Monday, November 06, 2006

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 4 - Configuring Profiler for Common Tasks (Templates)

Pt. 4 - Configuring Profiler for Common Tasks (Templates) - view details
Scott whigham, author of LearnSqlServer.com, walks you through one of his favorite tweaks for SQL Server Profiler - creating and customizing templates. This is a very quick video but it's content will save you a ton of frustration and time!

Highlights from this video:
  • Creating templates
  • Best Practices for Backing Up templates
  • Configuring Profiler to auto-start a trace upon connection
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 4:01 AM   0 comments  

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 2 - Setting Up Publications for Transactional Replication

Pt. 2 - Setting Up Publications for Transactional Replication - view details
This video, part 2 in our series, walks you through creating publications using the "Create Publication Wizard" in SQL Server Enterprise Manager. You'll learn about publishing tables and doing vertical as well as horizontal filters.

Highlights from this video:
  • What requirements are there for publishing tables?
  • How to publish an entire table and how to publish only certain columns
  • How to publish all columns but only rows that meet a WHERE clause
  • Should you change the destination object owner?
  • Syntax for writing filters
  • Determining snapshot creation and snapshot agent location/properties
  • How frequently should the snapshot agent run?
  • Scripting your publication for easier maintenance/reinitialization
  • After running the wizard, how to modify and view the publication's properties
  • How to generate new snapshots
  • What does the snapshot look like? How is it implemented?
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:25 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 3 - Setting Up Push Subscriptions

Pt. 3 - Setting Up Push Subscriptions - view details
This video walks you through setting up a push subscriptions and pull subscriptions as well as synchronizing servers. You'll be able to view latency and how to diagnose replication problems.

Highlights from this video:
  • Push Subscriptions vs. Pull Subscriptions
  • Synchronization Schedules and Latency
  • How to initialize a new publication using the "Create Publication Wizard"
  • Discussion of the Distribution Agent and how it works (does it run at subscriber?)
  • Discussion of using non-SQL Server subscribers
  • Discussion of service account usage and recommendations
  • Snapshot initialization and how to start the Snapshot Agent
  • Working with multiple subscriptions for a single publication
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:25 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Database Compatibility Levels and sp_dbcmptlevel

Database Compatibility Levels and sp_dbcmptlevel - view details
Database Compatibility levels are very important when upgrading from SQL Server 2000 to 2005 or 7.0 to 2000, for example, but db compatibility levels are also important for software testing and unit testing. You can test your applications that run on SQL Server 2005 as though they were running on SQL Server 2000 - a very handy backward compatibility feature!

NOTE: This video is shot using SQL Server 2005 but the concepts are valid for all versions of SQL Server

Highlights from this video:
  • Valid compatibility levels
  • How to force SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in SQL Server 2005 to use the 65 compatibility mode
  • sp_dbcmptlevel and its parameters
  • Upgrading and migrating from previous versions
  • Backwards compatibility options in SQL Server
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:25 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 1 - Setting Up the Distributor and Publisher for Transactional Replication

Pt. 1 - Setting Up the Distributor and Publisher for Transactional Replication - view details
This video is a continuation from our introductory series on SQL Server replication and walks you through setting up the distributor and the publisher for transactional replication. You'll walk through setting up replication using the "Configure Publishing and Distribution Wizard" to configure each option. Included is a detailed explanation of each of the screens in the wizard and recommendations for best practices.

Highlights from this video:
  • Replication architecture
  • What is the "distribution" database?
  • Suggestions for configuring the SQL Server agent for replication
  • What is the snapshot? Where is it stored? How often should it be generated?
  • Scripting the wizard's output for easier replay/debugging/maintenance
  • Using the Replication Monitor
  • Using the Distributor Properties and Publisher Properties
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:25 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 3 - Publications and Subscriptions

Pt. 3 - Publications and Subscriptions - view details
This video, our final overview video on SQL replication, finishes out our discussion with a lecture on publications and subscriptions.

Highlights from this video:
  • What objects (tables, views, stored procedures, etc) can I replicate?
  • Do I have to replicate the whole database or can I just replicate part of the database?
  • Can I replicate only certain columns of a table or do I have to replicate the entire table?
  • What types of subscriptions are available and what are the differences?
  • How to work with mobile and/or frequently disconnected systems
  • How synchronization schedules control replication and dictate "latency"
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:25 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 1 - An Introduction to the Concepts and Terms of SQL Server Replication

Pt. 1 - An Introduction to the Concepts and Terms of SQL Server Replication - view details
As replication becomes easier to implement and the world becomes more "wired", replication becomes increasingly the de facto standard for synchronizing data between different databases. This video, part 1 in our "Introduction to SQL Server Replication" series, gives you the big picture of why we use replication as well as describing several key terms and definitions. This video is more of a lecture-style video instead of a demo video but do not miss it! It will help you grasp the full scope of how SQL Server can use replication to do everything from synchronizing small "slices" of data from a source to a destination (more accurately termed the publisher and subscriber) and how you can even do disaster recovery with SQL Server replication.

Highlights from this video:
  • Answers the question, "What is Replication?"
  • Definitions, terms, terminology, architecture and topology of replication
  • Understanding Distributors, Publishers, and Subscribers
  • Publications, Articles, Tables, Stored Procedures and Views
  • Common Uses of/for replication
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:25 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 3 - What Do You Do With Your Trace Data? How to Write Queries Against Your Trace

Pt. 3 - What Do You Do With Your Trace Data? How to Write Queries Against Your Trace - view details
Do you want to know how many times a query has run in your trace? What about finding aggregates like what the minimum duration, maximum duration, and average durations/page reads/CPU? This is a great video that teaches you how to manipulate the trace data into a table for querying. Even then, you still have some work to do...

Highlights from this video:
  • How to save a trace to a table
  • Querying trace tables
  • Writing reporting-style queries against traces
  • Working with ntext data types and GROUP BY/WHERE clauses
  • Modifying your trace table to make it usable in aggregates
  • Saving the queries traced to a SQL file
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:24 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 2 - The Three Most Common Types of SQL Server Replication

Pt. 2 - The Three Most Common Types of SQL Server Replication - view details
This video, part 2 in our series, focuses on Snapshot, Merge and Transactional replication architectures. You'll learn what the purpose of each type of replication is, common uses of each, and just a general overview of the replication types in SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000.

Highlights from this video:
  • Understanding how synchronization affects replication
  • Snapshot replication architecture
  • Merge replication architecture
  • Transactional replication architecture
  • Useful analogies that help you understand and remember each type
  • Which type(s) of replication are "One Way" by default?
  • Which type(s) of replication supports conflict resolution?
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:24 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 1 - Using SQL Profiler - Concepts and Screens

Pt. 1 - Using SQL Profiler - Concepts and Screens - view details
SQL Server Profiler is one of the greatest SQL Server admin tools ever - you absolutely need to know it! This video walks you through the basics of "What is SQL Server Profiler?" and "How do I run Profiler?"

Highlights from this video:
  • What traces are and how to use them
  • Security requirements for running Profiler
  • Using (local) or . or any alias in Profiler - good or bad?
  • Concepts of server-side tracing vs. client-side traces
  • Suggestions for naming traces
  • Explanation of rollover files and Best Practices for using Profiler
  • Should You Trace to File or Trace to Table? What's the "Best Practice"?
  • Using templates
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:24 AM   0 comments  

New Microsoft SQL Server Video Tutorial: Pt. 2 - Determining Which Events, Data Columns and Filters to Use in Your Trace

Pt. 2 - Determining Which Events, Data Columns and Filters to Use in Your Trace - view details
You can significantly impact your trace's "drag" on your SQL Server by wisely choosing your events, data columns, and filters when you start your trace. This video walks you through the Event Classes (and makes suggestions as to which to use for what purpose), what common Data Columns are used (and what are Data Columns anyway?), and how filters can be used (what Event Classes use what Filters?).

Highlights from this video:
  • Suggestions for using filters to create more manageable traces
  • Tracing for performance tuning
  • Tracing errors
  • Viewing trace data and interpreting Profiler's results
  • What's the difference between "Profiler" and a "trace"?
  • SQL Batches and the SP:BatchCompleted Event Class
and much more
To download this video, log in, then visit the video's detail page and click "download". This is a subscriber-only video so a subscription is required

Note: You must have the TSCC codec installed to view this video

posted by Scott Whigham @ 3:24 AM   0 comments