new for the SQL Developer in Visual Studio 2010

Mike Benkovich, Microsoft

In this session we take a look at the latest advances in Visual Studio for the database developer, including the new Data Tier Applications (DAC) that leverage a new type of deployment packaging to simplify and streamline the process. We will show new refactoring capabilities in addition to the schema and data comparison tools as well as the data generation features that can be used to simulate test scenarios. Verify that standard and best practices are being followed with static code analysis tools. Walk away from this session with a better idea of what’s possible for the database developer with the latest tools from Microsoft.

SQL at the Speed of Light

Fred Vasofsky and Christian Schrauder, Fusion-IO

Solid-state technologies are changing the way that MS SQL users run their databases. DBA’s are achieving significant TCO savings through performance enhancements, reliability improvements, and reduced energy and real estate costs using solid-state technologies.  Solid state is changing the way datacenters look and how MS SQL Servers perform.

This session will address:

1. On overview of solid state technology options for SQL Server
2. Why solid state makes a difference?
3. An comparison of the different types of NAND Flash-based products and the advantages and disadvantages of each:
1. Disk-based SSDs
2. Onboard/Embedded PCI Express devices
3. Host-based PCI Express devices
4. Customer proof: Wine.com case study