New Videos Posted:
Watch: SQLonCall: How to Hire a DBA – Reading (really reading) the resume and knowing what to look for, what to *watch out* for.
Watch: SelectViews: Book Looks: SQL Queries for Mere Mortals
…From yesterday:
Watch: Food for Thought: Direct SQL Good Idea/Bad Idea? What is it?!? Find out why you should avoid direct SQL.
Watch: Upcoming Events in the Database World
Watch: Full SelectViews Show with these and other segments
Featured Article(s)
Understanding Windows Share Point Services
A human being’s need for communication is as strong, instinct and as basic as the need to eat, drink, sleep and love. It is both an individual and a social need. It is "both a natural individual demand and a requirement of social existence to use communication resources, tools and techniques in order to engage in the sharing of experiences, through symbol mediated interaction". This is the first part in the series of two part articles on Windows Share Point Services and Share Point Portal Server. In this part, i.e., the first part, I will discuss what Windows Share Point Services are; I will discuss Share Point Portal Server in the next and concluding part of this series.
Failover, Server Optimization, Consolidation
If you’ve not yet see the Database Utility from HP/PolyServe, you should take a look. I know we’ve talked about it on webcasts and such, but if you’re looking to optimize your environment, consolidate servers, make sure you have failover options and at the same time, gain better control over deployments, better control over your environment in general, this is a great place to look. Get more information here – see how it could fit into your shop and give you better management of your server environment. You can also get a whitepaper here, on SSWUG, with information about the capabilities and benefits.
Repeat: Call for Comments: Images in the Database?
Herb wrote in asking for comments and feedback on putting images in the database. Now, I know the "traditional" answer to this, along with the logic behind it, But I thought I’d throw this back out and see if things have changed… especially given the moves in the database world toward using the database as a general purpose store for all things "data." So, send me a note here with your thoughts – and here’s Herb’s question:
"I have been in discussion with my developers (especially DBA) regarding images and SQL Server DB. I am of the old school where images larger than the platform’s page-size are kept on the host. The idea of overflow pages (not sure this is what SQL Server calls them) has been something I avoid. I grew up under Yourdon (Structure Programming and Design) and one of the earlier things I learned was to keep functions and like items to no more than the number of lines (around 26 then) a monitor (the green screen types) could display. Anything larger needed to be broken down into smaller units.
I have noticed no ecommerce programs I have been working with, the image files are not found in the database no matter how small. I believe the use of the database to store images, blobs; globs, etc. are no problems initially on a new application. However, later lead to performance problems due to storage fragmentation from removing useless or out-of-date objects and to the overflow pages used for their storage. Maybe I am wrong, but I am not afraid of being proven wrong or sticking my neck out for what I believe in. I am hardheaded not obstinate. People often do not understand there is a difference between these two. An obstinate or stubborn individual will not change even proven without a doubt their stance is 100% incorrect. A headstrong individual believes their stance is correct, but shown it is incorrect, will do a memory swap.
So, what do think throwing it up to see what the sages and wizards say?"
Last Call: Survey Closes End of Day on Friday
Please – if you have a minute or two – we have a new concept we’d like to first explain to you, then get your feedback on. I need to know what you think of it, what you’d like to see, what type of experiences you’ve had, etc. I’ve created a short video explaining the idea, then we have a survey. Now, I know, I know. Surveys are not everyone’s favorite thing, but I really need to get your feedback and know what you think about this.
We’ve added some incentive too for the survey – by filling out the survey, you’re automagically entered in the drawing for a prize! The prizes are sure to be of interest, it’s cold hard cash. We’ll have one (1) $200 grand prize, one (1) $100 second prize and three (3) prizes at $50. So, you have *5* chances to win.
This all hinges on feedback we receive, so we’ll be running this for a few weeks here to get as much feedback as possible.
Click here to see the video and take the survey – and please do let others know about this. I’m not trying to generate traffic (no login or membership is required) – but I do need to hear from as many people as possible.
*Thanks* for your help! (If you have any trouble with the page or the survey, please email me and let me know).
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Maximizing SharePoint: Understanding Replication Options
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Top Ten Steps to Secure Your SQL Server
In most organizations today, business critical and confidential data increasingly resides in Microsoft SQL Server databases. … (read more)
Database Change Management and Version Control
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