Completed - SQL Server Database Administration & Performance Tuning - Bangalore, March 2012

Hi Friends,

This is part 2 of my side-by-side delivery :)

In March, I delivered an interesting assignment, not in terms of content, but in terms of schedule. I was asked by my client to deliver two workshops, one on DBA, which was delivered in the morning schedule and the other on Business Intelligence, delivered in evening. This was so very different and uncommon but I took up the challenge without realizing that it’s not going to be easy task. But why? What’s the big deal in it? Here is the big deal, at least for me.

I started off my first day at 9 am. The first module was SQL Server Architecture. And I talked/demoed SQLOS, Memory, CPU, Disk stuff, SQL internals, etc, amongst many other sub-topics. I finished at 1 pm and we took a break for lunch. At 2 pm I was required to start SQL Server Business Intelligence and the first module was Why BI? And the fun begins! After delivering 4 hours of SQL Server DB engine architecture, it was getting so difficult to switch to BI instantly; I mean mentally, it was not easy. It looked like a paradigm shift. It took me while to get over the hang of DBA stuff and get into the BI shoes – probably because I do not get into these arrangements too often. The second day was more taxing, since it was full of demos. First half, DBA demos & second half, Analysis Services demos – and I was so drained out at the end of the day. And it was a fun-moment when a friend of mine called me up and asked what assignment was I delivering? :)

I my earlier blog post, I talked about SQL Server Business Intelligence workshop which I delivered in the second half. Here it is: http://www.sqlservergeeks.com/blogs/AmitBansal/sql-server-bi/632/completed-sql-server-business-intelligence-assignment-bangalore-march-2012

In this post, I will talk about SQL Server Database Engine workshop that I delivered in first half.

This SQL Server training assignment in India was organized by Peopleware India – www.PeoplewareIndia.com

Just like many SQL Server Performance Tuning workshops, this one was no different. I started off with SQL Server Architecture talking about the how SQL Server processes a request. I love demoing the sessions, connections, requests, tasks, workers, threads – its all fun. Followed by SQL Server storage with a special focus on index structures and whenever I talk about indexes, I make it a point to demo that data is logically sorted, not always physically and fragmentation creeps in and how fragmentation can cause performance degradation. Extended Events has become another favorite topic of mine and I still try to explain everything using the code. However, SQL Server 2012 Extended Events GUI is cool, not to mention the Deadlock graph that it can automatically capture – no setup required ;). Transactions and Locking architecture is another beast I love delivering. I was surprised to see that many, still, do not know about Partition-Level Locking in SQL Server. Also when it comes to partition, I make it a point to talk about partition parallelism. Query Tuning and Optimization, Plan caching (a topic which I wish DBAs focus more on) are other favorites in this type of delivery.

All in all, a very hectic & taxing workshop this was, for all obvious reasons. I am glad, at the end, my participants were very happy with the overall delivery and just wanted more. Waiting to do another assignment for them sometime soon.

The audience was very interactive and they matched my speed of executing labs, and I was glad to make new friends, as always.

Here are is the Pic from the class:

More pics can be seen from my FaceBook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/albums/?id=165298110161387

The gallery page on Peopleware India site is updated as well: http://www.peoplewareindia.com/gallery.htm

In my next blog post, I shall write about the first half, the DBA part!

If you are looking for SQL Server training / consulting for your company / people, you can write to enquiry<at>peoplewareindia<dot>com or visit www.PeoplewareIndia.com

Have a SQL Server question? Join the fastest growing SQL Server facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/458103987564477/

Regards
Amit Bansal

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