Archive for June, 2010

Now on SQLPASS, “Can Integrity Be Learned?”

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Ok, I admit it.  I’ve done about as good a job publicizing my monthly professional development column, Plays Well With Others, as NBC did when the transitioned Jay Leno back to the Tonight Show.

So I’m going to try to better, henceforth and forever more!  Two entries ago, I talked about the The 8 Characteristics of Exceptional Leaders.  This month, I’m drilling into the characteristic on that list that generated the most controversy in emails and messages – “Absolute Integrity”.  Many people took issue with the concept that integrity can be learned, instead believing that integrity is innate, like a sense of humor or a dancer’s rhythm.

What do you think?  Read the article here and weigh in with your opinion! (Be forewarned – the PASS website is free, but does require registration.  And I encourage you to do so since there are many other great resources there to take advantage of.)

Enjoy,

-Kevin

Twitter @kekline

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Posted in Ethics, PASS, Professional Development, SQLServerPedia Syndication | No Comments »

In-Memory Databases (IMDBs)

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Moore’s Law tells us that CPU’s get a LOT faster over time.  Unfortunately for the database professional, all of the secondary elements of our databases DO NOT get a lot faster over time.  Overall, the main methods of storing data since the 1960′s, magnetic tape and hard disks, have improved only in the single percentiles year over year.  Even those of us who were never good at math can tell that the CPU is outpacing the other system components.

A portable computer, circa 1985

An Osborne Executive portable computer, from 1982, and an iPhone, released 2007. The Executive weighs 100 times as much, has nearly 500 times the volume, cost 10 times as much, and has a 100th the processing power of the iPhone.

Two recent developments are helping to change that equation.  First, solid state drives (SSDs) are having a dramatic impact many IT scenarios. My friends, Brent Ozar and Paul Randall, have each written about SSDs here and here, respectively.

Second, database vendors are supporting relational database systems that run entirely in system RAM.  If you’d like to learn more about in-memory databases (IMDB), read more in my new article in Data Management Magazine.  As we look to the future, I expect to see a lot more of both technologies in the data center.

And give me your feedback here! Thanks,

-Kev

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Posted in Administration, Cool Technologies, SQLServerPedia Syndication, Trends | 1 Comment »

Live! TechNet Radio: Microsoft Cloud Services – SQL Azure

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Jack Handy, famous from Saturday Night Live

Just wanted to let you know that a TechNet Radio episode and interview I did about cloud computing is now live on TechNet Edge. It was the featured spot on Thursday, June 3rd and is also featured on the TechNet homepage.

I’ve been trying to wear more of an analyst’s hat these days, so this webcast has a lot of my “deep thinking” on issues related to cloud computing – hopefully at a higher level of quality that Jack Handy.

A salient point that I think many analysts are overlooking is the changing nature of data as it exists in the cloud.  For decades, data has primarily been about people (and their activities) for consumption by other people.  The cloud is enabling a major shift in data generation and consumption where data is produced by machines for consumption by other machines.  We’ll soon be looking at situations, now rather rare, in which sensors are extremely commonplace.  These sensors, whether they be in traffic signals or high-end medical devices, will create enormous amounts of data far more frequently than ever before, loading that data directly into cloud databases.  The cloud databases will consume and process the data and, when automated analysis (made all the easier through features like StreamInsight in SQL Server 2008 R2) will flag important findings for review by a real-live human being.  Check out the interview for several real-world examples being played out even as we speak.

Here is a direct link:

http://edge.technet.com/Media/TechNet-Radio-Microsoft-SQL-Azure-Growing-Opportunities-for-Data-in-the-Cloud/

Or  if brevity is your thing and you prefer a surrogate key over a natural key:

http://bit.ly/cdLTeP

Perhaps I can persuade you to blog, tweet, or place a link to it in your Facebook or team newsletter?  Maybe with a few deep thoughts? Please?  Pretty please?

And I welcome your deep thoughts and responses here.

Enjoy,

-Kev

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Posted in Administration, On-Line Resources, Opinion, SQLServerPedia Syndication, Trends | No Comments »

Toad Just Keeps Getting Better

Monday, June 14th, 2010

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.

Toad - Winner of "Best of TechEd in Database Development"

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 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

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Posted in Conferences, Presentations, Tool Time | 1 Comment »