Featured Article(s)
Tips for using SQL Server 2005 Snapshot Replication (Part 2)
Here are some helpful tips to performance tune and optimize SQL Server 2005 Snapshot Replication.
Watch Now: Using SQL Agent to Automate Tasks with SQL Server
Find out how to use the SQL Server Agent to run jobs automatically on your system. From maintenance to pulling information to be used in reports, the agent can be used to save you time and effort for repetitive tasks. We’ll look at how you set up a job, troubleshoot a job and even how to be notified as jobs succeed and/or fail.
Know Thy Data
I was reading this article in MSDN magazine about coding more secure applications. The article has some good advice and, even though it’s a bit older (can you tell I keep this stuff around *forever*?), one of their suggestions caught my eye – "Never Trust Data."
Interesting. Their viewpoint in this article is that data can be evil – true, with SQL injection and truncation attacks and the like, you need to work hard to make sure this isn’t an issue with your applications. But…
From a database professional standpoint, I think there’s a different suggestion hiding here. I think it would be worthwhile to KNOW your data – what’s expected, growth rates, uses, etc. These things can help you profile data and then be able to spot oddities. If you know that values tend to average "10" for a given bit of information and all of a sudden you see a 55, you should know, or someone should that that data should be reviewed. Heck, if it’s a sales figure, at the very least congratulate the salesperson.
But this extends to a lot of areas you need to watch –
– database size growth
– server utilization
– disk utilization
… and more. Get to know your systems beyond the OS and SQL Server settings. Know how it "lives and breathes" and be proactive about managing it.
Featured White Paper(s)
Web Services: The Executive’s Guide
An introduction to the fundamentals of Web Services from the business management perspective. Light in jargon and rich in con… (read more)
Protecting Your Microsoft SQL Server
MS-SQL is used to power some of your most critical information applications. Complete protection of MS-SQL requires a high-av… (read more)
The High-Performance DBA
Techniques and Best Practices for Keeping Databases Optimized for High Performance. This paper outlines techniques you can u… (read more)
Replication made simple using SQL Data Compare
Replicating SQL Server databases needn’t be a massive headache. This document discusses how to troubleshoot replication probl… (read more)
Development, Change management, Code and Project deployment: Processes and Automation in SQL Server Environments
This white paper explores best practices and common approaches to managing the lifecycle of database projects in SQL Server e… (read more)