Two New Slide Decks. Plus, the Week in Colorado.

I had the honor of traveling the great state of Colorado last week, speaking at the PASS chapters in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver.  At all three events, we had a stellar attendance and, at least in Denver, broke all the records in recent memory both in terms of overall attendance and in first-timers.  Denver, in fact, was standing room only and had nearly 30 first time attendees.  Great news!  I also want to give a special shout-out of thanks and appreciation to Chris Shaw (Twitter | Blog) whose hard work and tenacity ensured that all of Colorado got to see me speak. From left to … [Read more...]

New on SQLMag Tool Time Blog – Update to FineBuild

Recall back in January 2011 that I profiled the cool tool, FineBuild for SQL Server, which helps you configure and quickly deploy installations of SQL Server.  Not only does FineBuild help you install a new SQL Server using the settings and configuration options you desire, it goes a few steps further by ensuring that any additional programs, tools, and utilities are also installed. Ed Vassie, the creator of FineBuild, has revised and improved the tools since I last wrote about it.  Ed has naturally added a number of bug fixes and documentation improvements. Several new features... [READ … [Read more...]

Like PowerShell for SQL Server?

Check out my new Tool Time column in this month's SQL Server Magazine. It features some great new PowerShell scripts and information from Chad Miller (blog) who I had the pleasure to meet in person back in October of this year while speaking at the SQL Server of central Florida and at SQL Saturday #21. In addition, I'd like to point out a free utility called PowerGUI.  If you're like me, the last thing you have time for is learning a new code like PowerShell.  So I copped out and got the next best alternative to real code, the fancy and pretty drag-n-drop interface of PowerGUI.  (Full … [Read more...]

Where you can find me at the PASS Summit

In previous years, I hardly had time to sit down and catch a breather at a PASS Summit.  Between my duties as an officer of PASS, exhibit hall time with Quest Software (my employer), speaking in my own sessions, and meeting with PASS volunteers and community organizers, I was busy from the crack of dawn until midnight all week long. Fortunately, those grueling marathons are fading into the past. I still have a busy slate ahead of me for next week.  But it looks like I'll even have time to attend some sessions.  Yeah!  Here's what I've currently got planned: Monday, Nov 2 Depart for … [Read more...]

New Post on my SQLMag Blog – Free DMV Monitoring Tools

I've posted a new entry on my SQL Server Magazine blog about two free DMV monitoring tools available on CodePlex. Read the article here: http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/ArticleID/102837/102837.html?Ad=1 Take a look at the two tools and let me know which you like better and why.  Inquiring minds want to know! Cheers, -Kev … [Read more...]