Sessions

Colin Leversuch-Roberts

If you wish to maintain your Production SQL Servers and Databases then you need to be proactive - this means you need to collect and trend performance data to be able to recognise a problem before it fully manifests itself. Understand your work patterns - detect trends - identify potential problems - keep your manager happy with performance and trend reports. The Performance Dashboard was a start for sql 2005 and sql 2008 has the start ( RC0 ) of a built in dashboard. This presentation will walk you through how to collect real time data and what you can do with it when you have it. We'll also show how to create graphical dashboards in SSRS 2005 and SSRS 2008 and how to make use of the data. ( the source system can be sql 2000 - sql 2008 )

Simon Sabin

Since SQL Server 2000 XML has been part of SQL Server. More functionality has been added with each release. In this session we wil look at the three scenarios, processing XML data coming in, doing stuff with it once its in the database and finally getting data out in XML form. The latter is what I find most people need to do, to interface to other systems, get RSS feeds etc. We will look at the pitfalls of using XML and the tips and tricks to get what you want with the best performance.

Colin Leversuch-Roberts

As a DBA one of the tools of tuning that I use is effective indexing; This is a walk through on the basics of indexing from a performance point of view, this isn't best practice or text book solutions, this is based around hard pratical experience. This session will also cover the new index features of SQL2008 which in effect allow you to create partitioned indexes on a non partitioned table. Also covered will be some of the myths surrounding index performance degredation and why and for whom we actually create indexes.

Satya Shyam K Jayanty

Details a typical DBA's day demonstrating the new improvements of the Management Platform made for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as they pertain to more efficient system management, multi-server management, performance tracking, and policy creation, state detection and enforcement, using both graphical and command-line tools. We cover everything from the new Management Interfaces to Policy Based Management, Management Data Warehouse and also have a practical demonstration of PowerShell integration in SQL Server administration tasks.

Satya Shyam K Jayanty

Hints are a powerful mechanism to force SQL Server to use alternate query plans. More often than not, the query optimizer does a fantastic job in creating the most optimized query plan for data access, but there may be numerous occasions when you would like to use alternate query plans to boost performance. Hints may adversely affect performance so should be used with care. In this breakout session, we first alert the DBAs on using Hints as they need to be sure that there is indeed a problem with the query plan. Let us have a look at different types of Hints including Query & Table Hints with various concepts on SQL Server query processing architecture are also explained wherever relevant, to ensure that the audience gets the most out of the session.

Satya Shyam K Jayanty

Learn how the SQL Server 2008 new feature is addressing the needs of storing large volumes of unstructured data, while still retaining relational control over it. These solutions enable you to reduce both capital and operational costs for large stores of unstructured data. In this session we also cover the best practices in such storage kind of projects.

Satya Shyam K Jayanty

Planning for a disaster is not enough, unless you have tested it! Also it's a topic that not many people like to think about it! Let us have a look at how SQL Server technologies can help to build a strategy that is essential to your Business, before you need it. With SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008, there are many features that will help you to successfully weather the storm with minimal loss of data and time. Make sure you're aware of all of the tools available to help you sleep easier at night.

Christian Bolton

Understanding memory architecture and how SQL Server uses it can help a great deal with how you approach performance troubleshooting or setup a new SQL Server and while a lot of information is available on the topic its often lightweight or very in-depth with nothing to help join the two. In this session I'll be discussing common topics like PAE, AWE, /3GB and 64bit along with more advanced subjects concerning SQL Server's usage in a way that's very accessible to any audience. At the end of the session you will have a good understanding of the best practices and normal usage profile for SQL Server memory as well the architecture to help you understand why certain best practices exist and when they can be flexible.

Chris Testa-O'Neill

Audience This session is aimed towards those who are new to using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services and those who wish to learn the features of Reporting Services 2008. It is advantageous if you understand • Experience using Microsoft Windows Operating System • Basic Transact SQL Select statements • An understanding of basic relational database concepts Description With Reporting Services 2008, Microsoft takes a step forward in presenting SQL Server as an enterprise data platform rather than just a database engine. With innovations in data regions, vast improvements in visualisation, and a new Report Designer, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services provides a tool that can be used by all members in the organization. This session will walk through the authoring, management and delivery of reports with a focus on the new features of Reporting Services 2008. At the end of this session you will understand how to create a report in the new report designer. Be aware of the Report management options available and the delivery mechanisms that can be used to deliver reports. This seesion will also finish on the Objectives At the end of this session, students will appreciate how to: • Create and explore report structures in Business Intelligence Development Studio o New Report Designer o Tablix data region o Gauge data region o Improved visualisation through charts • Delivering reports to your User o Report Manager o Report Builder • Managing Report in Report Manager. o Properties o History • Reporting Services 2008 Installation. o Where is IIS? o Sharepoint Integrated mode o Migration issues

Dr András Belokosztolszki

Policy-Based Management is a new and exciting feature in SQL Server 2008. In this session we will look at how it can be used to define and enforce policies for configuring and managing SQL Server across the whole enterprise.

James Rowland-Jones

Database Edition gets some TLC from Gert and the guys at redmond. GDR is on its way and you need to know what it does and how it may change your life. Ok a little extreme perhaps but let's find out what it does and how it integrates with Team Foundation.

James Rowland-Jones

Cloud Computing with SSDS. That's not a typo that's SQL Server Data Services. Currently in beta this could be the next big thing. We will first look at the model of cloud computing and try and identify where it 'fits' in today's enterprise. Will this be the product that replaces Express or Enterprise edition? Will it replace them both? Only time will actually tell but by looking at the functionality provided in the current (whatever that is) release of SSDS we will try and draw out a picture of this emerging market. This will be followed up with some practical demonstrations of the functionality available in SSDS as we attempt to build our own data cloud.

Niels Berglund

SQL Server 2008 (a.k.a Katmai) introduces quite a few new data types (hierarchies, spatial types, file-stream, date, etc.) that will make life easier for a developer as well as enabling developers to create even more advanced applications. In this session we will take a look at some of these new datatypes and see how we can use them both from T-SQL as well as from client-side.

Niels Berglund

After the introduction of .NET inside SQL Server 2005, there has been a debate when to write what kind of code; should we stop writing T-SQL in favour of .NET or… This session will hopefully provide some answers. We will compare T-SQL code with .NET code and see scenarios where T-SQL is to be preferred as well as when .NET code is preferred.

Niels Berglund

SQL Server has always had the ability and tools to monitor server state and diagnose issues inside SQL Server (for example, SQL Trace and performance monitors). SQL 2005 introduced the ability to use the tracing capabilities within the operating system—Event Tracing for Windows (ETW). SQL Server 2008 builds upon this with Extended Events (EE), a general event-handling infrastructure. Extended Events is by far the most flexible and efficient event engine available within SQL Server. We look at the architecture of EE, the various components that EE introduces and also how we can use EE together with ETW to correlate event data from inside SQL Server with data from the operating system.

Satya Shyam K Jayanty

Are you trying to meet the need for high availability within your environment? This session guides you to meet the criteria to keep up the high availability using SQL Server 2008 configuration features that can support mission-critical database application. These technologies propose high business processes, help addressing planned downtime, unplanned downtime and performance problems.