SQLServerCentral.com Content tagged books

Troubleshooting SQL Server: A Guide for the Accidental DBA

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:53:47 UT

Three SQL Server MVPs, and stalwarts of the SQLServerCentral and MSDN community forums, provide fascinating insight into the most common SQL Server problems, why they occur, and how they can be diagnosed using tools such as Performance Monitor, Dynamic Management Views and server-side tracing. The focus is on practical solutions for removing root causes of these problems, rather than "papering over the cracks".

What SQL Server Books Do You Recommend

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:00:00 UT

Brad's noticed that there are fewer good books about SQL Server on the shelves, and asks which books you'd recommend to people who are new to SQL Server

Free ebook: SQL Server Execution Plans

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:00:00 UT

This free book is brought to you by Red Gate Software and Simple Talk Publishing. Why my query is running slow? Why isn't my index getting used? In order to answer these questions, you have to ask the same return question in each case: have you looked at the execution plan? Grant Fritchey provides the only dedicated and detailed guide to this essential topic.

SQL Server Hardware

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:37:42 UT

SQL Server Hardware will provide the fundamental knowledge and resources you need to make intelligent decisions about choice, and optimal installation and configuration, of SQL Server hardware, operating system and the SQL Server RDBMS.

The Red Gate Guide to SQL Server Team-based Development

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:18:57 UT

This book shows how to use of mixture of home-grown scripts, native SQL Server tools, and tools from the Red Gate SQL Toolbelt, to successfully develop database applications in a team environment, and make database development as similar as possible to "normal" development.

Performance Tuning with SQL Server Dynamic Management Views

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:21:58 UT

This is the book that will de-mystify the process of using Dynamic Management Views to collect the information you need to troubleshoot SQL Server problems. It will highlight the core techniques and "patterns" that you need to master, and will provide a core set of scripts that you can use and adapt for your own requirements.

Get Smart with SQL Backup Pro
Powerful centralised management, encryption and more.
SQL Backup Pro was the smartest kid at school
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Defensive Database Programming

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:39:31 UT

Inside this book, you will find dozens of practical, defensive programming techniques that will improve the quality of your T-SQL code and increase its resilience and robustness.

Exchange 2010 - A Practical Approach

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:41:50 UT

Jaap's Practical Guide to Exchange Server 2010 draws upon all that experience to deliver an easy-to-use guide to this latest platform, full of useful examples and top tips for SysAdmins, both new and experienced.

The Best of SQLServerCentral, Vol.7

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:02:18 UT

The seventh volume in this collection brings you a compilation of the best articles we've seen over the past year, from over 50 authors.

Brad's Sure Guide to SQL Server Maintenance Plans

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:42:39 UT

Brad's Sure Guide to Maintenance Plans shows you how to use the Maintenance Plan Wizard and Designer to configure and schedule eleven core database maintenance tasks, ranging from integrity checks, to database backups, to index reorganizations and rebuilds.

Protecting SQL Server Data

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:53:05 UT

This book holds the key to "encryption without fear". In it, John Magnabosco sweeps away some of the misconceptions surrounding SQL Server's encryption technologies, and demonstrates that, when properly planned and implemented, they are an essential tool in the DBA's fight to safeguard sensitive data.

SQL Server Tacklebox

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:45:02 UT

Inside the SQL Server Tacklebox you'll find day-to-day tools and techniques to automate and standardize SQL Server installation, document and report on your servers, migrate data and manage data growth, troubleshoot performance issues, receive notifications of impending issues, secure access to your servers and fight off the data corruption monster.

How to Become an Exceptional DBA, 2nd Edition

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:09:40 UT

Brad McGehee provides a "career guide" for DBAs. It is intended both to help prospective DBAs find a "way in" to the profession, and to advise existing DBAs on how they can excel at their jobs, and so become Exceptional DBAs.

SQL Server Stumpers, Vol.5

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:29:38 UT

Whether practicing for an exam or interview, or just wanting to see who's got the biggest SQL Server brain in your office, this book is perfect. Containing 100 SQL Server Central Questions of the Day, this book is a great way to test yourself and increase your knowledge.

The Data Access Handbook - Sample Chapter

Fri, 15 May 2009 06:00:00 UT

We have a sample chapter available from The Data Access Handbook, written by experts at DataDirect Technologies.

Confessions of an IT Manager, 2nd Edition - Book

Thu, 07 May 2009 15:41:36 UT

The software industry is, just occasionally, more absurd than one would dare to imagine. Having spent most of his working life in its clutches, Phil Factor has pretty much "seen it all" and what's more he's prepared to tell what he knows. The second edition of Phil's "Confessions of an IT Manager" contains Phil's full repertoire of tales of institutional mayhem and software projects gone awry.

Best of SQLServerCentral, Volumes 1 - 4

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:33:09 UT

Best of SQLServerCentral vols 1-4 pulls together some of the best contributions to SQLServerCentral.com between 2002 & 2006.

Do DBAs Still Read Technical Books?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:00:00 UT

Despite my misgivings about the fall from favor of technology books, I was heartened to hear from the developers at Red Gate that the classic books on the art of programming are still important to them. What are the equivalent books for DBAs?

SQL Server XML Schemas

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:35:38 UT

When information is exchanged in XML format, there needs to be an agreement between the sender and receiver about the structure and content of the XML document. An XSD (XML Schema Definition Language) Schema can be used to enforce this contract and validate the XML data being exchanged. Jacob Sebastian's book explains all.

Best of SQLServerCentral, Volume 5

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:26:25 UT

Best of SQLServerCentral vol 5 pulls together some of the best contributions to SQLServerCentral.com in 2007.

Best of SQLServerCentral, Volume 6

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:59:08 UT

"Best of SQLServerCentral v6" pulls together some of the best, most popular, and the most read articles of 2008, in dead tree format, covering database administration, BI, design, security, T-SQL, and most things in between.

How to Become an Exceptional DBA

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:59:11 UT

Brad's Sure Guide to SQL Server 2008

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:38:31 UT

SQL Server 2008 has hundreds of new features and improvements for Production DBAs, Developer DBAs, and Business Intelligence specialists…in this book I focus on what I thought were the ten most important new features for Production DBAs.

SQL Server Crib Sheet Compendium

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:29:47 UT

As a developer, DBA or manager, you may not really want to know all about XML, replication or Reporting Services, but if your next project uses one or more of these technologies heavily then the best place to start is with the 'jungle roof' view of each topic that this Crib Sheet compendium provides.

SQL Server Execution Plans

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:03:02 UT

Every day, out in the SQL Server forums, the same questions come up again and again: why is this query running slow? Why isn't my index getting used? In order to arrive at the answer you have to ask the same return question in each case: have you looked at the execution plan? Grant Fritchey provides the only dedicated and detailed book on this essential topic.

Mastering SQL Server Profiler

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:33:43 UT

SQL Server Profiler can troubleshoot a wide range of SQL Server issues, such as poorly-performing queries, locking and blocking, excessive table/index scanning, and a lot more. Brad's book will allow you to master the use of this versatile tool.

Sample Chapter from Murach's SQL Server 2008 for Developers

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:00:00 UT

Chapter 3 from Murach’s SQL Server 2008 for Developers shows you how to retrieve data from a database table. In the process, you’ll master the basic skills that you’ll use in coding almost any SELECT statement, no matter how complex. At that point, you’ll be ready to learn how to code joins, summary queries, subqueries, and action queries, and then move on to working with server-side features like cursors and stored procedures.