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Virtualization

SQL MVP Denny Cherry Speaking at AtlantaMDF

We’re excited to announce that SQL Server MVP Denny Cherry ( blog | twitter ) will be speaking at our next Atlanta MDF meeting!  :-)

Topic: Database Virtualization
We’ll be looking into the pros and cons of moving SQL Servers into a virtual server environment.  Specifically we’ll be looking into when it’s a good idea and when it’s probably not a good idea.  Like all problems in the database world there are no hard set answers as to if virtualization is a good idea, but there are some times when virtualizing a SQL Server is a good idea, and can save you some money.  There are some other times when you will be shooting yourself in the foot and shouldn’t.  We’ll be focusing on when how to make this decision, and how to gather the metrics that you need in order to come to this decision.

Denny_Cherry About Denny:
Denny Cherry has over a decade of experience managing SQL Server, including MySpace.com’s over 175 million user installation, one of the largest in the world. Denny’s areas of technical expertise include system architecture, performance tuning, replication and troubleshooting.  Denny currently holds several Microsoft Certifications related to SQL Server as well as being a Microsoft MVP.  Denny is a longtime member of PASS and Quest Software’s Association of SQL Server Experts and has written numerous technical articles on SQL Server management.

When:
Monday 10/11/2010 6:30 PM

Where:
1125 Sanctuary Pkwy., Suite 300, Alpharetta, GA 30004

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Late September Free Training from PASS VCs

pass_logoThe DBA and Virtualization Virtual Chapters hope that last weeks 24 Hours of PASS got you in the mood for more free training.  Here’s what they have on tap for you this week:
Top 10 SQL Server Mistakes and Mis-steps
Storage and Virtualization for the DBA

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Top 10 SQL Server Mistakes and Mis-steps
September 22nd 12:00 PM EDT (GMT -4)

Presenter: Tim Ford

From Tim Ford’s (@SQLAgentMan’s) continuing blog series on the same topic comes a presentation in which we’ll go over common mistakes made by new and seasoned SQL Server Professionals alike. Learn how to avoid these issues before they happen and correct matters after you’ve seen them in your environments.

Tim Ford
Tim is a Microsoft SQL Server MVP and SQL Server Professional with Next Wave Logistics, has been working with SQL Server since 1999. He is also an author of SQL-centric articles for MSSQLTips.com, SQLServerCentral, and Simple-Talk.com and just completed a book on the topic of SQL Server DMVs with Louis Davidson. He is the host for the annual Quizbowl at the PASS Summit each Fall. 

Live Meeting Link:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=5B3JGF&role=attend

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Storage and Virtualization for the DBA
September 23rd 12:00 PM EDT (GMT -7)

Presenter: Denny Cherry

This is a preview of Denny’s full day PASS Summit pre-conference session in which Denny disccusses how storage can be one of the biggest bottlenecks when it comes to database perfomance and how to troubleshoot storage performance issues and tie the virtual platforms to the storage array so that you can maximize the storage performance for your SQL Servers and the virtual environment.

Denny Cherry
Denny has over a decade of experience managing SQL Server, including MySpace.com’s over 175 million user installation, one of the largest in the world.  Denny’s areas of technical expertise include system architecture, performance tuning, replication and troubleshooting.  Denny currently holds several Microsoft Certifications related to SQL Server as well as being a Microsoft MVP.  Denny is a longtime member of PASS and Quest Software’s Association of SQL Server Experts and has written numerous technical articles on SQL Server management.

Live Meeting Link:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=J8RZQ8&role=attend&pw=RFxB5D%2FsM

I’ll be speaking at SQL Saturday #38 in Jacksonville

If you didn’t make it to my webcast on MSDN’s geekSpeak yesterday you can catch me at SQL Saturday #38 in Jacksonville this weekend.  As always I’ll be including a few new scripts since the last time I gave this presentation.  There will be a lot of great speakers down in Jacksonville and the last I heard, there were over 550 people registered.

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In addition to my PowerShell for Data Professionals session I will also be doing a presentation on using Hyper-V and SCVMM to manage your Dev and Test environments called Virtualize This! 

Oh, and please remember to bring lots of good questions.

Start Time 1202 (Auditorium) 1400 1402 1404 1406 Business Intelligence -1102
9:00 AM Plamen Ratchev Andy Warren Dean Richards Jorge Segarra Michael Antonovich Brian McDonald
  Common SQL Programming Mistakes Introduction to Statistics Tuna Helper for SQL Server DBA’s SQL University 101: Starting the SQL Journey XML 101 for the SQL Developer Introduction to SQL Server Reporting Services 2008
10:15 AM Dean Richards Jorge Segarra Jared Nielsen Brandie Tarvin Michael Antonovich Bradley Schacht
  Response Time Analysis of SQL Server Performance Policy-Based Management: Administration Made Easy SQL and SEO – Database Design and Web Marketing T-SQL 102: Aliases and Table Joins Publishing Access Applications to SharePoint Introduction to SQL Server Integration Services
11:15 AM           Michael Flora
            Mini – SSIS for the DBA
12:00 PM Rodney Landrum Timothy McAliley Eric Wisdahl Troy Gallant Jonathon Moorman Devin Knight
  Demystyfying SQL Code and Object Deployments ITIL V3 for the Database Administrator SSIS Configurations, Expressions and Constraints Introduction to Transactional Replication Basics of Sql Server Profiler Introduction to Data Warehousing
1:15 PM Aaron Nelson Steve Schneider Robby Robertson Shawn Harrison Sumeet Bansal Mike Davis
  Virtualize This! Encryption How-To 101 SSIS Deployment Strategies Using Parameters in SSRS Accelerating SQL with Solid State Technology Building your First Cube in Analysis Services 2008
2:30 PM Plamen Ratchev Jeff Cole Vikas Hawaldar Eric Wisdahl Mustika Nengah Adam Jorgensen
  Refactoring SQL for Performance Heterogeneous Data Integration with SSIS & CDC Introduction to Data Mining using SQL 2008 An Introductory Look at Execution Plans Accessing Cube using ADOMD.NET Introduction to SharePoint 2010 BI and PowerPivot
3:45 PM Jonathon Moorman Elijah Baker Aaron Nelson Shawn McGehee Eric Humphrey Brian Knight
  Everything you wanted to know about IDENTITY colum Table Partitioning: The Basics PowerShell for the Data Professional SQL Server 2008 Resource Governor  High Anxiety with ORMs Iron Chef Competition: Loading a Data Warehouse

I’ll be speaking at SQL Saturday #41 in Atlanta

Because simply helping organize the event isn’t enough Stuart ( blog | twitter ) decided that I should speak at SQL Saturday #41 in Atlanta too.  I’d like to take this opportunity to point out that not only is he not speaking at this SQL Saturday but he scheduled me for 2 sessions!  OK, enough smack-talk.

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This year we will be hosting over 30 speakers including 6 MVPs, and around a half-dozen speakers from Microsoft.  We’re lucky enough to have planned on having David Rodriguez present 3 session on SQL Server 2008 R2 right after it launched earlier this week (yep we planned the whole thing out that way ;-) ).  We’ve got 250 registered and 65 people on the wait list so the next time we do this “we’re gonna need a bigger boat”.  If you’re one of those people on the wait list we’ll be glad to have you join us if we have room after 9 am. 

If you’re not anywhere near Atlanta there are SQL Saturdays happening in New York and Southern California this weekend as well.  My sessions are going to be on Virtualization using Hyper-V and SCVMM (Systems Center Virtual Machine Manager) and Windows PowerShell.

Start Time
 
 

 

1 Centennial Park
 
 

 

1 Grant
 
 

 

1 Piedmont Park
 
 

 

2 Buckhead
 
 

 

2 Chastain Park
 
 

 

2 Highlands
 
 

 

2 Midtown
 
 

 

08:30 AM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

9:45 AM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

11:00 AM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

01:00 PM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

02:15 PM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

03:30 PM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

04:45 PM
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

 

Remember to dress in layers and I hope to see everyone there tomorrow.

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Hyper-V SCVMM Slide Deck for PASS

As promised here is my slide deck for the Virtualization VC of PASS that I used in my presentation on April 7th.  Hopefully the recording should be up soon.  If you have any questions about the deck please drop me a comment below.

HyperV ResourceKit

By the way, if you happen to be in the Richmond area this weekend I’ll be speaking on Virtualization at SQL Saturday #30.

Start Time Track 1 Track 2 Track 3 Track 4
08:30 AM Brett Tomson
Introduction to SSRS 2008
Bob Lambert
The Business End of Data Modeling
Jeremiah Peschka
Fundamentals of SQL Server Internals
Jason Hall
Things Your Mom Never Told You About SSMS
09:45 AM Tom Robinson
SSAS Basic Cube and dimension design
Bob Lambert
Normalize Metadata for Data Integration Analysis
Ashton Hobbs
Compression in SQL 2008
Mike Femenella
Introduction to Performance Tuning
11:00 AM Brian Garraty
Integration Services in the Real World
Brett Tomson
Growing Pains – A Cautionary Tale
Dan Crawford
SQL Service Brokers
Jeremiah Peschka
A Dynamic World Demands Dynamic SQL
01:00 PM Tom Robinson
Building SSRS Reports from SSAS Cubes
Louis Davidson
Database Design
Mike Femenella
Loading Data In Real Time
Janis Griffin
Tuner Helper – A Proven Process In Tuning For DBAs*
02:15 PM Steve Wright
Memory Management in SQL Server Analysis Services
Louis Davidson
Database Design Patterns
Allen White
Automate SQL Server Administration with PowerShell
Dan Crawford
SQL Server Spatial Data
03:30 PM Brock Beatty
SQL 2008 Change Data Capture Tips and Tricks
Aaron Nelson
Virtualize This!
Allen White
Gather SQL Server Performance Data with PowerShell
Susan Lennon
Using SSRS to report on IIS Web Logs
LiveJournal Tags:

Speaking at the Virtualization VC of PASS Today

pass_logoPASS in online today and we’ve got a great presentation for you.  We’ve teamed up with Dushyanth Nataraj from VMware to put together a session that should help DBAs get their feet wet with using some of the common features/strengths of Virtualization.  I’ll be doing a short presentation on Microsoft’s System Center Virtual Machine Manager showing folks how to move storage, copy machines, snapshots and reverts, and anything else I can squeeze into 20 minutes (Maybe some PowerShell?).

Dushyanth is presenting an overview of VMware vCenter Lab Manager demostrating how VMware vSphere and Lab Manager can help you build a internal cloud for dev/test. We finish up with a demo of Lab Manager running a SQL workload showcasing how you can use the product for test/dev.

Using Virtualization to Solve Common Dev/QA Environment Problems
April 7th Noon Eastern (GMT -4)
Presenters: Aaron Nelson & Dushyanth Nataraj
How do I view the presentation?
Click here to join the webcast.

This will be my first time trying to switching presenting between two different presenters with seperate demos, but we are pretty sure we can pull it off.  If we want to follow along note that everything I’m presenting is done in SCVMM and everything Dushyanth does is in VMware; hopefully that works out as well. A big hat-tip goes out to my awsome coworker, Adeel Abbas, for helping me get this presentation working quickly by setting up my Domain Controller for me.

By the way…did you see the Scripting Guys articles from last week?

2010 Scripting Games

Grab this badge here!

PASS Virtual Chapters Early April Presentations

In April we’ve got free training coming your way from the usual suspects of the PASS VCs (AppDev, DBA, and Virtualization).  Here’s what’s on tap in chronological order:

pass_logo
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Using Virtualization to Solve Common Dev/QA Environment Problems

April 7th Noon Eastern (GMT -4)
Presenters: Aaron Nelson & Dushyanth Nataraj

Isn’t two always better than one?  This month the Virtualization Virtual Chapter is going to run a unique double session with two separate presentations focused on solving common problems for Development and Quality Assurance environments using virtualization technology!

Our first session will focus on using Microsoft Hyper-V to solve problems DBA’s face when trying to QA a change before moving it to production.  Aaron will show you how Microsoft’s Hyper-V can streamline the process and ensure results from your QA testing that will be consistent in your production environment.

In our second session session Dushyanth Nataraj will give attendees an overview of VMware vCenter Lab Manager. You will learn how VMware vSphere and Lab Manager can help you build a internal cloud for dev/test. The session will conclude with a demo of Lab Manager running a SQL workload showcasing how you can use the product for test/dev.

About the speakers

  • Aaron Nelson (@SQLvariant ) http://sqlvariant.com/wordpress/
    Aaron is a Senior SQL Server Architect with over 10 years experience in architecture, business intelligence, development, and performance tuning of SQL Server.  He has experience managing enterprise-wide data needs in both transactional and data warehouse environments.
  • Dushyanth Nataraj
    Dushyanth is the Technical Marketing Manager for Lab Manager. He has been with VMware 5 years and has held roles in Engineering and Technical Marketing. He holds a MS in Computer Science from the University of Kansas.

This live one-hour webcast will happen on Wednesday, April 7th at 12:00 noon Eastern, 16:00 GMT.

How do I view the presentation?
Click here to join the webcast.

Want to speak at our next event?  We’re looking for database administrators who can talk about how virtualization has worked for them, what they’ve learned, and any tips they can pass on.  It can be as formal or informal as you like.  To volunteer, email Tim Edwards at tim_edwards@fsafood.com.
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PowerShell for Database Developers
April 13th at 12:00 PM Eastern (GMT -4)
Presenter: Peter Schott

Add to Calendar

PowerShell for Database Developers

PowerShell

Peter Schott is currently working as a Development DBA for Fellowship Technologies, using SQL Server, SSIS, and PowerShell (in his spare time). He has worked with SQL Server since 1996, designing databases, writing reports, scripting, performance tuning, and moving around lots of data. Peter blogs at Schott SQL. (And is open to better names for his blog.)

How do I view the presentation?
Attendee URL:  Live Meeting link
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Using SQL Server 2008 Database Mirroring to Become a Super Hero!
Date: April 14, Noon Mountain Time (GMT -6)
Presenter: Glenn Berry

Abstract:
Database mirroring is a valuable technology that can be used to minimize or avoid downtime due to hardware failures, with less complexity than fail-over clustering. It can also be used for other innovative uses, such as easily migrating from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008 with a sub-minute outage. Database mirroring can be used during normal scheduled maintenance for rolling updates to minimize downtime. Database mirroring works very well for migrating very large databases from one SAN to another with minimal downtime. This session will cover all of these scenarios, with practical techniques, scripts and tips to help you take advantage of database mirroring.

Speaker:
Glenn Berry works as a Database Architect at NewsGator Technologies in Denver, CO. He is a SQL Server MVP, and he has a whole collection of Microsoft certifications, including MCITP, MCDBA, MCSE, MCSD, MCAD, and MCTS, which proves that he likes to take tests. His expertise includes DMVs, high availability, full text search, and SQL Azure.

He is also an Adjunct Faculty member at University College – University of Denver, where has been teaching since 2000. He recently completed the Master Teacher Program at University College.

Door Prize: There will be a drawing for a $50.00 Amazon Gift Certificate
Registration: You can attend the meeting without registering but if you want to be entered in the drawing, you must register at https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/8000181573/Registration.aspx?pageName=dt7v502vq7nrtbmj no later than 5:00 PM Eastern on April 13th.

How do I view the presentation?
Live Meeting Link: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/8000181573/join?id=Z92ZRJ&role=attend

Speaking at SQL Saturday #29 in Birmingham

I just received word that I will be speaking at SQL Saturday #29 in Birmingham Steel City.

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I’ll be speaking on two topics, PowerShell and Virtualization.  I’ve got two new tricks that I’ve put together for the PowerShell session since #33 in Charlotte so we’ll see if I can squeeze them into my already overflowing session.  I guess I’ll just have to leave out a few of the developer jokes ;-) .  I’m been busily deleting things off of my hard drive so that I can get better demos available for the Virtualization session.  I hope that does the trick because I don’t have an extra $700 to splurge on a larger SSD.

Before and between my sessions I will be trying to catch Adam Jorgensen PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint 2010 (since so far he’s snubbing us in Atlanta) Kevin Boles SQL Server Memory Deep Dive and I’m thinking I might check out Rodney Landrum DBA Repository Update 2010 Using SSRS and SSIS

I hope to see you there!

More Details:

What: An all day FREE training event with 20 technical SQL Server sessions spread out over three tracks of Business Intelligence, Database Administration and SQL Development. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the event and there will be an after party at the Tilted Kilt on Hwy 280.

When:  Saturday, March, 27, 2010. Online registration is now open, but it is filling up fast so reserve your spot now. Attendee check-in will begin at 8:00am until 8:45am with opening comments from 8:45am to 9:00am and the first sessions beginning at 9:15am. A full list of session tracks and schedule is available.

Where: The Shelby-Hoover Campus of Jefferson State Community College at the new Health Sciences Building at the intersection of Valleydale Road and Jaguar Drive across from Veterans Park near Spain Park High School at 4600 Valleydale Road Birmingham, AL 35242.

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register online to reserve your spot. Show up and attend the sessions that you like.

SQL Saturday! #29 is presented by Steel City SQL, the Birmingham Chapter of the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) and brought to you by these sponsors.

Start Time Business Intelligence Database Administration Database Administration 2 SQL Development
9:15 AM Adam Jorgensen Louis Davidson Jim Wooley Sven Aelterman
PowerPivot for Excel and SharePoint 2010 Database Design Fundamentals LINQ Kinq for the DBA Guy FILESTREAM in Breadth
10:30 AM Kevin Grohoske Louis Davidson Kevin Boles Sven Aelterman
Location Aware Applications Using SQL Server 2008  Database Design Patterns SQL Server Memory Deep Dive FILESTREAM in Depth
12:15 PM Vincent Mayfield Janis Griffin Kevin Boles Aaron Nelson
ASP.NET for the Enterprise with NLB and Clustering Tuna Helper for SQL Server DBA’s Parallel Query Execution Deep Dive PowerShell for Data Professionals 
1:30 PM Robert Cain Geoff Hiten Rodney Landrum Joe Webb
Introduction to SQL Server Integration Services Scale-Out the DBA. DBA Repository Update 2010 Using SSRS and SSIS.  Tips & Tricks for Writing Better Queries
2:45 PM Barry Ralston Geoff Hiten Aaron Nelson Joe Webb
Introduction to MDX for SQL Programmers Clustering for Mere Mortals. Virtualize This! SQL Server Locking & Blocking Made Simple