Steven Warren

Now that your data is backed up, you will need to learn how to restore your data when it is applicable. You might want to restore your data because of a hardware failure or restore data to a backup or standby server. The reasons are endless but the most important thing is to be prepared. […]

If you are a Database Administrator (DBA), I have no doubt in my mind that you have been called away from home, dinner, or just plain in the middle of the night to answer a page on a disaster with your database(s). In this field, it is the nature of the beast to get called […]

SQL Server 2000 contains a powerful set of tools called Data Transformation Services (DTS) that can help you import, export, and/or transform data from various sources to single or multiple locations. DTS was first released with SQL Server 7.0 and has been vastly improved with the release of SQL Server 2000. Some of the new […]

Managing a database server is like owning a piece of machinery. You need a maintenance plan to keep the machinery running smooth. Just as your machinery required maintenance, your databases need attention to ensure great performance. To help keep your databases in tiptop shape, I am going to walk you through creating a maintenance plan […]

I recently had the opportunity to work with a new piece of software for my SQL Server backups. The product is called SQL Backup and it is made by Red Gate Software. With SQL Backup, you can perform the following: Compressed backups Perform faster online backups Encrypt SQL Server backups with 128 bit Rijndael encryption […]

In SQL Server 2000, the SQL Profiler can help you diagnose and fix SQL Server performance issues. This tool lets you trace events and play back the results, which can help you determine application and/or query problems, such as long-running queries or ineffective indexes. Let’s take a look at how you can use the SQL […]

You can monitor the system performance by using the Performance monitor console and its related counters in Windows 2000. These counters allow you to view or save information about the overall performance of your server. When you install Microsoft SQL Server, additional Performance monitor objects and counters are automatically installed. While you must have administrative […]

Creating databases in SQL Server 2000 can be an easy process if you understand the following terms: Database design key terms Prior to creating a database, you should be familiar with the following terms: Data represents the values stored in a database. Tables are database objects that contain all the data in a database. Within […]

Do you not have a full-time DBA to keep Microsoft SQL Server databases running according to industry standards and best practices? Sometimes even DBAs want to test their SQL Servers against various best practices. In the past, you would have to tweak your SQL Server settings manually to find the ideal configuration. Now, Microsoft has […]

Do you need the ability to manage your SQL Server data wherever you are? Microsoft released a Web interface that can help you manage your SQL Server databases. With this tool, called the SQL Server Web Data Administrator, you can: Perform ad-hoc queries against databases and save them to your file system. Create/edit databases in […]

In my last article, we went over how to install SQL Server 2005 and what it entailed. In this article, we will continue by giving you an overview of what the new interface looks like. Let’s begin by exploring the menu bar as shown in Figure A. Click for larger image Figure A. SQL Server […]

I have been thinking about this series for quite awhile and have decided to start my Day to Day DBA (DTDDBA). This series will consist of How-To articles from a beginning perspective and advance as far as I can take it. My goal for this series is to teach you the basics as well as […]