Search results matching tags 'Best Practices', 'Professional Development', 'Tools', and 'Troubleshooting'

My Last "Catch-Up" Post for 2010 Content

KKline — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:57:00 GMT

I did a lot of writing in 2010. Unfortunately, I didn't do a good job of keeping all of that writing equally distributed throughout all of the channels where I'm active.

So here are a few more posts from my blog, put on-line during the months of November and December 2010, that I didn't get posted here on SQLBlog.com:

1. It's Time to Upgrade!

So many of my customers and many of you, dear readers, are still on SQL Server 2005. Join Kevin Kline, SQL Server MVP and SQL Server Technology Strategist for Quest Software and Brent Ozar, SQL Server Domain Expert for Quest Software as they introduce the top ten features and capabilities in SQL Server 2008 that they find to be the most exciting and valuable.

2. Dealing with the Micromanaging Boss

This is probably my favorite professional development article of the year. Micromanagers make us feel untrusted and stymied by their constant need for tediously detailed and frequent updates, constant changes to minor details of our work, and overly developed attention to administrative details that really don’t matter in our daily job. But there’s hope! Get all of my career advice on dealing with micromanaging bosses here.

3. [Video] Troubleshooting Memory Pressure on SQL Server

This is a little bit of an older video. But it's still useful info if you're working with SQL Server 2005 or 2000. Check it out here.

4. [DBTA] What the Heck is Microsoft's Database Product Trajectory?

I was once asked what I thought Microsoft's overall product trajectory for SQL Server was, in light of Oracle's rather obvious trajectory of acquiring multiple application vendors who will, in turn, deploy more and more of their applications to the Oracle database platform. You can read all about my thoughts in my monthly column at Database Trends & Application magazine - [READ MORE]

5. Eight Characteristics of Excellent Leaders [Plays Well With Others]

In this installment of my professional development column called Plays Well With Others, I talk about what distinguishes truly great leaders. There's a lively discussion on the topic and I encourage you to take part. Read it here.

6. The Shape of Database Licensing Costs to Come [DBTA]

One fall semester many years ago, I was a university freshman. Actually, I was anything but "fresh." I was dumb enough to think that 8 a.m. was a wonderful time to attend Economics 101. After staying up until the wee hours most every night, the "dismal science" took on more than one meaning as I set my clock just early enough to get to class on time. Along with 30 other very naïve classmates, I staggered into class and did my bleary-eyed best to focus on the lessons at hand. There were lots of Greek compound words and lots of graphs.

I learned, for example, that the word economics derives from the Greek "oikonomikos," which means, approximately, "death by slidedecks" and, specifically, "house" (oikos) and "management" (mikos). I barely survived the experience and never took an 8 a.m. class again. Imagine my surprise, then, when a lesson I'd learned (and promptly forgotten) all those years ago jumped back into my consciousness late last year. - [READ MORE]

7. So You're the Boss Now... [Plays Well with Others]

If you have any ambition at all, you have probably wanted (and possibly gotten) a promotion over your current colleagues. If you've been there before, you know that once friendly relationships can get, well, weird. Read my tips and tricks for how to make the most of this situation in this professional development article.

8. The NoSQL Movement - Hype or Hope?

NoSQL is no fad. And you need to be in the "know", not necessarily in the "No". Gno? Pneu? Too many phonetically similar pronunciations! Read my thoughts on the NoSQL movement on one of Database Trends & Applications magazine's most popular articles of the year. - [READ MORE]

9. Effectiveness and Efficiency at Work [Video]

In this golden oldie (yes, two years constitutes "old"), I present my thoughts on how to be both effective and efficient on the job and in life in general. And if you didn't know that these are different concepts, then you need this video most muchly.

10. What's Your Data Management and Retention Policy? [DBTA]

If managing your corporate data for the long term isn't currently on your mind, it should be, and in several different ways: cost, performance, business continuity, and compliance. [READ MORE]

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Originally Posted on YoutTube November 12, 2008.

Free Training for You, Punishing Workload for Me. Thank You for Enjoying My Misery.

KKline — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:12:00 GMT

Everybody enjoys a little free training now and then. I've got mountains of free training in the works. Some of it is in-person and local while some are in webcast format. Please join me as you're able!

Tomorrow - Wednesday!

Wed, Feb 10, 2010 12 pm (noon) MST - PASS DBA Virtual Chapter; Top 10 Administration Mistakes on SQL Server

There are a short list of mistakes that, if you know of them in advance and prepare for them, will make your life much easier. This presentation shows you these mistakes, the "low hanging fruit" of database administration. Once you apply the lessons learned from this session, you’ll find yourself performing at a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness than before. Quest is sponsoring this and raffling off a copy of my book, SQL in a Nutshell, and O-M-G a KINDLE!!! (Free, but registration required.) And if you haven't already done it, join PASS!

Day After Tomorrow - Thursday!

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 11 am EST - Quest Software Pain of the Week; Understanding & Preventing SQL Injection Attacks - with Kevin Kline and K. Brian Kelley

SQL Injection attacks is the most common hacker trick used on the Web and yet, one of the easiest to prevent. Learn what they are and why you need to be concerned about them. In this webcast, I and SQL Server MVP K. Brian Kelley (blog | twitter) will demonstrate different types of SQL injection attacks. You’ll learn how to find and block them to keep your databases safe, preventing disruptions to your organization. Quest is sponsoring this as well and raffling off more goodies. (Free, but registration required.)

Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 6 pm CST - Nashville .NET User Group; Ten Things DBAs Want .NET Developers to Know

Stereotypes abound for different types of people in the IT world. Developers think DBAs are control freaks. DBAs think developers are unruly cowboys. How do we overcome these differences? If you’re a developer, your best strategy is to manage your DBAs’ anxieties and demonstrate your competence and credibility. Attend this session to learn about 10 techniques that developers can apply to their code which will calm your DBAs’ fears and earn their admiration. Techniques include how to analyze a query plan and how to make sure your query is taking advantage of the best available indexes. Attendance is free although registration is encouraged so we can get a good count for the food, plus there's free pizza and a raffle at the end. Drinks afterwards at Chilis.

Coming Soon

Mar 03, 2010 >>>FULL DAY OF FREE TRAINING!<<< - Quest Software SQL Server vConference; Troubleshooting and Performance Tuning with Kevin Kline, Brent Ozar, and Ariel Weil

Join SQL Server MVPs, Kevin Kline and Brent Ozar (blog | twitter), along with Quest Product Manager Ari Weil —all from Quest Software—as they interactively present tips and tricks to help you monitor your SQL Server environment with ease. You’ll learn how to use Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) to simplify troubleshooting and significantly enhance SQL Server performance. The day consists of eight sessions with live Q&A - a great way to get answers to your questions straight from the source. Chat live with Quest experts. Plus, you can visit the Quest booth to download helpful resources like white papers, watch demos and more. This virtual training day is free and you can attend the sessions that fit your needs - perfect for tight budgets and busy schedules.

Mar 06, 2010 - PASS SQL Saturday, Charlotte, SC

The SQL Server Community will experience an event like no other in the Southeast region. Renowned speakers from around the world will gather in Charlotte, NC to share their knowledge on Microsoft SQL Server. This is your opportunity to meet, network with and learn from the SQL Community leading experts such as Andrew Kelly, Rick Heiges, John Welch, Brian Knight, Geoff Hiten, Andy Warren, Jessica M. Moss, Rafael Salas, Sergey Pustovit and Tim Ford. Also scheduled to present are current SQL PASS President Rushabh Mehta and former SQL PASS Presidents Wayne Snyder and Kevin Kline.

Mar 24, 2010 - PASS DBA Virtual Chapter; SQL Internals & Architecture Apr 08, 2010 - Quest Software Pain of the Week; The Admin's Guide to SQL Server w/ Buck Woody Apr 12, 2010 - PASS Chapter, Houston; topic TBD Apr 17, 2010 - PASS SQL Saturday, Chicago; Keynoting w/ Brent Ozar May 13, 2010 - Quest Software Pain of the Week; SQL Server for the Oracle DBA w/ Buck Woody May 13, 2010 - PASS Chapter, Louisville; topic TBD May 15, 2010 - PASS SQL Saturday, Louisville; topic TBD May 22, 2010 - Indy Tech Fest; SQL Internals & Architecture