SQL Aloha

New Free eBook: Defensive Database Programming with SQL Server

Simple-Talk Publishing has released a new, free 291 page eBook called Defensive Database Programming with SQL Server, by Alex Kuznetsov. Here is what the book covers, as described from the book’s introduction.
“Resilient T-SQL code is code that is designed to last, and to be safely reused by others. The goal of defensive database programming, and ...read more

Learn How Vendors Price Their Software

As DBAs, we are often put in the position of purchasing software from third-party vendors. If you are like me, you are probably amazed at the wide variation in software prices, and how the price of a product seems to bear little relationship with its actual cost. For example, why is the SQL Server Enterprise ...read more

Need to Persuade Your Manager or Co-Worker to Your Point of View?

At one time or another, each of us has been in a position where we need to persuade a manager, a fellow worker, or anyone for that matter, to our point-of-view. For example, you might want new server hardware, to upgrade an existing instance of SQL Server, the help of a co-worker, or you would ...read more

What Would You Like to See in a New Book on Indexing?

I am currently in the early stages of writing an outline for a new book on indexing, targeted towards novice DBAs. While this topic has been done to death in hundreds of articles, presentations, and books, I think there is still room for a book that makes the topic easy to read and easy to ...read more

Free eBook on SQL Server Maintenance Plans Now Available

My new eBook, Brad’ Sure Guide to SQL Server Maintenance Plans is now available as a free, 269 page PDF eBook. The book is designed for part-time or novice DBAs who want to learn how to properly create Maintenance Plans using the tools that come with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) in SQL Server 2005/2008.
These ...read more

Free Books at Red Gate Booth at PASS Summit

Red Gate Software will be handing out a limited number of free paperback books at their booth at the 2009 PASS Community Summit. They include:

Protecting SQL Server Data by John Magnabosco
SQL Server Tacklebox by Rodney Landrum
How to Become an Exceptional DBA by Brad M McGehee

If you can’t make the PASS Summit, or the booth runs ...read more

Amazon.com Author Central Page

If you are a book author, Amazon.com now allows authors to promote their books with a new author’s page. The new feature is called Author Central.
Mine is at:
http://www.amazon.com/Brad-M-McGehee/e/B002RWVEB8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
The page allows you to add a photograph, a short bio, your blog RSS feed, and even a discussion forum. So if you are a SQL Server, or ...read more

Download the Free eBook “The SQL Server Tacklebox”

Rodney Landrum, SQL Server MVP, is the author of the new book, The SQL Server Tacklebox: Essential Tools and Scripts for the Day-to-Day DBA. This 240 page book, and accompanying scripts, is chock full of advice for DBAs, from novice to experienced.