Database Training Days: SQL Server Resources

Join Pinal Dave in this dynamic session designed specifically for new database administrators (DBAs) eager to master the fundamentals of SQL Server performance tuning. Dive into the core concepts of database optimization and explore essential techniques that will enhance SQL Server efficiency. Through practical insights and real-world examples, you'll gain a clear understanding of how to improve database responsiveness and tackle common performance challenges with confidence. This session is your gateway to building a strong foundation in SQL Server optimization, setting the stage for your future success in database management.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Basics of indexing and its impact on performance
• Query optimization techniques for improved efficiency
• Best practices for database configuration
• Practical strategies to troubleshoot and resolve common performance issues

Speaker: Pinal Dave, SQL Server performance tuning expert and independent consultant with SQL Authority.

In this advanced session, Pinal Dave delves into sophisticated SQL Server tuning techniques designed to help experienced DBAs push their database systems to peak performance. Building on fundamental optimization concepts, this presentation offers in-depth strategies for diagnosing and resolving performance bottlenecks, advanced indexing tactics, and the effective use of SQL Server's built-in tools for performance analysis and tuning. Gain insights into fine-tuning your SQL Server instances through comprehensive discussions on partitioning, in-memory technologies, and the art of balancing workload and resource allocation. Tailored for seasoned professionals, this session empowers you to achieve top-tier performance, ensuring your SQL Server environment is optimized for speed, efficiency, and scalability.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Advanced strategies for diagnosing and resolving performance bottlenecks
• Sophisticated indexing tactics to enhance database efficiency
• Utilization of SQL Server’s built-in tools for performance analysis and tuning
• Fine-tuning SQL Server instances with partitioning and in-memory technologies
• Balancing workload and resource allocation for optimal performance

Speaker: Pinal Dave, SQL Server performance tuning expert and independent consultant at SQL Authority.

Feel like you’re the Sherlock Holmes of IT, always working hard to solve SQL Server or Oracle performance mysteries? Well, every Sherlock needs a little help from Watson. In this session, you’ll see how to get the assistance you need to speed up your investigations and quickly take down your fiercest adversaries. Discover how the Foglight® Performance Investigator solution can empower you to keep your database environment running efficiently, allowing you to focus more on strategic initiatives and less on menial tasks. With powerful tools for real-time and historical analysis, you’ll gain the skills needed to piece together the clues and resolve even the most complex performance issues.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Keeping your database environment running efficiently to minimize time spent on routine tasks
• Utilizing an intelligent, scalable SQL workload analytics engine to piece together real-time and historical clues
• Investigating data on baselines, lock analysis, and change tracking
• Enhancing your detective skills with multidimensional drilldowns and historical session data

Speaker: Pini Dibask, Product Manager at Quest Software

In this on-demand session, Oracle ACE Director Janis Griffin and Senior Data Architect Eric Blinn reveal how to leverage SQL Server indexes to significantly speed up your queries. Gain expert insights into the power of indexing and discover methodologies to identify which SQL Server indexes will most effectively enhance performance—because indexing every column is not the answer! Janis and Eric will guide you through the use of SQL Server index options, such as filtering and compression, and explore the benefits of different index types, including rowstore and columnstore. Learn when and how to apply these indexing strategies for blazing-fast query execution.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Understanding the role of indexes in improving query performance
• Methodologies for identifying the most impactful SQL Server indexes
• Exploring SQL Server index options like filtering and compression
• Utilizing rowstore and columnstore indexes for specific use cases

Speakers:

• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software
• Eric Blinn, Senior Data Architect at Squire Patton Boggs

At some point, you'll encounter a query that’s written decently but just doesn't perform well with the plan SQL Server generates. When that happens, you may have a frustrating day for what seems like no reason at all. In this on-demand session, you’ll learn how to tackle these challenges by adding or removing a hint without changing the statement, or by specifying a different query plan. It's not magic; it’s about understanding the behavior that would work better and determining whether Query Store or a plan guide is the right tool for the job. We’ll start from the basics and cover how to use both as we fix a couple of queries gone bad!

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Identifying and fixing SQL Server query performance issues with hints
• Deciding between Query Store and plan guides for query plan adjustments
• Step-by-step process to implement and test query plan changes
• Practical examples of resolving common SQL Server query problems

Speaker: Andy Warren, SQL Server consultant and founder of SQLServerCentral.com, Blog, LinkedIn

Virtualization administrators and tools that don’t support the specialized needs of database servers can make your job challenging. If you’ve ever had a sysadmin ask why your server was using all of its RAM, you understand these challenges. In this session, SQL Server MVP Joseph D'Antoni and Oracle ACE Director Janis Griffin will guide you through overcoming these obstacles and improving performance in virtual SQL Server environments. Learn how to configure your VMs for optimal database workloads, troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, and implement best practices to proactively resolve issues.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Configuring VMs for SQL Server and database workloads
• Troubleshooting and identifying performance bottlenecks
• Best practices for quickly and proactively fixing performance problems

Speakers:

• Joseph D'Antoni, Principal Consultant at Denny Cherry and Associates, SQL Server MVP
• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software

DBAs are often tasked with solving SQL Server performance issues that occurred in the past. Without a comprehensive SQL Server monitoring solution, you're left to rely on SQL Server’s native data collection, which has its limitations. In this on-demand webcast, you’ll learn how to leverage native SQL Server data collection for effective troubleshooting and optimization of SQL Server processes. Recognizing that native data alone isn't always sufficient, we’ll also guide you through designing and implementing an additional data collection process to gather critical information for historical troubleshooting. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped to troubleshoot and resolve even the toughest SQL Server issues that occurred during your absence.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Leveraging native SQL Server data collection for performance troubleshooting
• Identifying the limitations of native data collection and how to overcome them
• Designing and implementing an additional data collection process
• Techniques for gathering important data useful in historical troubleshooting

Speakers:

• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software
• Ben DeBow, Founder and CEO at Fortified Data

In this on-demand MSSQLTips webcast, you'll gain invaluable insights into SQL Server auditing from one of the best in the field—Certified Information Systems Auditor, Brian Kelley. With over a decade of experience and as an accredited trainer for the CISA exam, Brian will guide you through the auditor’s approach to system auditing and apply these principles specifically to SQL Server environments. Learn how to prepare for an audit, what information and evidence auditors look for, and how to interact with auditors for maximum benefit to your organization. This session also includes a review and execution of scripts that will aid you in your next SQL Server audit.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Understanding the auditor’s approach to SQL Server system audits
• Preparing in advance to ensure a smooth audit process
• Key information and evidence auditors seek during an audit
• Review and execution of scripts for SQL Server audits
• Best practices for interacting with auditors during the engagement

Speakers:

• Brian Kelley, Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Data Architect
• Jeffrey Surretsky, Sales Engineer at Quest Software

Whether you’re a new or experienced SQL Server DBA, the responsibilities can quickly become overwhelming. Proactive database administration is crucial to keep SQL Server running smoothly, but best practices aren’t always followed. In this MSSQLTips webcast, SQL Server MVP Joseph D'Antoni and Oracle ACE Janis Griffin will guide you through the essential practices you need to implement to maintain a healthy SQL Server environment. Learn what you need to do to keep the lights on and ensure your systems are optimized for high availability and performance.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Best practices for SQL Server configuration
• The importance of backup and restore strategies
• Understanding maintenance tasks and their impact
• The role and management of TempDB
• Why you should never shrink a database
• How SQL Server version changes can affect maintenance
• High availability and cloud options for SQL Server

Speakers:

• Joseph D'Antoni, Senior Architect and SQL Server MVP at Denny Cherry and Associates Consulting
• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software

Microsoft Azure SQL (DB and Managed Instance) are “fully managed” SQL Server database services. If you’re familiar with SQL Server, you'll find them easier to set up and use than traditional on-premises databases. Many DBA tasks, such as space allocation, backup, and recovery, are handled automatically by the platform. Plus, not having to worry about an operating system, hypervisor, and thread count further simplifies performance management. However, you can't afford to become complacent. The performance of any database as a service is directly tied to cost, and a poorly optimized workload can lead to the provisioning of extra resources. While it's great that Azure SQL can scale automatically to stay within SLAs, this can quickly increase costs if left unchecked. The performance challenge has evolved with the database as a service, but it hasn't disappeared. In this session, we’ll explore why managing performance is even more critical with Azure SQL DB and Azure Managed Instance.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Identifying and monitoring key performance indicators that impact cost
• Understanding what auto-tuning really means and how it works
• Identifying performance issues and correctly sizing your database to avoid unnecessary costs

Speakers:

• Anat Dror, SQL Server and DB2 Domain Expert at Quest Software
• Tim Fritz, Database Technical Specialist and Market Strategist at Quest Software

Whether you're a developer, IT manager, or an accidental DBA, at some point, you'll encounter query performance problems. Beyond adding an index, you may not know how to make it work better. In this session, Microsoft SQL Server MVP Andy Warren and Oracle ACE Director Janis Griffin are here to help. Learn valuable tricks and tips to quickly improve query performance. We’ll walk you through a simple list of triage steps to help you understand the problem, then explore solution patterns that are most likely to work based on the specific performance issues you're facing. Whether the query performance is always slow, slow at certain times, or slow for certain customers, you'll gain the tools you need to diagnose and resolve these challenges.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Ensuring query performance with simple, actionable steps
• Understanding if blocking was involved in performance issues
• Identifying and addressing missing indexes
• Recognizing why query plans sometimes "go bad"
• Practical strategies for fixing queries and improving SQL Server performance

Speakers:

• Andy Warren, SQL Server Consultant and Microsoft SQL Server MVP
• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software

Ready to improve SQL Server performance? Get top SQL Server performance tuning tips from Microsoft MVP Denny Cherry and Oracle ACE Director Janis Griffin! In this on-demand session, we’ll explore various techniques to make your SQL Server queries run faster. Discover when to add indexes and the types of indexes that yield the best results. We’ll also dive into the different database engines available in SQL Server, including Row-Store, ColumnStore, and In-Memory OLTP, and discuss when each should be used or avoided. Finally, we’ll demonstrate how Foglight® for Databases can enhance SQL Server monitoring and performance across all your database platforms.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Techniques for making SQL Server queries run faster
• Identifying when and what types of indexes to add
• Understanding and choosing the right SQL Server database engines: Row-Store, ColumnStore, and In-Memory OLTP
• Enhancing SQL Server monitoring and performance with Foglight® for Databases

Speakers:

• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software
• Denny Cherry, Owner and Principal Consultant at Denny Cherry and Associates Consulting

Learn how to use native tools in SQL Server and scripts based on Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) to swiftly identify and resolve performance bottlenecks. In this session, you’ll discover effective methods for diagnosing performance issues and gain actionable insights that you can apply immediately to optimize your SQL Server environment.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Utilizing SQL Server native tools for performance monitoring
• Leveraging Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) to pinpoint bottlenecks
• Practical scripts to diagnose and resolve performance issues
• Strategies for optimizing SQL Server performance

Speaker:

• Pinal Dave, SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert at SQLAuthority.com

Do you need to fix slow queries, blocking, or deadlocks? Are you dealing with a slow server? When you don’t have a lot of experience in Microsoft SQL Server query tuning, it can be extremely frustrating. There’s so much to consider: locking, disk IO, statistics, caching, query plans, indexes, and more. But you don't have to know everything to make a query go faster! In this on-demand query tuning webcast, you’ll learn a set of steps to detect and fix the most common Microsoft SQL Server performance issues. We'll discuss how to figure out where to start, what is worth more effort and what isn't, common patterns and anti-patterns, and what to measure. You’ll also learn a few advanced strategies that go beyond pure query tuning, such as offloading queries to a replica and encouraging developers to cache more. With these expert tips, you’ll simplify your work—and take SQL Server performance to the next level.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Step-by-step process for detecting and fixing common SQL Server performance issues
• Identifying and addressing locking, disk IO, and query plan problems
• Deciding which issues are worth your time and which aren't
• Exploring advanced strategies, including offloading queries and caching
• Practical examples of common patterns and anti-patterns in query tuning

Speaker:

• Andy Warren, SQL Server Consultant and MVP at SQLServerCentral.com

There’s always room for improvement when it comes to database performance, and as more databases are deployed in the cloud, additional considerations for tuning arise. Whether you’re running SQL Server in a virtualized environment or as a service like Azure SQL Database or Amazon RDS, there are new factors to think about and certain aspects that you can no longer control. In this session, SQL Server MVP Joseph D’Antoni and Oracle ACE Janis Griffin discuss the key considerations and best practices for effectively tuning databases in the cloud.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Key considerations for tuning SQL Server in virtualized and cloud environments
• Best practices for optimizing database performance in the cloud
• Understanding the limitations and areas beyond your control in cloud-based database services
• Strategies to maximize performance while minimizing cloud resource costs

Speakers:

• Joseph D'Antoni, SQL Server MVP
• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE

Every query has a cost, typically measured through three critical resources: CPU, IO, and memory. When queries are not optimized for the cloud, they often lead to the need for expensive upgrades to cloud subscription models or result in extremely slow query performance. In this session, we will focus on how to tune queries for optimal efficiency when deployed to the cloud, ensuring they run smoothly with limited resources. Developers and DBAs will receive actionable knowledge and scripts to immediately enhance the performance of their slow-running queries.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Understanding the cost of queries in terms of CPU, IO, and memory
• Strategies for optimizing queries for cloud environments
• Techniques to avoid unnecessary cloud subscription upgrades
• Practical scripts and tips for immediate performance improvements

Speaker:

• Pinal Dave, SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert at SQLAuthority.com

As your databases migrate to the cloud, you may encounter a new set of performance challenges. In this MSSQLTips and Quest on-demand webcast, Microsoft MVP Joseph D'Antoni dives into the complexities of cloud environments and explores strategies to overcome common performance issues. Learn about the nuances of cloud-based SQL Server platforms, discover the monitoring tools available to you, and find out how tuning your databases can lead to significant cost savings.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Overview of SQL Server cloud platform offerings
• Essential monitoring tools for cloud environments
• Strategies to save money by optimizing database performance

Speakers:

• Joseph D'Antoni, Microsoft MVP at MSSQLTips
• Janis Griffin, Oracle ACE Director at Quest Software

If you've managed database performance, you've likely encountered the wait types CXPACKET and CXCONSUMER. With so much conflicting advice on how to address these issues, it’s easy to make the wrong call—like setting MAXDOP to 1, which isn't always the right solution. In this session, Brent Ozar will guide you through what happens when SQL Server parallelizes queries correctly, what causes parallelism to go awry, and the steps you can take to fix it.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• The role of CXPACKET and CXCONSUMER wait types in SQL Server
• Understanding query parallelism and when it goes wrong
• Best practices for managing and optimizing parallel queries
• Practical solutions for resolving issues without compromising performance

Speaker:

• Brent Ozar, Microsoft Certified Master

Deadlocks can be a significant challenge in SQL Server, causing delays and impacting overall performance. In this session, Brent Ozar shares his expert tips for fixing deadlocks. Learn why it’s crucial to handle tables in long transactions consistently and minimize the number of times you touch them. Brent will walk you through the process of rewriting a stored procedure that's experiencing deadlocking issues, providing practical insights to help you manage and resolve deadlocks effectively.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Understanding the causes of deadlocks in SQL Server
• Best practices for managing tables in long transactions
• Rewriting stored procedures to avoid deadlocks
• Practical techniques for consistent and efficient query execution

Speaker:

• Brent Ozar, SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert

Every organization wants applications to run faster while simultaneously reducing operational costs. While DBAs and Developers seek more resources to avoid performance bottlenecks, CIOs, CTOs, and IT Managers are constantly looking for opportunities to cut costs. Unlike on-premises infrastructure, every resource on the cloud comes with recurring expenses. In this session, you’ll learn how to tune your queries and servers to operate highly efficiently with limited resources when deployed to the cloud. Additionally, IT Managers will gain valuable insights into achieving cost savings without compromising performance.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Tuning queries for optimal performance in cloud environments
• Configuring servers for efficiency with limited cloud resources
• Strategies for balancing performance needs with cost-saving measures
• Understanding the recurring expenses of cloud resources and how to minimize them

Speaker:

• Pinal Dave, SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert at SQLAuthority.com

A query that was once efficient can slow down significantly as the workload and data in the underlying table change. With numerous parameters impacting query performance, it’s crucial to monitor and adjust configurations to ensure optimal performance as data and workloads evolve. In this session, we will explore various server and database configurations that influence performance in a changing DevOps environment. Developers and DBAs will gain valuable knowledge and scripts to immediately improve the performance of their slow-running queries.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Monitoring and adjusting query parameters for optimal performance
• Understanding the impact of data and workload changes on query efficiency
• Server and database configurations critical to performance in DevOps
• Practical scripts and strategies to enhance query performance

Speaker:

• Pinal Dave, SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert at SQLAuthority.com

Data and databases are critical components of application development for businesses. Yet, developers often encounter slow server responses, even with above-par hardware specifications. This on-demand webcast is designed for developers and DBAs who want their server to perform at blazing-fast speeds without investing a significant amount of time. Learn various SQL tuning tricks that require little to no time to master and practically no SQL coding. After watching this webcast, you’ll be able to improve your database server's performance in just 60 seconds with the scripts and knowledge provided.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Quick SQL tuning tricks that require minimal time and effort
• Performance improvement techniques without extensive SQL coding
• Practical scripts to immediately enhance server performance
• Strategies for developers and DBAs to achieve fast server responses

Speakers:

• Pinal Dave, SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and Independent Consultant
• Pini Dibask, Product Manager for Database Performance Monitoring

Deadlocks strike fear into the hearts of even seasoned DBAs—but they don't have to! In this session, you'll be provided with the code to create a sample deadlock in SQL Server. You'll learn how to interpret the deadlock graph to pinpoint where the conflict occurs, and how to design an index to eliminate the deadlock. By the end of the session, you'll have the confidence and knowledge to tackle future deadlocks effectively.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Creating and analyzing a sample deadlock in SQL Server
• Interpreting the deadlock graph to identify conflict points
• Designing indexes to resolve and prevent deadlocks
• Practical steps for confidently addressing future deadlocks

Speakers:

• Jason Hall, SQL Server Expert
• Kendra Little, SQL Server Expert

When it comes to SQL Server database performance, query tuning is critical. However, identifying the root cause of performance issues can be challenging, leading to frustration and time-consuming efforts. If you’re struggling with query tuning, this webcast is tailored for you.

In this session, Oracle ACE Director Janis Griffin will demonstrate how Foglight® for Databases by Quest® simplifies the process of finding and fixing problematic queries. You’ll learn to harness the powerful functionalities of tools like the multi-dimensional Performance Investigator and Quest SQL Optimizer to quickly rewrite queries or identify the best indexes. This systematic approach, regardless of your database's complexity or your skill level, will guide you to the correct tuning path, eliminating guesswork and saving countless hours on query tuning and SQL Server performance optimization.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Using wait types to quickly identify bottlenecks and determine the best tuning approach
• Identifying inefficient operations through query execution plan reviews
• Rewriting queries to achieve optimal execution plans

Speaker

Janis Griffin
Oracle ACE Director, Quest Software

Query tuning is essential for achieving peak performance in SQL Server databases, yet many developers and DBAs struggle to identify the root causes of performance issues, often spending excessive time trying to resolve them. In this on-demand session, you'll discover proven best practices for tuning SQL statements and addressing other issues by leveraging Wait Time Analysis, reviewing execution plans, and applying SQL diagramming techniques. Additionally, real-world case studies will demonstrate the effectiveness of these practices.

Regardless of the complexity of your database or your skill level, this systematic approach will guide you to the correct SQL performance tuning path, eliminating guesswork and saving countless hours in query tuning and database optimization.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Effectively using wait types to quickly identify bottlenecks and determine the best tuning approach
• Quickly identifying inefficient operations through query execution plan reviews
• Applying SQL diagramming techniques to find the optimal execution plan

Speaker

Janis Griffin
Senior Database Administrator, SQL Performance Expert

In this webcast, you'll learn how to reduce costs and enhance database performance by offloading reporting tasks. Microsoft Cloud Solutions Architect Sri Hari and Quest® Database Solutions Engineer Martin Wild will guide you through the process of safely and efficiently migrating Oracle data to lower-cost Azure SQL and SQL Server databases.

This session will provide practical insights on how to leverage Azure's capabilities to optimize your reporting processes, making it easier to manage and analyze your data without sacrificing performance.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Offloading Oracle reporting to an Azure PaaS database, such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQL Server
• Using Oracle data in Azure Analytics
• Locating your audit data from Oracle to Azure (CDC)
• Building a data warehouse in Azure that’s based on and in sync with your Oracle data
• Continuously moving Oracle data to Azure SQL Database to accurately and affordably offload reporting

Additional Considerations:

• Optimizing reporting performance on target databases by placing workloads closer to users and segregating reporting workloads to different locations and data sets
• Using a data replication solution that is easy, flexible, accurate, and can handle high transaction volumes with low overhead
• Monitoring the health and performance of your Azure databases
• Addressing network latency and running Azure database workloads

Speakers

Sri Hari
Microsoft Cloud Solutions Architect

Martin Wild
Quest® Database Solutions Engineer

Database performance issues can quickly escalate into major problems, but with the right tools and strategies, you can proactively prevent these issues from causing havoc. In this session, you'll discover how to ensure peak database performance by leveraging performance monitoring tools that simplify your work. Learn how to quickly identify and resolve common issues before they escalate, keeping your systems running smoothly.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Establishing around-the-clock monitoring and diagnostics
• Using alarms and notifications to stay ahead of issues
• Accessing critical data when and where you need it
• Monitoring your database environments on-the-go

Speaker

Denis O’Sullivan

Database migrations and upgrades can often feel like a runaway train of risk, downtime, and stress. But with the right guidance, you can keep your projects on track. In this session, you'll gain expert tips to help you navigate the common pitfalls and risks associated with meeting your database operational goals. Our practical advice will empower you to execute migrations and upgrades with confidence and minimal stress.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Scaling out your databases effectively
• Ensuring high availability of your critical applications
• Integrating data from multiple data sources seamlessly

Speaker

Michael Sass

Have you watched with envy as application development teams reaped the benefits of agile and DevOps, rapidly releasing products and automating their deployment pipelines? Now it’s your turn to become an international DevOps hero. This session will equip you with the tools, skills, and secret weapons you need to command the respect you deserve in the world of DevOps.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Achieving both speed and quality without introducing risk
• Applying automation to eliminate bottlenecks
• Breaking down silos between development and operations teams

Speaker

Denis O'Sullivan