Search results matching tags 'Administration' and 'Web'

PowerShell PowerPack Download

BuckWoody — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:30:20 GMT

I read Jeffery Hicks’ article in this month’s Redmond Magazine on a new add-in for Windows PowerShell 2.0. It’s called the PowerShell Pack and it has a some great new features that I plan to put into place on my production systems as soon as I finished learning and testing them.

You can download the pack here if you have PowerShell 2.0. I’m having a lot of fun with it, and I’ll blog about what I’m learning here in the near future, but you should check it out. The only issue I have with it right now is that you have to load a module and then use get-help to find out what it does, because I haven’t found a lot of other documentation so far.

The most interesting modules for me are the ones that can run a command elevated (in PSUserTools), the task scheduling commands (in TaskScheduler) and the file system checks and tools (in FileSystem). There’s also a way to create simple Graphical User Interface panels (in ). I plan to string all these together to install a management set of tools on my SQL Server Express Instances, giving the user “task buttons” to backup or restore a database, add or delete users and so on. Yes, I’ll be careful, and yes, I’ll make sure the user is allowed to do that.

For now, I’m testing the download, but I thought I would share what I’m up to. If you have PowerShell 2.0 and you download the pack, let me know how you use it.

Script Disclaimer, for people who need to be told this sort of thing:

Never trust any script, including those that you find here, until you understand exactly what it does and how it will act on your systems. Always check the script on a test system or Virtual Machine, not a production system. Yes, there are always multiple ways to do things, and this script may not work in every situation, for everything. It’s just a script, people. All scripts on this site are performed by a professional stunt driver on a closed course. Your mileage may vary. Void where prohibited. Offer good for a limited time only. Keep out of reach of small children. Do not operate heavy machinery while using this script. If you experience blurry vision, indigestion or diarrhea during the operation of this script, see a physician immediately.

SQL Server Chargeback Strategies

BuckWoody — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:47:37 GMT

It seems the more things change the more they stay the same. One of the things I used to create on the mainframe system when I started years ago was a “charge-back” system. It tracked the time and resources used by the employees so that we could charge their department money for the time they spent on the (very expensive) mainframe.

When LAN systems came out, IT departments were just charged as a general expense. But these days, with shrinking budgets and deeper scrutiny on how resources are used, this idea has come back around. IT and Data Systems managers are keen to show the organization that it isn’t free to operate a database system.

From time to time I get asked if it is possible to do a chargeback system for SQL Server. And it is! In fact, I wrote a couple of articles on how to do that right here:

http://www.informit.com/guides/content.aspx?g=sqlserver&seqNum=311

http://www.informit.com/guides/content.aspx?g=sqlserver&seqNum=312

The Magical World of SQL Server Licensing

BuckWoody — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:15:30 GMT

Licensing. Sometimes it feels like to you need a specialized degree, a black robe and a secret handshake to really understand it – but it’s not quite that bad.

There are several licensing “models”, from just buying SQL Server off the shelf to Software Assurance, or SA, where you just install to your heart’s content and then “true up” or pay at the end of a certain period.

But it’s best to go to the source. There are three guides I use:

This is the simplest guide: http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/e/6/1e68f92c-f334-4517-b610-e4dee946ef91/2008%20SQL%20Licensing%20Overview%20final.docx

This is the more complicated but more complete guide: http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/F/8/6F84A9FE-1E5C-44CC-87BB-C236BFCBA4DF/SQLServer2008_LicensingGuide.pdf

And this is the phone number I call when I’m stumped: (800) 426-9400

They key is to pay for what you use. All of us have had Instance “pop up” in the organization without our knowledge. If that happens, contact that number and ask what to do. Nobody will come to your organization and take you to court – in fact, you’ll find that we’ll work with you to help you stay current. We’re all headed the same direction – trying to make sure SQL Server solves business problems in your company.