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SQLSaturday #84 - Kalamazoo 2011

Start Time (24h)	Speaker	Track	Title
00:00:00	Matthew Mace	Theatre	BlueGranite Lunch Session
00:00:00	Aaron Bertrand	Theatre	What's New in SQL Server "Denali"?
00:00:00	Aaron Bertrand	Track 5	T-SQL : Bad Habits to Kick
00:00:00	Andy Leonard	Track 3	“I See a Control Flow Tab. Now What?”
00:00:00	Andy Leonard	Forum Room	Designing an SSIS Framework
00:00:00	Allen White	Theatre	Automate Policy-Based Management using PowerShell
00:00:00	Brent Ozar	Theatre	SAN Basics for DBAs
00:00:00	Brent Ozar	Forum Room	How to Defuse Problems Like a Consultant
00:00:00	Charles Otten	Track 4	Understanding MS SQL Server Indexes
00:00:00	Charles Otten	Track 3	SQL Server Best Practices
00:00:00	Craig Purnell	Track 4	NoSQL-What is it and why do I care?
00:00:00	David Levy	Track 3	Getting Out from Behind the Curtain – The New DBA
00:00:00	Doug Lane	Track 5	Devs are from Mars, Report Servers are from Venus
00:00:00	Erin Stellato	Track 3	You’re My Density: Making Sense of Statistics
00:00:00	Eddie Wuerch	Track 5	TempDB Performance Troubleshooting and Optimizing
00:00:00	Jason Strate	Forum Room	Extended Events, Work Smarter Not Harder
00:00:00	Jason Strate	Theatre	The Creepy DBA, How to Stalk Your Users
00:00:00	Jeff Moden	Forum Room	The Tally Table: What it is/how it replaces loops
00:00:00	Jeff Moden	Track 3	Cross Tabs Pivots: Converting Rows into Columns
00:00:00	Jeremiah Peschka	Theatre	Refactoring SQL
00:00:00	Jeremiah Peschka	Track 5	Leaving the Windows Open
00:00:00	Kendra Little	Track 4	Seven Strategic Discussions About Scale
00:00:00	Rob Kerr	Track 3	Delivering BI Solutions with SQL and SharePoint
00:00:00	Scott Schommer	Track 5	PowerPivot - A cool reporting tool! (
00:00:00	Shelly Noll	Forum Room	How to Thrive (and Survive) as a Woman in IT
00:00:00	Thomas LaRock	Theatre	Monitoring Databases in a Virtual Environment
00:00:00	Thomas LaRock	Forum Room	Waits and Queues and You
00:00:00	Tim Costello	Track 4	Pro Tips: Tuning the data flow in ssis
00:00:00	Tim Ford	Forum Room	The Periodic Table of Dynamic Management Objects
00:00:00	Tom Groszko	Track 4	Change Tracking
00:00:00	Wendy Pastrick	Track 5	Visualizing Your Indexes - Science behind the Art
00:00:00	Wendy Pastrick	Track 4	Read Dirty to Me - Understanding Isolation

SessionID: 20973

BlueGranite Lunch Session

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Matthew Mace

Title: BlueGranite Lunch Session

Abstract:

In this Lunch session see how BlueGranite – a Microsoft’s 2011 Partner of the Year award winner and top industry partner – has helped customers leverage the Microsoft BI platform to help increase profitability through deeper business analysis. Through an end-users eyes, learn how Microsoft Business Intelligence and SQL Server 2008 R2 can provide an up-to-the-minute view of the health of your business. See real world-examples and use cases from a live solution; including the use of SSAS OLAP cubes, Microsoft Excel, PerformancePoint Services, and mobile platforms.

SessionID: 28374

What's New in SQL Server "Denali"?

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Aaron Bertrand

Title: What's New in SQL Server "Denali"?

Abstract:

SQL Server "Denali" delivers many highly anticipated features that some feel are long overdue. In this session you will get a first-hand look at many of these new features relating to the engine (contained databases, AlwaysOn, and T-SQL enhancements), client tools (Management Studio, Books Online, and "Juneau"), and changes to setup and system requirements. You'll also learn about some of the features that will not be making it into Denali, and deprecated functionality that will stop working in this or the next release.

SessionID: 28375

T-SQL : Bad Habits to Kick

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 5

Speaker: Aaron Bertrand

Title: T-SQL : Bad Habits to Kick

Abstract:

Bad habits: we all have them. SELECT * is the obvious one; but in this session you will learn about various other habits and why they can be bad for performance or maintainability. Come learn how these habits develop, what kind of problems they can lead to, and how you can avoid them. Eliminating these habits will lead to more efficient code, a more productive work environment, and - in a lot of cases - both.

SessionID: 28691

“I See a Control Flow Tab. Now What?”

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 3

Speaker: Andy Leonard

Title: “I See a Control Flow Tab. Now What?”

Abstract:

This highly-interactive, demo-intense presentation is for beginners and developers just getting started with SSIS. Attend and learn how to build SSIS packages from the ground up.

SessionID: 28692

Designing an SSIS Framework

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Andy Leonard

Title: Designing an SSIS Framework

Abstract:

In this “demo-tastic” presentation, SSIS trainer, author, and consultant Andy Leonard explains the what, why, and how of an SSIS framework that delivers metadata-driven package execution, connections management, and centralizes logging. Key takeaways: 1) Developers can migrate packages from Development, through their lifecycle, to Production without editing SSIS Connection Managers properties. 2) A metadata-driven approach to SSIS package execution. 3) Demonstration of a centralized logging reporting application.

SessionID: 28930

Automate Policy-Based Management using PowerShell

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Allen White

Title: Automate Policy-Based Management using PowerShell

Abstract:

The Policy-Based Management feature in SQL Server 2008 provides a great way to ensure your systems are configured consistently and correctly, but it can be tedious to implement on each server in your environment. PowerShell scripts allow you to automate the implementation of your policies so you can focus on more important problems. This session will walk you through how PBM works, how to define your policies in PowerShell, and how to set up Agent jobs to evaluate those policies regularly to let you know when you need to take action.

SessionID: 29230

SAN Basics for DBAs

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Brent Ozar

Title: SAN Basics for DBAs

Abstract:

Storage Area Networks are like a bad black box: we put data in, we get data out, but we have no idea what's going on inside. Why is everything so slow and yet so expensive? Is it a SAN problem or a SQL problem? Learn what's happening inside the black box from Brent Ozar, a Microsoft Certified Master and former SAN administrator, who will demystify storage.

SessionID: 29232

How to Defuse Problems Like a Consultant

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Brent Ozar

Title: How to Defuse Problems Like a Consultant

Abstract:

Consultants work with technology, but they also deal with a lot of politics. Brent Ozar was a production DBA for years and sat through thousands of meetings. Now that he’s a consultant, he’s figured out how consultants handle political bombs during meetings, and he wants to share his favorite consulting lines with you. You’ll learn how to deal with dangerous developers, miserable managers, and cussing customers using simple lines that won’t blow up in your face.

SessionID: 29453

Understanding MS SQL Server Indexes

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 4

Speaker: Charles Otten

Title: Understanding MS SQL Server Indexes

Abstract:

A one hour session showing how SQL Server creates and manages indexes using a B-Tree. This will include discussions and demonstrations on clustered vs non-clustered indexes as well as how to build the best performing index solutions.

SessionID: 29454

SQL Server Best Practices

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 3

Speaker: Charles Otten

Title: SQL Server Best Practices

Abstract:

There are many ways to solve problems with SQL Server, and the performance of the various solutions can vary dramatically. This session will focus on specific server settings and T-SQL practices to create efficient running solutions. We’ll discuss how functions can hurt and help performance, approaches to removing cursors in favor of set based approaches, tricks to find missing indexes, how to determine the actual cost of your queries and much more.

SessionID: 29630

NoSQL-What is it and why do I care?

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 4

Speaker: Craig Purnell

Title: NoSQL-What is it and why do I care?

Abstract:

NoSQL (or, more correctly NoRel) is a moniker applied to a family of non-relational software systems for storing data that powers some of the largest sites on the Internet. Amazingly enough, non-relational database technology has been around a very long time. This session will include a high level discussion of some of the pros and cons of this technology compared to traditional systems like Oracle and SQL Server; as well as a survey of the most popular "NoSQL" platforms and who uses them. We will also cover a brief history of relational and non-relational databases as it is germane to the topic

SessionID: 29912

Getting Out from Behind the Curtain – The New DBA

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 3

Speaker: David Levy

Title: Getting Out from Behind the Curtain – The New DBA

Abstract:

The days of hiding amongst rows of servers, focusing purely on operational tasks are quickly coming to an end. DBAs that want to hide in their foxhole, focusing purely on operational tasks are quickly being outsourced. This session will cover the steps to becoming a highly valued leader in your organization by building relationships, automating mundane tasks, standardizing processes, and making education a priority.

SessionID: 29970

Devs are from Mars, Report Servers are from Venus

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 5

Speaker: Doug Lane

Title: Devs are from Mars, Report Servers are from Venus

Abstract:

Do you remember what it was like to fall in love? Wasn't it wonderful?

Lately it just hasn't been the same. You've been stuck in the same old routine, doing the same old charts and tables. Maybe Reporting Services doesn’t tell you what’s wrong. Maybe you're even thinking about seeing other reporting products. Maybe you and RS just weren't meant to be together.

In this session, Doug will re-ignite your passion for RS by showing you how to design for better performance, explaining what RS has been trying to tell you through logs (but you haven't been listening), and demonstrating some new -- and easy -- tricks you may not have known RS can do. After this session, you'll want to spend some time alone with your new old flame.

SessionID: 30078

You’re My Density: Making Sense of Statistics

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 3

Speaker: Erin Stellato

Title: You’re My Density: Making Sense of Statistics

Abstract:

The Query Optimizer uses statistics to decide how to execute a query. If statistics are out of date, improperly sampled or simply don’t exist, then you could unintentionally deceive the Optimizer. Accurate statistics can help avoid poor query plans, so if you’re not familiar with how to read a histogram, the various options for updating statistics or want to know why sample size does matter, this session is for you! We will also delve into what happens when a value doesn’t exist in a statistic, discuss methods to manage statistics for volatile tables and examine the challenges that exist with statistics on partitioned tables. Expect a session filled with demos and real-world examples that will create a foundation of statistics knowledge.

SessionID: 30153

TempDB Performance Troubleshooting and Optimizing

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 5

Speaker: Eddie Wuerch

Title: TempDB Performance Troubleshooting and Optimizing

Abstract:

Every SQL Server instance relies on the tempdb database. Whether through explicit use with #temp tables or @table variables, or implicit use through working space for many other operations, most tempdb databases get quite a workout. This session will dig into many of the otherwise-hidden issues that can kill server performance. After this session, you will be able to spot tempdb performance issues, drill into the causes, and take the steps necessary to solve them.

SessionID: 30534

Extended Events, Work Smarter Not Harder

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Jason Strate

Title: Extended Events, Work Smarter Not Harder

Abstract:

There are many ways to performance monitor your SQL Server environment. In this session we’ll review Extended Events, which is one of the newer SQL Server monitoring platforms. Learn the ins and outs of how to get detailed information on the errors and events that occur within SQL Server and how to dig into the information. With a few T-SQL statements, issues that could take weeks to research can be investigated in minutes.

SessionID: 30537

The Creepy DBA, How to Stalk Your Users

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Jason Strate

Title: The Creepy DBA, How to Stalk Your Users

Abstract:

Do you know when your users are using the production login accounts from their workstations? Are you aware of changes being made to the development servers that may impact future deployments? Has the new Junior DBA start giving out access like candy? As DBAs, we are responsible for knowing and acting on all of this and much more. Fortunately, SQL Server provides a number of features that you can use to monitor and track user activity. In this session, we’ll look at these features and demonstrate how you can use them to the extent that your users find you creepy!

SessionID: 30559

The Tally Table: What it is/how it replaces loops

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Jeff Moden

Title: The Tally Table: What it is/how it replaces loops

Abstract:

Don’t let the “Intermediate” rating scare you “Beginners” away. This “Black Arts” session is for anyone that uses T-SQL. There are dozens of things we do in SQL that require some type of iteration. "Iteration" means "counters" and "loops" to most people and recursion to others. To those well versed in the techniques of "Set-based" programming, it means some form of a "Numbers" or "Tally" Table, instead. SQL Server MVP Jeff Moden takes the mystery out of how this wonderfully compact tool works and how it easily replaces many types of loops. This session has been updated to include additional information about what “Pseudo-Cursors” are and how they work as well discovering why “Recursive CTE’s” can be your worst enemy.

SessionID: 30560

Cross Tabs Pivots: Converting Rows into Columns

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 3

Speaker: Jeff Moden

Title: Cross Tabs Pivots: Converting Rows into Columns

Abstract:

Don’t let the “Intermediate” rating scare you “Beginners” away. This “Black Arts” session is for anyone that uses T-SQL. SQL Server MVP Jeff Moden demonstrates and explains simple methods for converting gobs of “vertical data” into horizontal numeric and textual data by date or other key using Cross Tabs and Pivots. This session includes the “Black Arts” method of “Pre-Aggregation” for incredibly high performance and how to dynamically and automatically produce reports based on a date. The methods learned in this session can be used to provide “dynamically pivoted” result sets to SSRS, Crystal Reports, and other reporting software.

SessionID: 30767

Refactoring SQL

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Jeremiah Peschka

Title: Refactoring SQL

Abstract:

Refactoring SQL is not like refactoring application code. This talk will cover proven SQL refactoring techniques that will help you identify where performance gains can be made, apply quick fixes, improve readability, and help you quickly locate places to make sweeping performance improvements. Jeremiah Peschka has years of hands on experience tuning SQL applications for performance, throughput, and concurrency.

SessionID: 30769

Leaving the Windows Open

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 5

Speaker: Jeremiah Peschka

Title: Leaving the Windows Open

Abstract:

Computing running totals, averages by state or group, and other complex aggregations are not easy to implement in many relational databases. Thankfully, many relational databases include support for window functions. Window functions are an extension to the ANSI SQL standard. More than just another part of SQL, window functions enable complex ranking, ordering, and other aggregations over a subset of rows in a query. Understanding the capabilities of window functions lets you extend application functionality, build rich and complex queries, and reduce overhead in the application tier.

SessionID: 31509

Seven Strategic Discussions About Scale

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 4

Speaker: Kendra Little

Title: Seven Strategic Discussions About Scale

Abstract:

Know those apps that need a complete rewrite from scratch, but management won't listen to you? Kendra Little has been there and she's figured out how to frame the big conversations. She'll give you seven strategies to improve scale and change application architecture, and explain concepts from sharding to caching along the way. You'll get a toolkit for each conversation: how to gather the right supporting data from the environment, who to talk to, and how to speak the right language to drive each change.

SessionID: 32524

Delivering BI Solutions with SQL and SharePoint

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 3

Speaker: Rob Kerr

Title: Delivering BI Solutions with SQL and SharePoint

Abstract:

This session focuses on SQLServer-based BI solution delivery. Capabilities discussed will include Excel Services, PerformancePoint Services, Business Connectivity Services, Reporting Services Integrated Mode, and PowerPivot. This session will emphasize real-world best practices in technology selection, solution design, security, and deployment.

SessionID: 32837

PowerPivot - A cool reporting tool! (

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 5

Speaker: Scott Schommer

Title: PowerPivot - A cool reporting tool! (

Abstract:

The future of BI is self-service reporting and PowerPivot is the conduit to that goal. We will explore how to use the PowerPivot add-in for Excel 2010 to tie different data sources together and deliver analytics.

In this session you will learn how to use PowerPivot (within the familiar interface of Excel) to combine different data sources such as Analysis Services cubes, TSQL queries, Stored Procedures, Excel spreadsheets, flat files and data from the web to create basic PivotTables and PivotCharts in Excel. The data these new spreadsheets overcomes the 1,048,576 row limitation in Excel 2007/2010, contains refreshable data sources and has excellent data compression and lighting fast speed thanks to the utilizati

SessionID: 32915

How to Thrive (and Survive) as a Woman in IT

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Shelly Noll

Title: How to Thrive (and Survive) as a Woman in IT

Abstract:

We often hear about the advantages of diversity in the workforce, but it can be difficult to relate to one another when we all have different backgrounds and experiences. Please join our panelists Kendra Little, Wendy Pastrick, Yanni Robel and Erin Stellato as they explore lessons learned as women working in information technology. They will discuss ways they have been able to leverage their differences to compliment a team and share communication techniques they’ve acquired from working in diverse environments. All attendees are welcome.

SessionID: 33057

Monitoring Databases in a Virtual Environment

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Theatre

Speaker: Thomas LaRock

Title: Monitoring Databases in a Virtual Environment

Abstract:

When moving databases to a virtual environment the performance metrics DBAs typically use to troubleshoot performance issues such as O/S metrics, storage configurations, CPU allocation and more become unreliable. DBAs no longer have a clear, reliable view of the factors impacting database performance. Understanding the difference between the physical and virtual server environment adds a new dimension to the DBA tasks. This presentation describes the changes that DBAs need to make in their performance and monitoring practices.

SessionID: 33059

Waits and Queues and You

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Thomas LaRock

Title: Waits and Queues and You

Abstract:

Many database professional have little to no understanding about how to use wait events as part of an overall performance tuning process. And yet wait events are the secret sauce that many leading experts have been using for years. Attend this talk and you will gain an understanding of the SQLOS execution model, an understanding of how to use DMVs to find out what your queries are waiting for, and why using wait events could be the best thing to happen for your career as a DBA.

SessionID: 33626

Pro Tips: Tuning the data flow in ssis

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 4

Speaker: Tim Costello

Title: Pro Tips: Tuning the data flow in ssis

Abstract:

Synchronous and asynchronous components, memory buffers, data type choices, Oh My! Tuning the data flow is all about choices. In this session we'll walk through some of the choices that can give you the biggest performance boosts in your ssis data flow. Together we'll work through the differences between synchronous and asynchronous components. We'll highlight components that should be avoided and explore alternates that can help us create the fastest data flow possible.

SessionID: 33667

The Periodic Table of Dynamic Management Objects

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Forum Room

Speaker: Tim Ford

Title: The Periodic Table of Dynamic Management Objects

Abstract:

Taking the periodic table of elements into consideration I've created The Periodic Table of Dynamic Management Objects as a reference tool for these functions and views that have become so critical for today's SQL Server DBA to performance tune and gain metadata insights into their various SQL instances.

In navigating the table we will examine key DMVs and DMFs of interest: requests, sessions, wait stats, indexes, system information will all be covered. We will also delve into how these DMOs - just like their elemental counterparts - can be combined to yeild interesting insights into your servers. We will also look at how things can go awry as well! Like mixing vinegar and baking soda, sometimes combining DMOs can cause a big mess too!

SessionID: 33764

Change Tracking

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 4

Speaker: Tom Groszko

Title: Change Tracking

Abstract:

Change Tracking (the little sister to Change Data Capture CDC) will be demonstrated in detail in this session. This SQL server feature is available in Standard Editions of SQL server so everybody can use it. A complete example from server settings to each T-SQL statement will be explored.

SessionID: 33887

Visualizing Your Indexes - Science behind the Art

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 5

Speaker: Wendy Pastrick

Title: Visualizing Your Indexes - Science behind the Art

Abstract:

Indexes make queries run faster, right? Not always, no. And finding the right indexes for your needs is often more of an Art than a Science. Attend this session as we take a visual tour of how indexes are laid out and the way data is accessed when indexes are utilized. We will discuss clustered indexes as well as non-clustered indexes and also when to use indexed views along with some other variations.

SessionID: 33888

Read Dirty to Me - Understanding Isolation

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Event Date: 17-09-2011 - Session time: 00:00:00 - Track: Track 4

Speaker: Wendy Pastrick

Title: Read Dirty to Me - Understanding Isolation

Abstract:

Issue a "SELECT {data} FROM {myTable}" statement and users need to trust the data returned is accurate. What happens when multiple processes access the same data? What happens further if one of those process is an UPDATE or even a DELETE statement? How about if both processes will be updating that data? Understanding Isolation in SQL Server is paramount in ensuring data integrity in your system. We will cover the different levels of isolation and how they impact what a user views when accessing the data at a given point-in-time.

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