Backup and Restore is arguably the most important task a DBA can do, but sometimes it is very frustrating to manage these elements. Some common problems include very slow UI interaction, both for SQL Enterprise Manager and for SQL Server Management Studio, mysterious timeouts, failure to delete old backup files, and other intermittent failures.
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I spoke to someone at Ganz today about the Webkinz World site issues. The problem was twofold. First, the sales side didn't communicate expectations correctly to the folks who run the site.
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There is an old saying in politics and entertainment that there is no such thing as BAD publicity. Unfortunately, the opposite is true for IT, especially in the Database realm. If your name gets mentioned outside of a technology publication, you can bet it is something bad.
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Microsoft began releasing SQL 2008 CTP5 yesterday through Connect. It should hit MSDN within a few days so everyone can play along. The most obvious change for this release is a much-needed improvement replacement of the installer.
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Microsoft does not have a complete resolution for this problem yet, but they have found some more details. Evidently the problem with SQL Agent failure only occurs on systems using a domain admin account for the SQL Agent Service account.
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For the past several editions, SQL Books On-Line (BOL) has helpfully included a script to rebuild or defragment (since 2000) an index. Being Microsoft, this script is NOT located under the reindex or defragmentation topic, it is included in the fragmentation analysis section.
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We sometimes do things as DBAs that are self defeating, especially regarding high availability. We can get so focused on the One True Thing™ that will solve all of our problems that we don't realize that the way we implement something can end up costing us all the benefit.
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SQL 2005 Build 3186 has a major negative side effect on x64 clusters. Installing it pretty much kills the SQL Agent.. The workaround is to enable unconstrained delegation for the machine and the service accounts.
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Well, yes. Actually you do. Patching a SQL Server cluster sounds like a complex endeavor, but it is really a lot simpler than people think. Much of the confusion is due to SQL 2000 and SQL 2005 having slightly different behaviors when it comes to patching.
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Clustering and SSIS have a stormy relationship at best. What you think you get after installing SQL and SSIS on a cluster is not always what you expected. For SQL 2000, the installer was cluster-aware on every component.
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Last week I stopped by the SQL Lounge at the PASS summit in Denver. I met a Microsoft employee named Max Verun, whose official title is Program Manager - Manageability and Servicing Platform.
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Hopefully, I won't need a CATCH Block. In case that opening sentence didn't give you a hint, I am a bit of a tech geek. Bill Graziano talked me into joining this merry band while at the PASS summit last week.
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