digWin: winsql - voted

SQL Server 2008 CTP Released

Microsoft released the first Community Technology Preview (CTP) of SQL Server 2008, code-named Katmai, at TechEd last week. Yes, yes, I know. Some of you actually have real jobs with real servers and might want to continue reading about SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2000, and perhaps even SQL Server 7.0 from time to time. But talking head pundits ...

Microsoft Trumps Oracle's Record-Breaking TPC Score

Last week, Microsoft announced its latest TPC-H benchmark score, which was quite impressive. Microsoft's latest score--posted on May 21, 2007--was 60,359 queries per hour (QphH) @3t with a Price/QphH of $32.60 compared with Oracle's best score--posted on May 14, 2007--of 37,813 QphH @3t with a Price/QphH of $38.00. Almost double the performance for ...

Database-Sizing Tools for SQL Server

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest server of all?" This week's column is about database-sizing tools from Dell and HP in particular, but is applicable to any performance-sizing tool that takes a one-size-fits-all approach to sizing databases. My kids--especially Emily, who is six--love Snow White. Needless to say I've seen the movie a ...

Database-Sizing Tools for SQL Server

Tying Windows Home Server to SQL Server

This week, I want to talk about the Windows Home Server announcements made during Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates' recent keynote speech at the Windows Hardware and Engineering Conference (WinHec) 2007. Those announcements might not seem like compelling news to the Microsoft SQL Server community at first glance, but I think they're interesting in ...

Secure Access to Report Data

Restrict and secure access to SQL Server Reporting Services report data by linking SSRS roles to report folders, then mapping roles to AD users and groups.

Store RTF Data in a SQL Server Database

By using Windows Forms and a C# script, you can easily store and retrieve Rich Text Format data in a SQL Server 2005 database table.

Protect Your T-SQL Objects from Deletion

The sp_markAllMasterDBasSystem stored procedure can help protect the T-SQL objects you've created by marking them as system objects.

Optimizing Queries for Fact Tables

Help a DBA devise a scheme that lets him easily optimize two queries. The indexing scheme or optimization technique that you come up with should be flexible enough to help with the queries use a table.

A Look Back at SQL Server Magazine's Beginnings

Kalen Delaney, whose Inside SQL Server column has been an integral part of SQL Server Magazine since the first issue, reminisces about the magazine's origins.

Microsoft and SAP Announce Joint Offering

Last week, Microsoft and SAP announced a new joint offering designed to "simplify and accelerate customer adoption of SQL Server 2005 and optimize it for the SAP Business Suite." Microsoft said that the "new offering will enable customers to seamlessly migrate to SQL Server from competitive database offerings." "Microsoft and SAP have long ...

Goldilocks and the Four Schemas

Once upon a time, there was a DBA named Goldilocks. While walking through the forest one day, she stumbled upon a developer's cubicle. There was no door (everyone knows that cubicles don't have doors, even in fairytales) so she walked in without knocking. Pinned to the developer's corkboard were four database schemas. Goldilocks had a presentation ...

SQL Server Magazine UPDATE, April 12, 2007--Hotfixes vs. Service Packs: Blurring the Lines

IN THIS ISSUE:

This week, Microsoft announced the Incremental Service Model for automatic notification of SQL Server hotfix Cumulative Updates. But surprisingly, this new service seems shrouded in mystery, and the announcement raises more questions than it answers.

NEW INSTANT POLL: Swimming with

...

SQL Server Magazine UPDATE, April 19, 2007--Keep Your Eye on DPM

IN THIS ISSUE:

The beta release of Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 touts some significant improvements over the 2006 version of DPM. Although another beta is in the works before the final release, this product is worth watching.

NEW INSTANT POLL: Doing DPM

"Does your

...

The Sixth Annual SQL Server Magazine Innovators Contest

I want to make sure that everyone knows about the launch of the sixth annual SQL Server Magazine Innovators Contest. The contest Web site opened May 1 and will remain open until August 1.

You can learn more about the Innovators contest and submit your entries at

...

Check for Objects Created Without SET Options Enabled

Test your SQL Server savvy in this month's Reader Challenge. Submit your solution in an email message to challenge@sqlmag.com by May 10.

Licensing Answers

As you prepare to use either multicore CPU's or virtualization, you must be aware of the licensing ramifications for the OSs that support them and aplications such as SQL Server 2005.

Keep Your Eye on DPM

The beta release of Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 touts some significant improvements over the 2006 version of DPM. Although another beta is in the works before the final release, this product is worth watching.

ADV: Get the facts about virtualization

Dream it. Build it. Virtualize it. Download your complimentary copy of IDC's virtualization white paper, "HP-UX 11i: A Foundation for Enterprise Computing That Delivers Business Agility Through Integrated Virtualization, Workload Management, and Enhanced Security" from Hewlett-Packard and enter for a chance to WIN an HP 5.1 megapixel digital ...

Designing for Your Workload: Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

Describing performance tuning and scalability problems and concepts in a real-world context can help novice or intermediate IT professionals avoid similar mistakes in the future. I learned that lesson more than a decade ago, and it has served me well over the years as I've tried to assist my tuning customers. So I was especially interested when I ...