SQL

Pluralsight: Getting Started With Your First SQL Server Instance

March 14, 2019 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Almost a full year after I first thought I might have something relevant to contribute, my first Pluralsight course has been published!

Its called “Getting Started With Your First SQL Server Instance” and is targeted to non-DBAs that want to know more about SQL Server Administration, or just want to understand SQL Server beyond the random Google Search when something breaks.

I’m hoping this is just the first of many “Getting Started…” courses that take SQL Server all the way down to entry-level training so people can learn, then test, then do as they go.

The trailer for the course:

BONUS: Pluralsight is offering a $100 discount on both of their Annual personal plans, but you need to sign up before midnight March, 18, 2019 (Pacific time)

I want to thank Chris and Derek at Pluralsight for their guidance along the way…and a huge shoutout to Eugene Meidinger (b|t) for his valuable input before, during and after the course creation.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

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Announcement: Pocket DBA™ service

February 5, 2019 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

Several months ago, we posted a blog about keeping a Database Administrator on retainer for emergencies, called “Put a DBA in Your Pocket”

We cross-posted a version over to LinkedIn at the same time.

The response to both was overwhelmingly positive!

So much so that we are bringing this idea on as a new service offering, effective today!

This service comes with different levels for different needs and budgets. It is primarily intended for you to be able to get a quick response from someone you trust (that’s us…) when bad things happen to your database server, which they eventually will. Its the nature of tech.

In addition to being there for emergencies, you also get some periodic proactive benefits as well.

All of the pricing, benefits and terms are on the Pocket DBA™ page, separate from our current Services page.

Launch Special: All new customers that sign up in February qualify for special rates and additional benefits… This is a limited-time offer, please message me directly for more details.

This service is only available to US businesses at this time.

Video: Moving SQL Server Data Files

January 23, 2019 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

If you are like me, when you look at certain pieces of SQL Server documentation the sheer volume of information can be a little overwhelming.

ALTER DATABASE is one of those documents, due to the number of things that can be ALTERed. The documentation has been improved since I was a young newbie DBA, but still…

Anyway, here is a simple video showing me moving a LOG file from my D drive to the C drive:

If you have comments or questions, please leave them on the video, or ping me on Twitter.

Thanks for watching!

Kevin3NF

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IRL: Cannot Connect to SQL Server

January 23, 2019 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

IRL #2 – Connectivity Issues

Problem: Application owner is trying connect to SQL Server to create a database, connection failed. Error message suggests checking Instance Name and “Allow Remote Connections” option set to True.

Background: This client has a wide variety of SQL Servers in Prod, Test and Dev. Many different versions and editions, quite a few coming from 3rd party vendors. This was in a new test environment for an application already up and running in Prod.

Resolution Attempts:

Try to Connect via IP address – failed
Verify Instance name – verified
Verify “Allow Remote Connections” is set to 1/True – it is
Verify SQL Browser Service Running – discovered Set to Disabled
Verify TCP/IP network protocol enabled – discovered disabled

Solution:

Enable TCP/IP for Named Instance SQLEXPRESS03
Restart Instance
Set SQL Browser Service to Automatic and start
Test logon via UDL file – success

Lessons you can benefit from:

SQL Express default install only enables Shared memory connections
Error messages are not always going to give you complete information
Have a process for testing

This entire process took about 10 minutes, including the instance restart. There are 3 other Express edition installs on this server.

Thanks for reading!

Kevin3NF

Follow @Dallas_DBAs

Video: Getting Started with SQL Server Execution Plans

January 17, 2019 by Kevin3NF Leave a Comment

I put this video together in about ten minutes of T-SQL code prep, and one-take of the video. It is not meant to be an all-inclusive lesson…merely an introduction to how to read SQL Server Execution Plans (Right to Left, Top to Bottom, etc.) and some basic things to look at. Senior performance tuning DBAs…you probably don’t want to watch this 🙂