SQL Server 2005 - Management Utilities

A review of some other SQL Server 2005 graphical and command line programs, which should be part of the toolkit of every SQL Server 2005 database administrator and programmer.

SQL Server 2000 Backup and Restore

This paper discusses the types of backups that are available in SQL Server 2000 and how backup functionality can be used in a disaster recovery plan. It includes general recommendations on how to improve backup and restore throughput and several case scenarios.

How to Schedule a SQL Server Database Creation Script

Scripting out your SQL Server 2000 objects is useful in any number of ways. You can save off the scripts for version control, generate the scripts needed to migrate to new hardware or a new environment, or just package up your application for deployment. Jon Reade brings us a look at the SCPTXFR utility, which can prove very valuable in managing your scripts.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to patch SQL Server

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So you've decided to secure your SQL Server infrastructure and you don't know where to start. This first guide in a two-part series on SQL Server patch deployment will help you track down those pesky servers before getting them properly patched.

SQL Servers represent a significant security challenge for a number of reasons. Primarily, they are ubiquitous. Hundreds of software packages use SQL Server as a data store as do a large number of commercial websites.

MSSQL Server Reporting Services: Black Belt Administration: "Governor"

In working with many reporting tools over my career, particularly within enterprise business intelligence suites and high-end production reporting systems, I have become acquainted with various control features in each that allow administrators to govern the actions of end users. Reporting Services is no different in this aspect of need for control, and the application provides numerous avenues for restraining our users from kicking off resource crippling queries that, unchecked, could disrupt even the most robust systems, as well as to prevent other harmful activities. At various junctures within this series, we will examine ways to effect such controls on an intermittent basis.

The Value of A DBA

SQL Server 2000 does an amazing job of running itself to a large extent, much more so in my experience, than the other major platforms. That being said, it isn't designed to run without some sort of DBA, at least not at an efficient level. But what value does a production level DBA bring to your organization? Your manager might wonder, but with many years of experience as a production DBA and manager, Steve Jones brings you a look at the value that a DBA provides.

You are looking to improve the performance of...

An Identity Crisis

SQL Server includes autonumber of identity columns despite the fact that they are not SQL-92 compliant. There is quite a bit of debate over the use of them in your database, but if you do decide to use them, you should be aware of potential problems. New author Troy Ketsdever brings us a story about his identity crisis and how it was solved.

In SQL Server 2000, you are setting up...

Quick! Which specific SQL Server user is logged into which database?

SQL Server's master database stores tables with important and constantly updated information about the state of the SQL server. One of these tables, sysprocesses, can be used to track (in SQL Server itself) which SQL Server users are currently logged in and which database(s) they are accessing.

The quick way to find out if a particular user is accessing a particular table is with a query.