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2018 Highlights and 2019 Goals

January 1, 2019 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Happy New Year!

They say focus on the positive and make your goals public, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do here!

Dallas DBAs had a great 2018, by every measurable category. No formal goals were laid out, other than “don’t close the doors” and “help people”.

The stats:

7 new clients added – mix of short-term and long-term
1 customer carried from 2017 into the year and 3 extensions signed for 2019
21K views/115K minutes watched on our YouTube channel
26,415 page views on DallasDBAs.com
1 new employee added (part-time Junior DBA)
2 new contractors working on skills not in house (Power BI and SQL Dev)
- 3 other sub-contractor agreements signed
1 SQL Saturday sponsored (Dallas, May) with a booth (many others at the “personal” level)
2 Pre-conference sessions and 2 regular session presentations given at SQL Saturdays (Cincy and Dallas)
3 scripts updated or added to the Microsoft Technet Gallery
2 Databases rescued from corruption issues (Thanks Red-Gate!)
6 free HealthChecks
At least $12 in net profit

The goals for 2019:

6 new long-term part time DBA support clients
Add one Senior SQL Server DBA to staff
- Add one apprentice to this DBA
Add one new Oracle DBA to the team
Sponsor 2 SQL Saturdays with a booth (Dallas and Cincy)
Deliver “DBA Fundamentals” training for free once per quarter (Cincy, Dallas(?), Q3/Q4 TBA)
30K views/180K minutes on YouTube channel
- 6 new videos – Accidental DBA target audience
40K Hits on DallasDBAs.com
At least $13 net profit
12 Free HealthChecks, bare minimum once a month

The things we put in place this year have worked well, so I may be fudging the number too conservatively for 2019. Check back next year…we may actually hit $14 net profit!

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs

Integration Services Catalog package errors

December 31, 2018 by Kevin3NF 3 Comments

Short post today…

My client makes extensive use of SSIS and deploys the packages to the Integration Services Catalog (ISC), and runs them via hundreds of jobs.

When one of the jobs fail, I have to go get the details.

Job History doesn’t have it.

So my process was:

Get the package path out of the job step
Expand the ISC
Expand SSISDB
Expand the Folder (get this from the job step)
Expand the Projects Node
Expand the correct Project (get this from the job step)
Expand Packages
Right-click the relevant package (get this from the job step)
Go to Reports, Standard Reports, All Executions
Filter for Failed Executions
Cross your fingers that you can get useful info from the result.

Now, repeat for each job step that failed.

The SSIDB database has all of this in the Tables (schema – Internal) and or the Catalog Views.

It took a while, but I created this to run around those tables and views to get ALL of the errors for the last day:

/*

Created by Kevin Hill, Dallas DBAs LLC, 12/28/2018
Inspired by work from Jules Behrens
Index tested by Peter Schott

This queries multiple SSISDB tables to return a clear path from Top to bottom 
related to errors in an Integration Services Catalog based SSIS package.
It has not yet been tied back to job execution, nor is it set to email info out.

Use this as a backup to your normal job failure checks to tie it all together
instead of spending a full cup of coffee clicking and drilling into the cumbersome 
All Executions report.

Free to use and modify, please leave this header as a courtesy.

*/

Use SSISDB
go

Select Distinct
	fold.[name] as Folder_name
	,proj.[name] as Project_Name
	,pack.[name] as Package_Name
	,ops.[message_time]
	,mess.[message_source_name]
	,ops.[message]
	--,mess.[execution_path]		-- this is pretty long path if you are pasting into an email or Excel
From [internal].[projects] proj
	Join [internal].[packages] pack on proj.project_id = pack.project_id
	Join [internal].[folders] fold on fold.folder_id = proj.folder_id
	Join [internal].[executions] execs on 
		execs.folder_name = fold.[name] and
		execs.project_name = proj.[name] and 
		execs.package_name = pack.[name]
	Join [internal].[operation_messages] ops on execs.execution_id = ops.operation_id
	join [internal].[event_messages] mess on ops.[operation_id] = mess.[operation_id]
		and mess.event_message_id = ops.operation_message_id
		and	mess.package_name = pack.[name]
Where 1=1
	and ops.message_type = 120		  -- errors only
	--and mess.message_type in (120,130)  -- errors and warnings
	and ops.message_time > getdate() - 1 -- adjust as necessary

/*
If you have a very large SSISDB due to activity or long retention, please consider this index:

CREATE NONCLUSTERED INDEX [NC_OpsID_MessageType_MessgeTime] ON [internal].[operation_messages]
(
	[operation_id] ASC,
	[message_time] ASC,
	[message_type] ASC
)
INCLUDE ([message])

*/

Created by Kevin Hill, Dallas DBAs LLC, 12/28/2018

Inspired by work from Jules Behrens

Index tested by Peter Schott

This queries multiple SSISDB tables to return a clear path from Top to bottom

related to errors in an Integration Services Catalog based SSIS package.

It has not yet been tied back to job execution, nor is it set to email info out.

Use this as a backup to your normal job failure checks to tie it all together

instead of spending a full cup of coffee clicking and drilling into the cumbersome

All Executions report.

Free to use and modify, please leave this header as a courtesy.

Use SSISDB

Select Distinct

fold.[name] as Folder_name

,proj.[name] as Project_Name

,pack.[name] as Package_Name

,ops.[message_time]

,mess.[message_source_name]

,ops.[message]

--,mess.[execution_path] -- this is pretty long path if you are pasting into an email or Excel

From [internal].[projects] proj

Join [internal].[packages] pack on proj.project_id = pack.project_id

Join [internal].[folders] fold on fold.folder_id = proj.folder_id

Join [internal].[executions] execs on

execs.folder_name = fold.[name] and

execs.project_name = proj.[name] and

execs.package_name = pack.[name]

Join [internal].[operation_messages] ops on execs.execution_id = ops.operation_id

join [internal].[event_messages] mess on ops.[operation_id] = mess.[operation_id]

and mess.event_message_id = ops.operation_message_id

and mess.package_name = pack.[name]

Where 1=1

and ops.message_type = 120 -- errors only

--and mess.message_type in (120,130) -- errors and warnings

and ops.message_time > getdate() - 1 -- adjust as necessary

If you have a very large SSISDB due to activity or long retention, please consider this index:

CREATE NONCLUSTERED INDEX [NC_OpsID_MessageType_MessgeTime] ON [internal].[operation_messages]

(

[operation_id] ASC,

[message_time] ASC,

[message_type] ASC

)

INCLUDE ([message])

If this is useful for you, please rate it on the TechNet Gallery where I posted it.

If you have a very active server, this can take awhile as the indexes on the underlying tables are for the cascading delete cleanup process. I’m working on a set of good indexes that will likely be unsupported by Microsoft, but useful.

Adjust as you see fit. Please leave the header if you use it.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs

—————————————————————-

DBA Fundamentals pre-cons 2019

November 12, 2018 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

While this post is for everyone, it is specifically written for SQL Saturday organizers…

I am filling out my 2019 schedule of target dates/locations of SQL Saturdays I want to attend/present (US only…I don’t even have a passport)

I am offering to do my DBA Fundamentals pre-con and one or two Saturday sessions (Security/DR) with a twist:

You keep my part of the pre-con proceeds for your group. I’ll cover my own travel, meals, etc. if you provide the space. This should allow you to increase your funding for the rest of the event, buy some pizza for your local group, or even discount the pre-con price should you choose to do so.

If you only have 1 or 2 pre-con spots and cannot secure an additional room at your venue, please pick from the other submissions 🙂

Tentative schedule:

January –
March – Chicago (23rd, submitted) or Cincinnati (30th)
April – Dallas *
June –
August –
October –
December –

* All of these are tentative, some dates not granted yet

So, dear organizer…if you think this offer will be a benefit to your SQL Saturday, please get in touch and let me know what your planned date is so I can be sure to submit. Kevin@DallasDBAs.com

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs

PASS Summit 2018 – My Schedule

November 6, 2018 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

If you are going to PASS Summit in Seattle and want someone to sit with, check out my schedule (primary and backup sessions) – very much subject to change:

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

============================

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM Room: 2AB

dbatools Powershell Library – The Complete Introduction (Yes, my very first session is Powershell, lol)

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=85712

10:15 AM – 11:30 AM Room: 612

Uncovering Duplicate, Redundant, & Missing Indexes

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=77036

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Room: 606

Improving Availability in SQL Server and Azure SQL Database

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=84728

1:30 PM – 4:00 PM Room: 6E

SQL Server Migrations Done the Right Way

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=84219

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Room: 6A

SSMS & T-SQL Tricks: Working Smarter, Not Harder

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78153

Thursday, November 8, 2018

============================

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM Room: 6B

Containers, Pods, and Databases- The Future of Infrastructure

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78022

1:30 PM – 4:00 PMRoom: 606

Query Tuning Internals for the Advanced SQL Developer

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78050

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Room: TCC Tahoma 2

Top 5 Power BI Custom Visuals

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=82110

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM Room: 6C

Top Tips for Deploying AGs and FCIs On Premises or In the Cloud

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78041

3:15 PM – 4:30 PM Room: 618

An Introduction to Partitioning

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=77002

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Room: 604

Data Science 101 for the SQL DBA

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=86521

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM Room: 6C

Validate Your SQL Server Estate with Ease Using dbachecks

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78382

Friday, November 9, 2018

============================

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM Room: 6C

T-SQL Habits and Practices That Can Kill Performance

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78111

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Room: 6E

Migrating to SQL Server 2017

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78285

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM Room: 3AB

BI Power Hour

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=86517

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Room: 3AB

Lightning Talks: DBA

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=85592

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Room: 618

What’s New With Adaptive Query Processing?

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78238

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM Room: TCC Yakima 1

A DBAs Guide to the Proper Handling of Corruption

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=78274

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM Room: TCC Tahoma 4

SQL Server Performance Monitoring Made Easy

http://www.pass.org/summit/2018/Sessions/Details.aspx?sid=85138

PLEASE feel free to come introduce yourself like we are old friends. My brain is defective in remembering names and where we met, so you may have to remind me if in fact we have met before 🙂 Fair warning…I may ask you to take a selfie with me. I suck at selfies so I may actually get a shot of your shoes, or the ceiling 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs

Put a DBA in Your Pocket

October 12, 2018 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Oh snap…one of your two DBAs just gave 2 weeks notice.

Now what?

You have 2 weeks before your other DBA starts feeling the pressure of doing 80 hours of work in a 40 hour week.

Did you see this coming? Do you have a favorite recruiting firm on your vendor list? Do you know a guy that knows a guy?

Assuming that the budget exists to pay for a replacement, you are very likely 4 weeks out from actually getting a replacement in the door:

1 week for the recruiter to source candidates
1 week to interview, if you are really on the ball and can “Agile” through the stack of resumes and the interview process
2 weeks for the person you make an offer to so they can give proper notice
At best.
If you rush the process.

In reality, recruiters these days are handling 30+ openings and dozens of applicants per opening. That’s a lot on their plate.

You have Stuff To Do™ as well, which limits your time to properly review resumes and get through the interview process. Hopefully your process isn’t 3 phone calls and 4 face to face on different days…

Great…so we’ve defined the problem. What is the solution?

Put a DBA in your pocket.

You likely already have a lawyer and accountant in there. Put a few critical technical people in there with them.

Set up a retainer agreement with an independent DBA to fill in when:

Someone leaves
Someone goes on a well-deserved vacation
Someone goes on Maternity/Family leave
A new project comes in and you cannot let the care and feeding go by the wayside

This doesn’t even have to be an actual independent contractor…many qualified DBAs, SysAdmins, storage people, etc. that are working full-time jobs but can check on your systems on weekends and evenings.

If your systems are mission critical, and you are running skinny in certain areas…protect yourself by having someone you already know in your pocket, ready to call when the unexpected happens.

For my fellow DBAs…would you like to take a vacation without your laptop? Or go to a training class? Send this link to your manager if you are stretched so tight you can’t breathe!

Dallas DBAs provides Remote DBA services at ‘X’ hours a week. Contact us if this resonated with you.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs

SQL101: Import/Export wizard

September 13, 2018 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Do you need to quickly Import or Export data to/from SQL Server? Do you want to avoid the hassle of creating and deploying an SSIS pacakge?

The SQL Server Import/Export wizard might be perfect for you!

The wizard steps you through the necessary pieces and is surprisingly flexible. I cover the basics in this video (recorded in one shot, please excuse throat clears and “Ums”)

If you have comments, please leave them on the YouTube page (ideally) or down below.

Its very likely this is part 1 of at least two…trying to keep my videos to shorter lengths.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs