JUNE 7-10, 2010 | NEW ORLEANS, LA

Managing Microsoft SQL Server:For the “Reluctant” DBADon JonesSenior Partner and TechnologistConcentrated Technology, LLC

SESSION CODE: DAT203

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IntroductionsMe: Don Jones, Concentrated Technology

Microsoft MVP Award recipientContributing Editor, TechNet MagazineAuthor of 45+ IT booksBlogger at http://ConcentratedTech.com

You: The “Microsoft Person” in your environmentNot primarily concerned with supporting Microsoft SQL Server……but more or less forced to do so anyway

AgendaPeeking Under the Hood: How SQL Server WorksBackup and Restore OperationsAbout the Query OptimizerIndex Maintenance and TuningKey Database Configuration OptionsSQL Server Security ModelKey Server Configuration OptionsHigh Availability and Replication Options

How SQL Server Works, Part 1SQL Server stores data in 8KB chunks called “pages”It always deals with data in these 8KB chunksGenerally speaking, all data for a single table row must fit onto a single page

It’s actually possible for certain types of data to spread across multiple pagesSometimes, the page can contain a pointer to a file on disk – the FILESTREAM data type

The pages live in one or more files (.MDF, .NDF) on disk, but are always read or written in 8KB units

How SQL Server Works, Part 2When a query is issued that results in data being changed, added, or deleted:1. SQL Server makes a note of the query in its transaction log2. The database engine determines what page(s) are affected by the change3. The affected pages are loaded into server memory4. The changes are made in memory

• At this stage, the changes have been completed only in RAM.• If something else reads those pages, they’re already handy in memory.

How SQL Server Works, Part 3Eventually, the modified pages are written to disk.When this happens, SQL Server “checks off” the associated query in the transaction log.

In the event of a sudden failure:When SQL Server restarts, it looks to see if any “un-checked” queries are in the log.If so, it “re-plays” those queries to bring the database up to speed.

If you have the transaction log, you can recover the data!

SQL Server BackupsThree types:

Full – Backs up the entire database and removes (“truncates”) all “checked” entries from the transaction logDifferential: Only what’s changed since the last Full; also truncates the logTransaction log: Only grabs the current transaction log; truncates the active log afterward

Restoring a Database1. Start with the most recent Full backup• Leave the database in “restore mode” if you have other files

2. Apply the most recent differential• Stay in “restore mode” if you have more files

3. Apply any transaction logs since the differential was made• When finished, allow recovery to begin

• Maximum amount of data at-risk: Any changes made since the most recent transaction log backup

• Moral: Frequent T-Log backups!

Configuring Backups, Performing Restores

DEMO

IndexesTwo types:

Clustered Every table has one, even if it’s just on the row ID number.Governs the order in which data is logically storedShould be on whatever column is used most for lookups or table joins

Non-ClusteredEvery table can have zero or moreActs as a literal index, keeping entries in order by the indexed column and pointing to the full data rowA “covering” index is one that contains entries for every column being queried

Indexes: Pros and ConsPros

Indexes can speed up the time it takes to find dataAlso speed up sort timesIdeally, index on all columns that are frequently used in a WHERE or ORDER BY clause

ConsIndexes slow down data add/change/delete operations, because indexes must also be updatedIdeally, index nothing

The reality is a balancing act: Building indexes on columns that deliver the most benefit, with the least downside

Index Problem: FragmentationOccurs when index pages become full and data needs to be inserted into the middleA “page split” occurs to make room for the new entry, causing the pages to be “out of order” – this decreases performance

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Fixing FragementationReorganizing or Rebuilding the index will put the entries and pages back into the correct order, improving performanceYou can specify a “fill factor” that leaves empty space for new entries without splitting pages as oftenHowever, emptier pages mean SQL Server has to work harder to read the same amount of data – so this is a balancing act

Rebuilding and Reorganizing Indexes

DEMO

Index TuningThe indexes that made sense for a database on day 1 might not make sense after it has been in use for some timeYou can use SQL Profiler to capture real-world, representative query traffic……and feed that to the Database Engine Tuning Advisor to get recommendations on index improvementsThe Advisor can even help you implement those changes that you decide to proceed with

Using the Database Engine Tuning Wizard

DEMO

Key Database Options and Best PracticesAllow statistics to Auto-Create/Update

This makes sure the Query Optimizer knows which indexes exist and what kind of condition they are in

Consider disabling auto-growth, or at least monitor itAuto-Grow can consume time; better to manually size the database files appropriately

Disable Auto Close except on infrequently-used databasesClosed databases incur a performance hit when someone queries them since SQL Server has to open the file

Configuring Key Database Options

DEMO

SQL Server Security ModelLogin: Map to a Windows user/group, or an in-server credential; gets you access to the serverServer Role: Contains logins, and defines server-wide privilegesDatabase user: Maps to a login, and gets you into a databaseDatabase Role: Contains database users, and defines in-database privilegesCustom Database Role: Same as the built-in ones, but you define the permissionsApp Role: Shortcut login+database user+permissions designed to be activated by an application that defines its own security layer for the data.

Server OptionsAuthentication Mode: “Windows” or “Windows+SQL Server”Memory and Processor options (typically, leave alone)

InstancesEach “instance” is an independent installation of SQL ServerHas its own “server-wide” options (“instance-wide” is a better term)Default instance: Connect using server nameOther instances: Connect using SERVER\INSTANCE formatReview list of services to see instances – each instance has its own SQL Server service

Configuring Key Server and Security Options

DEMO

High Availability OptionsLog ShippingDatabase MirroringWindows Clustering

Where to Set Up Database Mirroring

DEMO

Replication OptionsSnapshotTransactionalTransactional with Updating SubscribersMerge

Off-Topic: Microsoft Sync Framework / Sync Services for ADO.NET

Final ThoughtsSQL Server Agent (and Jobs, Operators, and Alerts)Multi-Server Admininstration

Agent, Jobs, and Multi-Server Administration

DEMO

ConclusionA few basic admin skills can help you perform the most often-needed SQL Server tasksKeep in mind that the SQL Server Management Studio can connect to multiple servers for single-seat administration

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© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to

be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

This slide deck was used in one of our many conference presentations. We hope you enjoy it, and invite you to use it within your own organization however you like.

For more information on our company, including information on private classes and upcoming conference appearances, please visit our Web site,

www.ConcentratedTech.com.

For links to newly-posted decks, follow us on Twitter:@concentrateddon or @concentratdgreg

This work is copyright ©Concentrated Technology, LLC