SQL Server 2008’s Performance Data Collector lets us create a central repository to store performance data and includes three built-in Data Collection sets that can be used to collect and store this data. Three built-in reports can then be used to access the stored data, so we can identify and troubleshoot SQL Server performance problems. Want to find out how the Performance Data Collector works and how it can help you? Read more…
Monthly Archives: August 2009
Don’t Forget to Maintain Your Indexes
So long as data is inserted, updated and deleted from tables, indexes will become fragmented over time, and performance will suffer. Index maintenance is vital to keeping databases and their users happy. In this article, I go through the key index maintenance tasks and identify more essential areas that are a DBA’s duty to maintain. Read more…
Brad’s Sure Guide to Indexes
There are many different types of index that exist in SQL Server. In this guide, I look at what a table and index are, before exploring how SQL Server 2005 and 2008 indexes work, including those that are filtered, special and compressed. Read more…
Policy-Based Management
If SQL Servers are treated as ‘islands’, each with their own subtly different configurations, managing multiple instances of them can be a frustrating experience for the DBA. SQL Server 2008’s policy-based management aims to help us enforce policies for SQL Server instances throughout an organization. In this article, I look at what policy-based management is, how to implement it, and how to check it is running. Read more…
Management Studio Improvements in SQL Server 2008
SQL Server Management Studio in SQL Server 2005 has faced some tough criticism from DBAs over the years. Microsoft has tried hard to make up for the troubles of the past, bringing a multitude of improvements in SSMS 2008 that I go through in this article. Read more…
DBAs Continue to Make More than Other IT Professionals
According to a study by PayScale, and published in the July/August 2009 issue of Inc. Magazine, Database Administrators make more than Web Developers, IT Managers, Programmer Analysts, and Software Developers (in this order of ranking).
In addition, the study shows that the more experience the DBA has, the more he or she makes. For example, a DBA with 10 years experience makes about 72% more than a DBA with 1 years experience.
Brad M McGehee 