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Using a SAN to Initialize Replication

Posted Saturday, May 16, 2009 10:50 AM by boduff
I've chatted to a few customers about the possibnility of using a SAN based snapshot to initialise transactional replication. This can be fantastic when you are using a replica to provide "near real time" reporting. Up until now, documentation has been Read More...
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Dimensional Modelling and Cube Building 101

Posted Thursday, May 07, 2009 9:15 AM by boduff
Thanks to everyone who came to the Dublin SQL users Group session on Tuesday. I hope that we addressed some aspects of “cube fear” that is common in even very experienced relational professionals. For me just being comfortable building that first cube Read More...
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Attachment(s): SSAS 101.zip

Why Not to Sysprep SQL Server

Posted Thursday, February 12, 2009 2:13 PM by boduff
If you do a lot of installs its a good idea to have an automated process for provisioning SQL Server. A lot of people try to use "sysprep" Here's a few reasons why not to use sysprep. Its not supported by Microsoft CSS. SQL will not work properly Read More...
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Troubleshooting SQL 2008 Installation (Access Denied)

Posted Thursday, February 12, 2009 1:43 PM by boduff
I have to say that the improvements in the SQL 2008 installation have been pretty good to me. We have a Hyper-V lab with automated SQL installation based on configuration templates which works really well. We can get a box provisioned with SQL 2008 in Read More...
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Configuring Max Worker Threads in SQL 2005

Posted Saturday, May 17, 2008 3:52 PM by boduff
One of the changes in SQL 20005 is that the default value of Max Worker Threads has changed from 255 to zero, meaning that SQL Server now automatically determines the optimum number of threads. You can determine the maximum number of threads SQL Server Read More...
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Last Exam to Go on SQL Ranger 04!!

Posted Thursday, April 03, 2008 4:48 AM by boduff
Out last written exam tomorrow!!! There was definitely a sense of the end of a long journey when we finished the last class today (VLDB scenario). I don't think people will be jumping for the pub on Friday as everyone will be flopping down in bed ;-) Read More...
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What Does Lock Pages in Memory Do

Posted Thursday, April 03, 2008 4:35 AM by boduff
I thought I would post some clarification on what the famous "Lock Pages in Memory" policy setting does and does not do. 1. It prevents the operating system from stealing the buffer pool (see previous blog on buffer pool), thus shrinking the Read More...
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How to set MAX_SERVER_MEMORY

Posted Monday, March 31, 2008 2:08 AM by boduff
OK I'm on a roll here blogging as my brain is full up on the MCA course. Here's a good tip on how to calculate the MAX_SERVER_MEMORY a) calculate worker threads (assuming set correctly, as default max 255 may be too low for huge beasts) select max_workers_count Read More...
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SQL Server Memory Architecture. Myth Busting and how sad is AWE/32 bit.

Posted Monday, March 31, 2008 1:05 AM by boduff
I have a little picture below to show how memory is broken up in the SQL Server Working set. Some key Myths to dispel: a) The Max Memory Setting only sets the target memory for the buffer pool not for the whole of SQL Server working set. So do not set Read More...
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The SQL Server Disaster Game

Posted Sunday, March 30, 2008 9:51 PM by boduff
I have been doing a great course with Paul Randal on disaster recovery for SQL Server. He has a great blog on just about everything to do with DBCC and disk structures and recovery. See http://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/paul/default.aspx Here is a little Read More...
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Mid Way Through Ranger 03

Posted Saturday, March 29, 2008 6:30 AM by boduff
I've just survived week 3 of the SQL Ranger Rotation 04 here in Redmond. Whats its been like: a break neck sprint through level 300-500 content on SQL nearly every aspect of SQL. Man I thought I was good on SQL Server until Paul Randal started explaining Read More...
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Managing SQL Server for MOSS

Posted Friday, March 07, 2008 4:07 PM by boduff
There is a new white paper available on managing SQL Server for MOSS environments. http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=111531&clcid=0x409 Great tips on Index defragging and use of DBCC. One thing that I'm not sure I entirely agree with is the adding Read More...
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Off to Ranger/MCA Training

Posted Friday, March 07, 2008 9:56 AM by boduff
I'll be off to the states for the four week MCA:Database training. http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/architect/database/default.mspx Speaking to people who have been on the course before this is really exciting. We get to spend four weeks in training Read More...
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My Trip to the land of XML Messaging

Posted Friday, March 07, 2008 9:34 AM by boduff
Sorry I've been off the radar a while. I've been working as a Solution Architect on a large telco solution. I'm very happy with the results, We managed to make good use of lots of SQL Server programmability features such as XML, service broker, SQL CLR, Read More...
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Do I Need 64 Bit SQL Server

Posted Thursday, February 14, 2008 1:21 PM by boduff
When moving to SQL 2005 from 2000, some customers are asking what real benefit 64 bit brings. The short answer is : - 64 bit is the future - rumours are abound that future releases of SQL Server might not even have a 32 bit sku (except developer editions, Read More...
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