SQL Server Telemetry

  • Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Telemetry

  • We're going through this with the new "Data Migration Assistant" (formally, "Upgrade Advisor").  There's no chance of opting out for the first part, which sends information about your system to MS.  We've decided that we'll take our chances without it because of that. Upgrade Dev and test it.  Upgrade Staging and test it.  Upgrade Prod (with every kind of backup, including full disk backups for VM, you can imagine) and test it.

    I think that MS has gotten a bit cocky.  They have no right to such data / "telemetry" if we don't want them to have it.  I also think that they have a hell of a nerve making the defaults in Windows 10 what they are.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden - Monday, April 17, 2017 9:51 PM

    We're going through this with the new "Data Migration Assistant" (formally, "Upgrade Advisor").  There's no chance of opting out for the first part, which sends information about your system to MS.  

    I was not a fan of Upgrade Advisor. I was optimistic about the upgraded version because supposedly it worked many times better. I was unaware of the telemetry data being shipped back to MS from the DMA. I think you should be able to opt out of it. Since you can't, I will continue to stick with my own methods and not rely on such a tool as this to upgrade databases.

    I think that MS has gotten a bit cocky.  They have no right to such data / "telemetry" if we don't want them to have it. 


    I would love to see an opt out for all products. I have clients that have trapped sensitive data at the firewall being shipped back up to MS. Due to that, they started blocking it at the firewall. They don't want to take any risk. An opt-out for telemtry would still give MS a good enough sample of feature use etc which can help them drive development efforts.

    Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
    _______________________________________________
    I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
    SQL RNNR
    Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
    Learn Extended Events

  • All these systems are put together with the best and honourable intentions.  The problem comes when they are exposed to people with the worse and malign intentions.

    Data scientists can and do achieve incredible things with data that could benefit us all but they are also like the fat kid entrusted with the keys to the sweet shop. 

    There's lots of "I could do this" but very little "Should I do this"

  • DP» All these systems are put together with the best and honourable intentions.

    Are they? Really?
    Or could it be that an order has come down from on high in Microsoft that metadata is the new gold rush and that whatever can be collected must be collected.

    What I don't really understand is why so many SQL Servers have Internet access. These servers should only be accessed internally or by their application servers. The idea that so many SQL Server installations are exposed to the Internet sends a shiver down my spine. Are you who is charged with the well-being of your DB-server up to speed with cybersecurity or do you hope that a virus-scanner and a religious devotion to updates and patches will keep it safe?

  • I like providing the data to Microsoft and other vendors as I believe that it can be valuable for me as a customer for my suppliers to be continually evaluating their products. For this they need data.

    I do also agree that it should be optional as a given system might have sensitive data, as previously highlighted, or a very sensitive performance criteria.

    Gaz

    -- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

  • Sean Redmond - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 3:01 AM

    DP» All these systems are put together with the best and honourable intentions.

    Are they? Really?
    Or could it be that an order has come down from on high in Microsoft that metadata is the new gold rush and that whatever can be collected must be collected.

    What I don't really understand is why so many SQL Servers have Internet access. These servers should only be accessed internally or by their application servers. The idea that so many SQL Server installations are exposed to the Internet sends a shiver down my spine. Are you who is charged with the well-being of your DB-server up to speed with cybersecurity or do you hope that a virus-scanner and a religious devotion to updates and patches will keep it safe?

    I agree.  I don't know why our SQL Servers have internet access.  My thought is that the OPS team has it that way to make monthly Windows Updates easier.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • David.Poole - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 2:39 AM

    All these systems are put together with the best and honourable intentions.  The problem comes when they are exposed to people with the worse and malign intentions.

    Data scientists can and do achieve incredible things with data that could benefit us all but they are also like the fat kid entrusted with the keys to the sweet shop. 

    There's lots of "I could do this" but very little "Should I do this"

    I'm pretty sure that because of the very people you speak of, there's little honorable to be had even at conception of a project.  Even the release cycle for most software is built on greed.  "We need to compete.  Push something... anything.... out so we can say we have it and if anyone complains, then we'll fix it.".  I'm convinced that continuous releases are necessary only because of that particular business model.  They have to do continuous releases to continually fix errors caused by the rush.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • When Microsoft says that they're collecting data just for quality of service purposes and don't care who I am personally, I take them at their word. I'd trust Microsoft with my usage data more than I would Google or Facebook, because Microsoft are primarily technologists in the IT platform and services business.

    However, Google and Facebook earn most of their revenue from aggregating and selling data to anyone willing to pay. They are essentially marketing companies with a veneer of sugar coated technology specifically designed to draw people in and leech as much data as possible from them.

    "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

  • Eric M Russell - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 7:57 AM

    When Microsoft says that they're collecting data just for quality of service purposes and don't care who I am personally, I take them at their word. I'd trust Microsoft with my usage data more than I would Google, because Microsoft is primarily in the IT platform and services business, while Google earns most of their revenue from aggregating and selling data to anyone willing to pay.

    I have no such trust in any software vendor.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 8:06 AM

    Eric M Russell - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 7:57 AM

    When Microsoft says that they're collecting data just for quality of service purposes and don't care who I am personally, I take them at their word. I'd trust Microsoft with my usage data more than I would Google, because Microsoft is primarily in the IT platform and services business, while Google earns most of their revenue from aggregating and selling data to anyone willing to pay.

    I have no such trust in any software vendor.

    When it comes to things like email or cloud hosting, your only choice is which provider will hold your data. You can't opt out of IT, unless you want to change professions and make some other radical lifestyle choices. Maybe one day I'll say to hell with it all and retire to a cabin in the woods, but at least for today I need to earn a living.

    "Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

  • David.Poole - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 2:39 AM

    All these systems are put together with the best and honourable intentions.  The problem comes when they are exposed to people with the worse and malign intentions.

    Data scientists can and do achieve incredible things with data that could benefit us all but they are also like the fat kid entrusted with the keys to the sweet shop. 

    There's lots of "I could do this" but very little "Should I do this"

    Very true.

  • Sean Redmond - Tuesday, April 18, 2017 3:01 AM

    Are they? Really?
    Or could it be that an order has come down from on high in Microsoft that metadata is the new gold rush and that whatever can be collected must be collected.

    What I don't really understand is why so many SQL Servers have Internet access. These servers should only be accessed internally or by their application servers. The idea that so many SQL Server installations are exposed to the Internet sends a shiver down my spine. Are you who is charged with the well-being of your DB-server up to speed with cybersecurity or do you hope that a virus-scanner and a religious devotion to updates and patches will keep it safe?

    Re: the first part, I think mostly they are. Most developers look for ways to improve things and want to collect data with only good intentions. There are certainly other groups, such as sales and marketing, that start to turn things a different direction.

    Re: Internet access. Most firewalls and systems allow  access out, meaning they  allow connections initiated inside the firewall to go outside to any address not blocked. It's only connections coming in that are blocked. That's the default way most systems are configured.

  • I am always taken aback by people who have such a bad opinion of Microsoft. I have done business with them for 20+ years and they have never done anything to make me distrust them. As a client, they treat me about as well as I am treated by my own bank, and I trust them about as much.

    I am also always taken aback by the vitriol and distrust of Microsoft employees. I have worked for many companies and with many professionals over the years. I never met a single person who was not trying their utmost to give clients good products and services. Apparently Microsoft has figured out a way to find and hire all of the greedy programmers on the planet. Or alternately, they are just like you and I.

    Microsoft spends millions every year on user interface testing and they are constantly improving their products. I am glad to give them my usage data, just like I appreciate and am grateful for data from my own users. A reliable opt-out is critical because I think that it is needed on production machines. Those should not be serving telemetry.

  • I tend to trust Microsoft as a company. They have made missteps, but none that I consider egregious. I think far, far too many people seem to distrust them for no specific, articulated reason. Just concerns and impressions from media stories.

    Most of the employees I've met are focused on revenue, and that can get annoying, but it isn't inherently untrustworthy or any different than most other companies. Other than those companies whose employees just don't care about the company and take a paycheck. Microsoft employees aren't like that.

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