SQLServerCentral.com Articles tagged Database Weekly

Powershell for DBAs

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:00 UT

Powershell is a great tool for helping you work with multiple instances of SQL Server. This week Steve Jones talks about how and why you might want to get started.

Data Science Sanity Checks

Mon, 13 May 2013 06:00:00 UT

Phil Factor on three "sanity checks" that any data scientist must perform in order to prevent businesses from interpreting data analysis errors, or fraudulent activity, as real trends.

The State of the Cloud

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:00:00 UT

The state of cloud computing is confusing and unstable. Steve Jones has a few thoughts about the good and bad things in this industry.

BACPACs be gone: Managing real backups in Azure

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:00:00 UT

While backup to the Cloud may be useful in terms of optimizing storage across the enterprise, for DBAs it remains essential that they retain fast, easy, access to the backup files. Azure Explorer is a free tool that might help.

Bad Data Costs Lives

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:00:00 UT

Either data is right or it is wrong. There is no in-between. Phil Factor examines a recent scandal that hit the health care system in the UK to highlight why it's so important that we, as data professionals, ensure responsible use of data and respect for data quality.

The Memory Cube

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 06:00:00 UT

A new memory technology has the potential to dramatically speed up access for computer systems.

NoSQL: Are you ready to compromise with security

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:00:00 UT

Before adopting NoSQL for a commercial application that needs consistency and durability, you need to be satisfied that the product actually provides all those niceties that the user of relational database systems take for granted.

What Counts for a DBA: Laziness

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 06:00:00 UT

Louis Davidson is willing to bet that a relatively small handful of lazy people have done more for the world than all of the hard working people combined.

Cloud Services. Waiting for the 'paint to dry'?

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:00:00 UT

Despite recent 'outages', The canny CIO will make use of the obvious advantages of public cloud services where it risks neither security or availability. Adoption of the Cloud services and platforms is going to be most effective where the Cloud’s advantages of rapid scalability can be harnessed.

Data Loss

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:00:00 UT

A new study shows potential corruption issues with solid state drives when power is cut under a load. That can have implications for data professionals as more databases incorporate SSD storage.

Deploying Databases to the Azure Cloud: an extended plea

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 07:00:00 UT

Is there a sound technical reason why SQL Azure can't support extended properties?

Are Triggers a "Legacy" Feature?

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:00:00 UT

It is late evening. Something is wrong with a database. You narrow down the possibilities, getting more frustrated and puzzled. Stay calm. Check the inputs systematically. No! The data going into that table is right, but when you then read it in the table, it's wrong. Why did I stop believing in the supernatural? Then it hits you. Every time it comes as a surprise. They're using triggers. (This editorial was originally published on Nov 10, 2008)

Rethinking Your Design

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 07:00:00 UT

This week Steve Jones notices some good advice from Brent Ozar and the fastest query in your database.

DBA Hypochondria

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 07:00:00 UT

It is easy to become overwhelmed by server symptoms (aka metrics), in the forlorn hope that the more we collect, the clearer a picture we'll assemble of what ails the server. We should, of course, be looking at the whole patient.

Not Pulling the Plug Out

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:00:00 UT

Phil Factor on his renewed appreciation for the "customer-focused" culture of the Data Platform Group at Microsoft

The Data Scientist

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:00:00 UT

Phil Factor on why Data Science is about much more than just clever visualizations and big data.

The Java Danger

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:00:00 UT

This week a vulnerability in Java has prompted a large scale notice to the general public.

What Counts for a DBA: Amnesia

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:00:00 UT

Louis Davidson explains why DBAs often need a healthy dose of selective, enforced amnesia about the pain of previous failures.

'At-Rest Data-Leakage': The Euphemism

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:00:00 UT

If you let working drives leave the building in a readable state, you’re unintentionally in the publishing business.

DBAs Take Sixth Place

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 07:00:00 UT

The hot jobs for 2013 are compiles and a number of tech jobs make the top 100. DBAs come in 6th and Steve Jones thinks that's good news for data professionals.

What Counts for a DBA: Being Replaceable

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:00:00 UT

Louis Davidson describes why all DBAs should strive to be replaceable, and what that really means.

Get alerts within 15 seconds of SQL Server issues
SQL Monitor checks performance data every 15 seconds, so you can fix issues before your users even notice them. Start monitoring with a free trial.

Feedback is Encouraged

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:00:00 UT

Microsoft is asking for feedback, more and more from customers. Steve Jones sees that as a good thing.

Password Insecurities

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 07:00:00 UT

Tony Davis argues that the Standards and best practices exist to avoid being hacked, but implementing them requires time and investment and often there simply doesn't seem to be the will to do it.

SSD Lifetimes

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:00:00 UT

This week Steve Jones looks at the expected lifetimes of SSDs and finds one that might be a nice upgrade for your system.

Open Data

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:00:00 UT

Today Steve Jones talks about Open Data, and what it might do for you.

Your Password has Failed the Test

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 06:00:00 UT

Your data is in the public domain and as a DBA you need to be very familiar with what it is possible for the sinner to do with a handy password, and how easily that sinner can get hold of it.

Fragmentation Fear

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:00:00 UT

Index fragmentation can certainly cause performance problems, but should it really dictate the way we design our clustered indexes?

IT is Looking Good

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:00:00 UT

The forecast for IT work is growing. That's good for those of us working in the field.

The Longevity of the Relational Database

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:00:00 UT

Waves of NoSQL hysteria come and go but the relational database remains, and Phil Factor admires its sheer ubiquity, and ability to provide data integrity and accessibility for a vast tapestry of data categories.

Document First, Code Later

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 06:00:00 UT

Phil Factor on the many advantages of building the code from the documentation. For one, it forces us to learn the language and concepts of the business processes before designing the schema.