Professional SQL Server 2008 Internals and Troubleshooting - Softcover

Bolton, Christian; Langford, Justin; Ozar, Brent; Rowland-Jones, James; Kehayias, Jonathan; Gross, Cindy; Wort, Steven

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470484284 ISBN 13: 9780470484289

Publisher: Wrox, 2010

Synopsis

A hands-on resource for SQL Server 2008 troubleshooting methods and tools

SQL Server administrators need to ensure that SQL Server remains running 24/7. Authored by leading SQL Server experts and MVPs, this book provides in-depth coverage of best practices based on a deep understanding of the internals of both SQL Server and the Windows operating system.

You'll get a thorough look at the SQL Server database architecture and internals as well as Windows OS internals so that you can approach troubleshooting with a solid grasp of the total processing environment. Armed with this comprehensive understanding, readers will then learn how to use a suite of tools for troubleshooting performance problems whether they originate on the database server or operating system side.

Topics Covered:

• SQL Server Architecture
• Understanding Memory
• SQL Server Waits and Extended Events
• Working with Storage
• CPU and Query Processing
• Locking and Latches
• Knowing Tempdb
• Defining Your Approach To Troubleshooting
• Viewing Server Performance with PerfMon and the PAL Tool
• Tracing SQL Server with SQL Trace and Profiler
• Consolidating Data Collection with SQLDiag and the PerfStats Script
• Introducing RML Utilities for Stress Testing and Trace File Analysis
• Bringing It All Together with SQL Nexus
• Using Management Studio Reports and the Performance Dashboard
• Using SQL Server Management Data Warehouse
• Shortcuts to Efficient Data Collection and Quick Analysis

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

About this title

About the Author

CHRISTIAN BOLTON is the Technical Director for Coeo Ltd., aleading provider of SQL Server consulting and managed supportservices in the UK and Europe. Prior to this Christian worked for 5years at Microsoft, leading the SQL Server Premier FieldEngineering team in the UK. He is a Microsoft Certified Architect,Master and MVP for SQL Server, and co-author of Professional SQLServer 2005 Performance Tuning. He works out of London and lives inthe south of England with his wife and children. He can becontacted at christian@coeo.com. Christian authored chapters 1, 2,7, 13 and the online chapter 16 in addition to lending hisauthoring expertise where needed on other chapters and functionedas the lead author for the entire project.

JUSTIN LANGFORD leads the Managed Support team for CoeoLtd, delivering outsourced 24x7 operations for mission-critical SQLServer platforms. Before joining Coeo, Justin worked for Microsoftin the Premier Field Engineering team and has worked with some ofMicrosoft’s largest fi nance and government customers inEurope. Justin co-authored Wrox Professional SQL Server 2005Performance Tuning and lives in London with his girlfriend, Claire.Outside work he enjoys sailing and has a keen interest in classicBritish sports cars. Justin can be contacted at justinl@coeo.com.Justin authored chapters 9, 11, 12, and 15.

BRENT OZAR is a SQL Server Expert for Quest Software. Hehas over a decade of broad IT experience, performing SQL Serverdatabase administration, systems administration, SANadministration, virtualization administration, and projectmanagement. In his current role, Brent trains DBAs on performancetuning, disaster recovery, and virtualization. He has spoken aroundthe globe at events for PASS, SQLBits, SSWUG, and otherorganizations. Brent founded the Virtualization Virtual Chapter forthe Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS), and serves asthe Editor-in-Chief at SQLServerPedia.com. Brent blogs atwww.BrentOzar.com and discusses diverse topics athttp://twitter.com/BrentO. When he’s not talking SQL Server,he enjoys traveling, working with social media, snorkeling, andsampling new restaurants. He is the author of chapters 4 and14.

JAMES ROWLAND-JONES works for EMC Consulting EMEA as anAdvisory Consultant. His principle focus is the delivery of large,scalable, data warehousing, and business intelligence projects.Within this fi eld James specializes in data integration, databasearchitecture, and performance tuning. He is very active in thetechnical community and is one of the organizers for SQLBits,Europe’s largest SQL Server community conference. James hasreceived the Microsoft MVP award for 2009 and 2010. You can findhim online at http://consultingblogs.emc.com/jamesrowlandjones,twitter (@jrowlandjones), linkedinhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/jrowlandjones, or even using an oldfashioned email, james.rowland-jones@emc.com. James authoredchapters 6 and 10.

JONATHAN KEHAYIAS is a SQL Server MVP, MCITP DatabaseAdministrator and Developer, who got started in SQL Server in 2004as a database developer and report writer in the natural gasindustry. After spending two and a half years working in T-SQL, inlate 2006, he transitioned to the role of Database Administrator.He has experience in upgrading and consolidating SQL environments,and has experience in running SQL Server in Virtual Environments onVMWare ESX 3.5+. He is a member of the Tampa SQL Server User Groupand a regular speaker about SQL Server at events. Jonathan authoredchapter 3.

CINDY GROSS started her SQL Server life as a DBA with ahospital and health plan company in 1993, and moved to Microsoft in2000 where she has worked ever since. Her roles at Microsoft haveincluded PSS Product Support Engineer, SQL Content Lead, YukonReadiness Lead, and most recently Dedicated Support Engineer (DSE),all for SQL Server. Cindy enjoys delivering training throughout theUnited States as well as in Europe and India, includingpresentations at SQL PASS. In 2008 she started the Boise SQL ServerUser Group, an affi liate of the SQLCommunity.org site (where sheis a worldwide SQL Server Community Leader) to share SQL Serverwisdom in the Idaho SQL Server community. Most recently sheobtained the Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server Qualification,which was a hard-fought prize. Over the years Cindy has learnedfrom many wonderful friends and colleagues and they all deserve aword of thanks for contributing to her success. Cindy authoredchapter 8.

STEVEN WORT has been working with SQL Server since theearly days of SQL Server way back in 1992-93. He is currently adeveloper in the Windows Division at Microsoft, where he works onperformance and scalability issues on large database systems forthe Windows Telemetry team. Steven has been at Microsoft since2000. Prior to working in the Windows Division, Steven spent 2years working in the SQL Server group, working on performance andscalability. Steven’s fi rst 3 years at Microsoft were spentworking in support as an escalation engineer on the SIE team.During this time, Steven was able to travel the world working withsome of Microsoft’s customers on their performance andscalability issues. Before coming to Microsoft, Steven spent 20years working in the United Kingdom as a freelance consultant,specializing in database application development. When Stevenisn’t busy working, he can be found spending time with hisfamily and enjoying many fi tness activities in the outdoors of thePacific Northwest. Steven authored chapter 5.

From the Back Cover

An in-depth look at SQL Server and best practices fortroubleshooting

When faced with a variety of SQL Server issues, you need to beable to troubleshoot SQL Server as well as its underlying operatingsystem. To that end, this author group of SQL Server expertspresents you with invaluable advice that brings together—andsimplifies—practical internal information concerning SQLServer along with troubleshooting techniques and methodologies.Packed with real-world examples of ways to effectively usetroubleshooting tools, this book shows you how to efficiently andaccurately determine the root of your SQL Server problem so you cansuccessfully resolve it.

• Escorts you through the lifecycle of a query to establish anunderstanding of the fundamental concepts and architectures

• Examines the use of memory including the physical components,Windows memory management, and SQL Server's own memoryarchitecture

• Reviews SQL Server wait types and how to monitor them withExtended Events

• Equips you with the knowledge to confidently specify and monitoryour storage performance requirements

• Details SQL Server's locking model, the internal use of latches,and row versioning

• Shows you how to use SQLDiag, RML Utilities, SQL Nexus, theManagement Data Warehouse, and how to build your own SQL ServerManagement Studio reports

Wrox guides are crafted to make learning programminglanguages and technologies easier than you think. Written byprogrammers for programmers, they provide a structured, tutorialformat that will guide you through all the techniques involved.

wrox.com

Programmer Forums
Join our Programmer to Programmer forums to ask and answerprogramming questions about this book, join discussions on thehottest topics in the industry, and connect with fellow programmersfrom around the world.

Code Downloads
Take advantage of free code samples from this book, as well as codesamples from hundreds of other books, all ready to use.

Read More
Find articles, ebooks, sample chapters and tables of contents forhundreds of books, and more reference resources on programmingtopics that matter to you.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wrox
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0470484284
• ISBN 13: 9780470484289
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 624