Secure options for remote SQL Server administration

In this two-part series, Serdar Yegulalp explains how to remotely administer SQL Server without compromising network security. In part one below, he describes two methods for providing secure administrative access to remote employees. In part two, he'll examine practical problems you may encounter when remotely administering SQL Server and how to work around them.

SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services Activation Process

SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services uses cryptography to protect account data. Learn how SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services generates and stores the keys required to encrypt data.

What is the second rule for normalizing data?

Partitioned Tables and Indexes in SQL Server 2005

Table-based partitioning features in SQL Server 2005 provide flexibility and performance to simplify the creation and maintenance of partitioned tables. Trace the progression of capabilities from logically and manually partitioning tables to the latest partitioning features, and find out why, when, and how to design, implement, and maintain partitioned tables using SQL Server 2005. (41 printed pages)

SQL Server 2005 - Interface Overview

In this article, we will be giving you an overview of what the new interface looks like in SQL Server 2005.

SQL Server 2005 Part 5 - High Availability and Scalability Enhancement

In this article, we continue our discussion on high availability and scalability enhancements in SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 release. Features such as clustering, database mirroring, online indexing, fast recovery, database snapshots, and snapshot isolation transaction level have already been covered earlier in this series - now we will concentrate on the remaining features, such as a new method of table and index partitioning, backup and restore improvements, and new hardware support options.

Using the SQLCMD in SQL Server 2005

SQL Server 2005 has changed quite a bit about the way DBAs will work with SQL Server. One of the new tools is the SQLCMD utility that will replace isql and osql as the command line utility. Author Andre Vigneau brings us a first look at this new tool and how you can do a few neat tricks with it.

MSSQL Server 2000 Reporting Services: Black Belt Administration: Prepa

General optimization of RS' performance is, beyond argument, one of the more important functions of the Administrator. In evaluating performance from various perspectives at the Administrative level, one readily useful source of information is the data we can obtain from the logs created by the system itself. Reporting Services generates a number of log files to capture information about server operations, status, and so forth. Within this group of logs, which we will explore individually within prospective articles within our series, the Report Server Execution Log is a great place to start in setting up a basic performance and auditing analysis capability.

Batch Compilation, Recompilation, and Plan Caching Issues in SQL Serve

This paper explains how batches are cached and reused in SQL Server 2005, and suggests best practices on maximizing reuse of cached plans. It also explains scenarios in which batches are recompiled, and gives best practices for reducing or eliminating unnecessary recompilations.

Find TCP/IP Sockets Net-Libraries port number used by SQL Server 2000

When a DBA is managing many different SQL Server boxes, it can be a tedious job to find the port numbers used by all of the SQL Servers. In this article, I would like to discuss several methods for finding the Port numbers used by SQL Server.