Search results matching tags 'Conferences', 'Administration', and 'Quest Software'

Upcoming SQLSaturday Events in Omaha and Atlanta!

KKline — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:47:00 GMT

I've had enough time off from traveling after my surgery to finally travel again. First on the circuit , set for August 27th, is Omaha, Nebraska and SQL Saturday #91. As a former Crimson Tide alum, I was stoked about going to the University of Nebraska, our once and future rivals on the Grid Iron. But after a moment's confusion, I remembered that the Huskers are over in Lincoln, not Omaha. (May Bear have mercy on my soul.)

Almost all of the speakers are friends. Many are Microsoft MVPs. So it'll be great to catch up with these fine folks and, I hope, get a chance to meet many attendees. I'll be doing three of my favorite presentations: SQL Server Internals & Architecture, End-to-End Troubleshooting for Microsoft SQL Server, and Top Ten Most Crucial DBA Mistakes. As I write this, I realize that I've got to get busy and post those other slide decks in the slides section of my website!

I'll also be visiting a few customers for the two days before hand, signing a few books, and otherwise trying to be productive. In the parlance of my employer, that means helping with sales.

Next month, on September 17th, I'll be speaking at the Atlanta SQL Saturday #89. I'm presenting just one session at the event itself, though I'll be hanging out at the Quest booth much of the time. If possible, I'm also going to spend as much time as I can in Bob Ward's sessions.

In addition, I'll be presenting a full day pre-conference seminar on Friday, September 16th covering all sorts of SQL Server performance tuning and optimization content. There are only a few seats left, so if you're so inclined REGISTER HERE ASAP. All attendees will be getting a big goodie bag with posters, a signed copy of one of my books, and a T-Shirt.

Atlanta is an easy 4-hour drive from Nashville. And the weather is usually great in September. So this should be a fun event in every way!

Follow me on Twitter.

-Kev

Toad Just Keeps Getting Better

KKline — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:19:00 GMT

Toad for SQL Server Wins Best of TechEd 2010 in the Database Development Category

Toad and I go way back. I first started with Toad as a user on the Oracle DBMS back in the early 1990's. When I started at Quest Software back on January 2nd of 2002, one of the first products I tackled as a SQL Server product architect was Toad. How do we make this very popular Oracle product one that users in the SQL Server world will love too? And this challenge was made that much harder by the fact that Microsoft SQL Server ships with fantastic tools right there in the box. I haven't worked directly on Toad for many years now, but the tool marches on with new features and capabilities that push the envelop with each new release.

I want to applaud the product manager, David Gugick (center below), the developers and testers, and the active and supportive community who loves and embraces Toad. It's always a thrill when your hard work and efforts are recognized. And a big thanks to the fine folks at SQLMag and Windows ITPro Mag for making this happen.

L to R: Jason Hall, Qsft head of SC's; David Gugick, director of Architecture; and me

Want to try Toad for SQL Server for free?

The 5.0 version of Toad for SQL Server that we showed at TechEd is the latest beta, available at ToadWorld.com (build 387 at the time of this writing). It can coexist with Toad for SQL Server version 4.6, if you're already using it. The beta is quite stable and has a bevy of new features, including:

SQL Azure support for most modules including data compare and schema compare, including comparing regular SQL Servers to SQL Azure and back, also with Firewall management (under Server Security properties panel).
Much improved code completion (and it was already rockin'!) that’s faster and allows for column selection, multi-table selection, with tooltips for parameters. Don't forget, all of these features work on SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008, and 2008 R2.
Updated Schema Compare with better exposed snapshots.
Group Execute enhancements that include database-level selection so you can execute across databases, an option to only show selected servers/databases, option to merge results (or not), improved merging, etc.
New Idle Connection Timeout – to close connections after a period of inactivity.
Result Set Pinning.
Improved Trace support with features like Import Trace File to Table and Open in Profiler capabilities.
New Debug Trace – traces all activity occurring inside of Toad, including storing all variable info in a replayable file.
Twitter Integration (under the View – Collaboration panel) with Yammer integration coming in a future beta release.

You can also see a lot more details about the tool here. And my long-standing offer still stands. If you want to try Toad for SQL Server or its brethren (such as Toad for Data Analysts, Toad Data Modeler, or Benchmark Factory), drop me an email and I'll get a long-term license key straight over to you.

But wait, there's more!

There are so many great resources for you to tap into. And best of all, they're all free! Check these out:

White Paper: How Managers Can Help Their Developers Write Excellent Code

In this white paper, renowned Oracle PL/SQL expert and fellow O'Reilly author Steven Feuerstein provides dev managers with guidance on how to help developers write the best software possible.

Live Product Demo: Toad® Data Modeler
Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET

Modern Analyst Webinar: Stress-free SQL Queries for the Analyst
Date: Thursday, June 17, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Live Product Demo: Toad® for Data Analysts
Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET

Live Product Demo: Benchmark Factory® for Databases
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET

I look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy!

-Kevin

April Omnibus

KKline — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:20:00 GMT

I freely admit it - I'm a sluggard. I should be blogging a couple times per week and tweeting in between. But, for some unknown reason, April has been a tough month to get this in gear. Hence, I'm putting out an omnibus post to cover all of the stuff I've been up to, instead of the one-off's I usually post when I've got something new to mention.

Isn't it funny how life gets in the way of the stuff we want and intend to do? As they say - "The road to hell is paved with good intentions", or was that Detroit? But I digress.

A New Translation!

I don't like to toot my own horn. [sarcasm on] You can tell that I'm completely honest when I say that since I have a couple blogs and a twitter account. [sarcasm off] But one thing I'm really proud of is how popular SQL in a Nutshell is. It's now translated into approximately eight languages, with Russian being the newest language:

I'm even more proud of my lil' girl than that book!

I also had the pleasure of working with another translator and I'm looking forward to having a copy of the book in simplified Chinese soon too!

Lots of Speaking Events Coming!

There will be more details on my Events page soon, but here's the run down on what's just around the corner:

May 4; recording a spot for TechNet Radio
May 13-14; Louisville, KY; Stored Procedure Best Practices
May 20; 24 Hours of PASS; Top 10 Mistakes on SQL Server
May 22; Indianapolis, IN; SQL Server Internals & Architecture
June 7-11; Microsoft TechEd Conference in New Orleans, LA; Birds of a Feather and Ask The Experts
June 23; Knoxville, TN; ditto the Indy event
Aug 5-7; DevLink in Nashville, TN; several sessions throughout the conference

I also have three "Pain of the Week" webcasts schedule with Quest over the next couple months, with great co-hosts like Buck Woody and Grant Fritchey. The sessions aren't officially scheduled yet, but you can find them here.

Also, a big thanks to the local PASS chapter in Houston for the warm welcome they put out when I spoke there on April 12 and to the fine folks in Chicago for their awesome SQL Saturday on April 17th.

New Articles and Session Recordings

I had a couple new articles come out last month which I either wrote or added commentary too, including Master Data Services could spur SQL Server 2008 R2 migrations appearing at SearchSQLServer.com.

The PASS DBA Virtual Chapter just posted a recording of my session on SQL Server Internals and Architecture.

I made an appearance on Microsoft's Thrive website as their IT Pro of the Month for March. I also had the opportunity to work with Steve Wynkoop at his SSWUG.org vConference in March.

And don't forget about the incredibly popular Quest vConference that Brent, Ari, and I did on troubleshooting and performance tuning using SQL Server DMV's. You can get the code samples, download the slides, and rate the presentations at http://questkb.com/live and/or http://www.vconferenceonline.com/shows/spring10/quest/conference/ondemand.asp