In This Issue:
Who needs the latest summer-reading thriller when Microsoft has released a new version of SQL Server 2005 Books Online? Here’s how to get the latest update and eliminate duplicate copies.
Also:
Talk directly to T-SQL master Itzik Ben-Gan through his new blog, Puzzled by T-SQL!
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Managing SQL Server Events and Notifications
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July 27, 2006
1. Perspectives
- Summer Reading: The Latest Version of BOL
2. SQL Server Watch
- Calling All SQL Server Innovators!
- Take the SQL Server Magazine Salary Survey!
- Product Watch: Lumigent and AVIcode
3. Hot Articles
- Q&A: Using msdb Backup Tables
- T-SQL 2005: Using SQL Server 2005's New Synonym Function
- NEW BLOG! PUZZLED BY T-SQL: Welcome
- Hot Threads: DTS and Performance
4. Events and Resources
- Cross-Platform Data Roadshow
- High-Availability Essentials for SQL Server 2005
- What Every IT Manager Should Know About Protecting SQL Server
- Gathering Compliance Data
5. Featured White Paper
- Reducing Compliance Costs
6. Announcements
- Discounted Offer for the SQL Server Magazine Master CD
- Save $40 On SQL Server Magazine
7. Web Community
- http://www.sqlmag.com
Sponsor: AMD
From start-up to backup, learn what you need to use your Oracle DBA skills to manage a SQL Server database. Download the free Essential Guide today!
http://www.sqlmag.com/go/essential/amd/oracledba/?code=SQLTop0727
1. Perspectives
Summer Reading: The Latest Version of BOL
by Brian Moran, [email protected]
Last week, Microsoft released the July update of SQL Server 2005 Books Online (BOL). I know you’re busy, but do yourself a favor: Download this refresh to make sure you have the latest and greatest copy of what is arguably the single most valuable source of SQL Server information you can have. The full download is available at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/downloads/books.mspx .
Microsoft also released an updated copy of the SQL Server 2005 Samples and Sample Databases that support BOL. The download is available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E719ECF7-9F46-4312-AF89-6AD8702E4E6E&displaylang=en . Alternatively, if you google “SQL Server 2005 Samples and Sample Databases (July 2006),” you’ll quickly get to the correct download site. At the risk of beating a dead horse, I urge you to take advantage of these great learning resources.
How do you know what version of BOL you have? Checking is easy. Simply look in the title bar of the BOL version you’re running. Most Microsoft products make you look in the Help, About menu. BOL’s title-bar check is easier. You can use the title bar to see whether a new BOL version has installed correctly, too. If your title bar doesn’t update to show the month of the new version you just downloaded, the BOL refresh didn’t install properly for some reason. Don’t forget that you can simply check the topic “New and Updated Books Online Topics” for a comprehensive list of changes in the new version.
Please note that starting with the July 2006 refresh, a separate version of BOL for SQL Server Express is no longer available. Instead you’ll want to use the SQL Server Express filter in the contents pane to filter out information that doesn’t apply to SQL Server Express.
Finally, don’t forget that under some circumstances, you might end up with two versions of SQL Server BOL. First, installing a local copy of the MSDN Library (for example from an MSDN subscription) will install a copy of BOL. This MSDN version isn’t affected by new versions that you manually install, and it’s updated whenever you install the latest quarterly update to your MSDN Library. Second, if a user installs Business Intelligence Development Studio, SQL Server 2005 BOL, and the MSDN Library, two copies of BOL appear in the table of contents. One of these copies was installed by the MSDN Library and the other by SQL Server. You can remove the MSDN Library copy of BOL to avoid duplicate BOL topics in search and index results. Here’s how; open Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select MSDN Library for Visual Studio 2005, and click Change.
Who needs the latest summer-reading thriller for your vacation getaway when there’s a new version of BOL to peruse? Download, read, and enjoy!
Sponsor: Neverfail
Want the convenience of a server cluster without the expense? Learn about server cluster alternatives that provide high availability, preventative maintenance, and fallover capabilities at pricing that fits your budget.
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2. SQL Server Watch
Calling All SQL Server Innovators!
Have you developed a solution that uses SQL Server technology to solve a business problem in an innovative way? Enter your solution in the 2006 SQL Server Magazine Innovators Contest! Grand-prize winners will receive airfare and a conference pass to SQL Server Magazine Connections in Las Vegas, November 6–9, 2006, plus more great prizes. We’ll showcase the winning solutions in a feature article in the January 2007 issue of SQL Server Magazine. Contest runs through September 1, 2006. To enter, click here:
http://www.sqlmag.com/awards/?type=innovator
Take the SQL Server Magazine Salary Survey!
We need your help! SQL Server Magazine is launching its third SQL Server Magazine Industry Salary Survey, and we want to find out all about you and what makes you a satisfied database professional. When you complete the survey (about 10 minutes of your time), you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of five $100 American Express gift certificates. Look for the survey results—and how you stack up against your peers—in our December issue. To take the survey, go to
https://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/12237/SQLSalarySurvey06.htm
Product Watch
by Blake Eno, [email protected]
Automated User Account Management
Lumigent Technologies announced Obsolete User Manager, a new capability in Lumigent Audit DB that helps businesses automate user entitlement changes for employees who are leaving the firm or transferring departments. The product manages user accounts at the database level, reducing the risk of compromised data and failed audits and improving business efficiency. Obsolete User Manager integrates with HR systems, Help desk systems, and corporate directories to automate changes in employees' status and provides centralized visibility and control that enables timely decisions. For more information, contact Lumigent at 978-206-3700 or 866-586-4436.
http://www.lumigent.com
Monitor.NET Framework-Based Applications
AVIcode announced .NET Management Pack 3.0 for Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005 to better manage Microsoft .NET Framework-based applications. The product provides real-time, in-product monitoring of custom Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 applications. In addition, the product includes new auto-discovery features that enable automatic detection of .NET Framework-based applications running on MOM-managed servers. Fore more information, contact AVIcode at [email protected] or 443-543-0030.
http://www.avicode.com
Sponsor: DevelopMentor
Guerrilla SQL 2005 for Developers September 11-15 in Los Angeles is a hands-on, 55+-hour, 5-day course on SQL Server 2005. It covers how to utilize new features such as in-database .NET functionality and native XML storage and query and security and relational enhancements for maximum performance, code reusability and application modularity. Client enhancements are also covered. Experience the Guerrilla difference! Price includes hotel and all meals and beverages! Click here for more info:
http://www.develop.com/gsql911sqlmag
3. Hot Articles
Q&A: Using msdb Backup Tables
by Microsoft’s SQL Server Development Team, [email protected]
Q: I have two questions about backing up and restoring files. First, how can I determine when my last backup occurred? And second, how can I retrieve the files from the list in the backup folder and restore them automatically?
Read the answer to this question today at
http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/ArticleID/50183/50183.html
T-SQL 2005: Using SQL Server 2005's New Synonym Function
This month, Itzik Ben-Gan continues his discussion about new, overlooked SQL Server 2005 functions with an overview of the synonym feature. A synonym is a link, created locally in a database, which points to an object either within the same SQL Server instance or in a linked server. You can use synonyms to point to generic objects that reside in different databases as if they resided as local objects in all databases. This capability lets you simplify your code and the process of maintaining it. Learn how you can use synonyms and post your comments at
http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/ArticleID/50381/50381.html
New Blog!
Puzzled By T-SQL: Welcome
Talk directly to T-SQL master Itzik Ben-Gan in his new blog, Puzzled by T-SQL. In his first entry, Itzik describes his intention to focus on T-SQL puzzles and logic and promote more direct interaction with you, the readers. Read this first installment of Itzik’s new blog, and let him know what you think today at
http://www.sqlmag.com/article/articleid/92879/92879.html
Hot Threads:
DTS: Scheduled DTS Job Performs All Tasks…Then Fails
http://sqlforums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=68&threadid=48466&enterthread=y
Performance: Deadlock Solutions Needed
http://sqlforums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=62&threadid=48254&enterthread=y
4. Events and Resources
Cross-Platform Data Roadshow
Oracle professionals will cover key concepts about Oracle and SQL Server in enterprise database computing. This event provides invaluable information, including benefits of 64-bit computing on the Windows platform, SQL Server BI for Oracle, and high-availability proof points for SQL and Oracle.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/roadshows/sqloracle/?code=0726emailannc
Learn the essentials of high availability for SQL Server 2005, including cluster services, replication, and log shipping.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/essential/xosoft/sqlserverha/?code=0726emailannc
Learn what every IT manager should know about protecting SQL Server and how to identify the costs, risks, and advantages of each solution. Make sure that your disaster recovery and high availability solutions match your business needs.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/doubletake/sqlserver/?code=0726emailannc
Learn to gather evidence of compliance across multiple systems and link the data to regulatory and framework control objectives. On-demand Web seminar:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/bindview/multiregcompliance/?partnerref=0726emailannc
See the complete Windows IT Pro Network guide to Web and live events.
http://www.winnetmag.com/events
5. Featured White Paper
On average, enterprises spend $10 million annually on IT compliance. How much is your company spending? Learn to streamline and automate the compliance life cycle and reduce your costs today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepapers/scalable/compliance?code=0726featwp
Hot Spot: sqlSentry
Never again get burned when SQL Agent hangs and a job runs for 5 days instead of 5 minutes! sqlSentry continuously monitors job and task runtimes and generates alerts based on defined minimum/maximum runtime thresholds, which can be set at the global, server, or job-level.
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6. Announcements
Discounted Offer for the SQL Server Magazine Master CD
Save 50% on the SQL Server Magazine Master CD! Order now and get portable, high-speed access to the entire SQL Server Magazine article database on CD—a searchable library that includes every issue ever published. The newest issue also includes BONUS SQL Server 2005 Tips. Subscribe now and save 50%:
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Save $40 On SQL Server Magazine
Subscribe to SQL Server Magazine today and SAVE up to $40! Along with your 12 issues, you'll get FREE access to the entire SQL Server Magazine online article archive, which houses more than 2,300 helpful SQL Server articles. This is a limited-time offer, so order now:
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=9&promocode=eu2168us
7. Web Community
Hot Threads
http://sqlforums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/default.aspx?forumid=10
Reader-to-Reader
http://www.sqlmag.com/Departments/DepartmentID/731/Reader%20to%20Reader.html
New Instant Poll
http://www.sqlmag.com/
In a Nutshell Blog:
http://www.sqlmag.com/Departments/DepartmentID/965/965.html
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