May 09, 2008

Microsoft's backup compression

I still have a hard time getting jazzed about Katmai's backup compression. Again, it's probably because I've been using LiteSpeed for so long, and it's just not news anymore. Not to mention it still has licensing problems. I believe that I talked to someone at MS about this a while back and they said that it was their belief that it was typically enterprise customers who had backups large enough to need compression. That's just not so. There are plenty of dev systems and lesser systems that need compressed backups. Look at it this way. It's all relative, right? Because... more

TAGS: SQL Server

May 08, 2008

Database shoplifting

In my SSWUG newsletter this morning there was a short article on database shoplifting. It wasn't really an article as much as a musing. Anyway, Stephen goes to talk about how most data theft comes from within the company by trusted employees who turn around and use it against the company in some way. I can't really understand why they would do something like that. It's not like the companies treat them like criminals or anything when they turn in their notice. Oh, wait... strike that. So what can you do to prevent your database from being stolen? Well, I... more

TAGS: General Database

April 17, 2008

First look at Red-Gate's data generator

OK, I told you all that I'd do a Camtasia of Red-Gate's data generator, so here it is. Hope you like it. It's not showing up very well because of the right margin, but you can download the file below. Download file... more

TAGS: SQL Server

April 16, 2008

Bloggers beware!

It's not all that often I get to shamelessly piggyback off of the work of someone else and boost my page hits at the same time so I ride it when I can. But this story from today's Simple-Talk newsletter was not only interesting, I find that I really don't have much to add to it. I just wanted everyone to take notice. Here's the link.... more

TAGS: Database News

April 15, 2008

Are remote DBAs a good idea?

I got an email from a marketing rep a while back telling me about this company that does remote DBA work and wanted to know if I was interested in doing a story on them. Well, normally I turn stuff like that down flat because I've seen those companies before and they're typically nothing more than a glorified NOC (Network Ops Center). OK, they're probably not even that glorified, just expensive. But there was something about the way she worded it that got me curious. So I emailed her back and before long we were on the phone. Enough prelims... more

TAGS: General Database

April 14, 2008

Is Windows finished?

In my inbox last week, I got a newsletter that splashed the demise of Windows. And while that may be a pleasing thought to some, it just isn't practical. For instance, my friends at Oracle are always moaning that they're forced to use Windows systems instead of Linux, but even they agree that Linux just isn't ready for everyday business use. The argument in the newsletter was simply that Vista is so slow and bloated that it's causing problems that will cause users to switch platforms and that MS is just skating by on their reputation and not giving their... more

TAGS: Microsoft

April 09, 2008

Scattered Data

I know someone right now who is splitting a database into separate instances for performance purposes. Now, this happens to be a SQL Server specific installation, but the concept holds true for all the vendors. The problem is they're putting the 2nd instance on the same box, and leaving the DBs on the same disks. And not only that, they're doing double writes on some of their busiest tables (without using 2PC) to keep the instances in synch. This is just a disaster waiting to happen. But not only that, it completely defeats the original purpose for splitting it to... more

TAGS: General Database