SSWUG SQL Server Expo – This Friday!
The Expo, Real-World Data Management with SQL Server from SSWUG.ORG is a free event, open to all. The expo will include sessions on SQL Server from top-name presenters. These are encore presentations of top-rated sessions from the Virtual Conference – released to the community during this expo event. Learn about how you can maximize the value from your SQL Server investment and give your users what they need from your systems. Available for 7 days beginning Friday, June 28th at 9am PST.
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How Do You Deal with 3rd Party Applications?
We were putting together a webcast today, and I was working with Scott Walz of Embarcadero (check out the webcast here) – we were talking about applications that may be essentially forced into your domain. Things like previously installed applications, or pre-packaged installations, where you have a whole lot less control over configurations, tuning and so-on.
We were talking about how to work with these applications while still paying attention to service agreements which often prevent messing with the schema and other options set up by the application. We came to the conclusion that you have to really pay attention to the basics with the applications, while still honoring the service agreement requirements. Some of the key things that you can still watch over –
Suggested indexes – run things through the tools you have for SQL Server. Are there possibly missing indexes? If so, work with the vendor to suggest the changes. Don’t necessarily apply the changes, but script them out, explain what you’re seeing performance wise and see if it makes sense to work with them to create the new indexes.
Stats, Counters – check your counters on those instances. Start with the essentials of CPU utilization, buffer cache hit ratios and such. Log your disk utilization and look for trending (here we go again with the baselining, then determining trends). Just because it’s a third-party application doesn’t mean you don’t (or shouldn’t) plan for growth and the resources you’ll need. The only way you’ll know is by shining light on the variables and keeping track of the changes.
Other performance/administrative items – if you have other things you normally monitor on your own databases, monitor them on the third-party database too. Don’t apply changes without working with the vendor, but do provide them with what you’re seeing, suggestions and see what makes sense to do working with them.
What other types of things do you look for when you work with "untouchable" systems? Drop me an email, let me know how you approach it.
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