Editorials

Virtual Workshop – SQL Server 2008 Indexes – Internals and Best Practices

Announcement: Indexing Virtual Workshop
SQL Server 2008 Indexes – Internals and Best Practices

Kalen Delaney will be presenting our next virtual workshop, all about SQL Server Indexes. You’ll learn about key design considerations as you determine where, and what types of indexes will best support your queries. You’ll also learn the value of unique indexes and included columns. You’ll find out about composite indexes, and how to determine the best indexes for your queries involving ANDs, ORs and JOINs. Last but not least, we’ll discuss best practices that you can put to use immediately as you review and update your designs to support the queries on your system.

Indexes can be the key to performance on your system. Kalen is one of the foremost authorities on SQL Server internals – and an expert on how indexes work and are applied. You won’t want to miss this incredible workshop opportunity! You can even get a certificate after completing the workshop and passing the quiz! Kalen will be available during the workshop to answer questions live in the chat room and make sure you get all you can from the workshop. It’s an incredible opportunity and we hope to see you there!

Workshop Date:
February 12, 2010 at 9:00a Pacific
[Get More Information] or [Register Now]

Do You Know SQL Server or SharePoint?
If so, we’d like to talk with you! We’re interested in what you’ve learned in the trenches – from techniques to tips to frustrations, product and book reviews and more. As we begin to roll out several new features, we’d also like to invite you to join us and write for and participate in SSWUG.ORG. We offer a unique payment plus royalties system and we work with you to make writing for the site easy and straightforward. Have a video submission? Great! Podcast? Excellent. We support each of these, plus articles, scripts and more. Just drop me a note at swynk@sswug.org and let me know you’re interested and we’ll be on our way.

Check Those Instances!
As you install software, whether it’s SharePoint, third-party applications or those developed in-house, many times they install new instances or databases on your systems. While new databases can be seen by traditional maintenance plans, if you end up with new instances on your SQL Server, you may be surprised to find out that those instances aren’t necessarily covered by maintenance plans.

Take a few minutes, fire up your SQL Server and determine the instances that are running.

Next, check those instances and make sure they have appropriate recovery and maintenance plans running and that you’re covered as you need to be. You may be surprised to find out that some applications will install SQL Server Express instances on your server as you install the software. You may not even realize they’re there.

Take a bit of time and audit your servers, make sure you know what’s running SQL Server-wise, and make sure you have the operations in place to protect those installations.

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