SQL Server 2012 RTM(Trial) Released today:)

At laaast…..Microsoft released SQL 2012 RTM(Trial) today!! They also made Feature Pack(s) Available for download. Go ahead and Download and Install RTM along with desired feature packs and Brand new SQL Server Data Tools 🙂 Official RTM will be released in early April 2012!

SQL Server 2012 RTM (Eval) can be downloaded from

http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/get-sql-server/try-it.aspx

or

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29066

For Feature pack, visit

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29065

For Data Tools, visit

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/hh297027

Have Fun testing RTM 🙂

Still running on SQL Server 2000/2005 today??

Are you running your business still on Backend SQL Server 2000 or SQL Server 2005 Databases? Well, let me tell you this. Go ahead and Upgrade to SQL Server 2008R2 now, at least give it a consideration right now. Plan for it, work with your architects and DBA’s for options you’ve.

Beware, Microsoft has announced End of Extended Support(April 2013) as well for SQL 2000. In other words you’ve to run your business on Unsupported SQL Server Version with Self-help Online Support only!!!!

If you are running on SQL 2005 and unaware of support policy, SQL 2005 is already running on Extended Support as of now. Mainstream support has already been ended on April 2011.

For more information and for understanding the options you’ve in place if your shop is still running on Older Versions of SQL Server, please refer to

 http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/en/us/support/support-updates.aspx.

Work Ethics/Morals

Work ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. An example would be the protestant work ethic. A work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative, or pursuing new skills. – Extracted from Wikipedia!

Why are Work Ethics/Morals so important no matter how good you are at/with your technology? Well, the “ethics” which you carry will define your real “you”. It’s not always Just about how good you are Technically, sometimes, I would say many times, all it matters is how/what’s your behavior with your peers.  IMHO, being professional, no matter what our jobs is…is bare minimum expectation any fellow worker would expect from you. We should learn how to be “Professional” before becoming IT Professionals! Being polite is no bad, even if you are a Pro in your technology. In fact, the more polite we are, more the people like you and it adds you lot of applauds and cheers to your Bucket!…

Let me ask this, What would be your opinion on a person who always say” Yes, I know it, i know how to do it”  just as a default Statement/Answer, but if asked to do it, he/she has no idea how/what was the question about? I really don’t understand why people fear to admit that they don’t know things. Being a SQL DBA, I admit I’m not an Expert/ GURU in each and every aspect of SQL Server. In fact No one can be a true Guru in each and every aspect of SQL Server. Well, SQL Server is not Notepad Application which you’ll come to know all the options available in couple of minutes/hours!!  Well, this is about First set of people.

Now, let me tell you about second set of people..sighsss…………!

They claim that they know everything, well, but If they are asked for same to show they’ll no where close to solution. But still, they tend not to agree that they “don’t know”. Well,…Being a good professional ;), assume that I’ve started to show how things work, they get a phone call(to his/her personal Mobile) and they left my cubicle. What exactly they are achieving here? Well, nothing! One thing is clear is that they know nothing and they are trying to escape from things and more importantly they created an impression to me that, they are “Worthless“. What if the same person sleeps in a conference room while you are trying to explain something new?? It happened to me recently and believe me, I was like “Reallyyyyyyyyyyyy”

What would I feel about them??(Just my Personal Opinion,YMMV)

In my humble Opinion, they are not worthy enough to receive my help/attention! Yes, that’s what comes to my mind as a first thought. Why should i really care, if he/she him/herslef has no zeal towards what they are doing for survival???…

1. They know nothing except faking things all around the place. I will never ever offer any help, because as per His/her statement ” They already know it ;)” anyways even if I try to help them, they will try to escape. – They think that they are in Safe Zone by escaping from situation, but in reality I got them!! It doesn’t take more than few minutes to get to know about his/her skills in what ever work they are doing!…

2. I’ll never offer help for carrying such ruthless attitude!

3. They are not fit for this Job. Yes, I mean it!!

4.They are  Useless and my Company is paying him/her money for no worth.

5. I would never give +ve feedback on him/her to my Management.(Of course, they are of no worth to my organization)

Bottom Line : First Learn how to be professional, Then you can learn about your Technology. Don’t shy away, If you don’t know something, say it loud, ” I Don’t know that, can you please shed some light on this? ” There’s nothing wrong in saying ” Yes, I don’t know”!

What is IPv6? Why should we care about it?

In my leisure time I was going through few of the recent advancements which world is moving towards in Information Technology. I found IPv6 Interesting of all. Like me, if you are curious about knowing what IPv6 is and how it offers advantages over IPv4, this short animated video will help you.
I guess we are not far away moving all our Servers in our Data Centers to IPv6 from IPv4.

Video from Explania folks:

 

Also, an interesting and very informative Pic from Focus.

Image Source: http://www.focus.com/images/view/49504/

Hope this gives you all a good Kick Start exploring about IPv6.

Who are you? Why are you fit to be a DBA?

Why to Become a DBA?

Not sure where to Start!All i Can say is you can be one of the Most(I mean it) Important resources for your Organization.
Imazine preparing Hyderabadi Chicken Biriyani without Basmati Rice(google it if you are not Sure what i’m talking about)…Well Sounds funny huh?
Let’s say Ur Organization has fabulous Web Applications with outstanding interfaces for End Users which ofcourse attracts customers…But Guys…who in this world can access a web page without a healty Database which is sitting somewhere hiding in the Data Center….Who is responsible for that Database? It’s You, a DBA( Feel Proud about what you are doing to your company). You are the Data Gaurdian,a Custodian You are the one who assures that the most critical data is always available for what ever purpose your company needs for!

Can a company Survive without your Application Server for a while? Well it really depends on Tier and who’s interacting with that application. Can a company Survie without Data? Lolz…I would say Nooo independent of what really ur application does!…

Are you a DBA?
You should’ve whole patience in this world with you all the time…and Remember Guys If you are really looking into becoming a DBA, don’t just go for it if you are not prepared for taking responsibility. There are lot of Jobs out there where you can earn money with less pain in your Butt! You need a real commitment and should be smart enough to take wise decisions in critical situations on your own. IMHO, Large companies will not keep there life/death data to Just anyone. personally, i feel Willingness to explore new technologies all the time, new enhancements you’ve for your RDBMS, Share your Knowledge to at least your team Members is bare minimum requirement.
DBA job is not Just running Scripts against your databases as most of people out there are thinking!
Trust me no other DBA in your own team likes you if you are really into Just running Scripts and escaping from work(real DBA work).

Soo…Who are your Friends at your workplace?

A DBA who just has Technical Skills can’t survive in any organization without making friends with his communication Skills.
Beleive me, Never mess with Server Guys and SAN Admins…They are our Best friends sitting somewhere near your Cube.
We DBA’s are pondered with responsibilities and accountable for answering to all !@#$!@!@@# Questions from application team(s)/Developers when a Database Server is not available. Trust me guys, Server Guys are never contacted directly if something happens to your Database Server receiving a PAGE and unfortunatley you are accountable for Doing a Root Cause Analysis in many Cases.

Ideal World which seldom exists almost in any big organization…..:(

Imazine you are the one who builds Windows Cluster and You comeup with Storage Recommendations, you are the one who’s is installing and Configuring SQL Server, you are the one who is designing Security model for your SQL DB Server. Wow….sounds Amazingly Outstanding right?? Unfortunately that only happens in dreams 😦

Okay…Let’s come to reality:
Windows/OSE/Network team will configure cluster.
Your Infrastructure/Architecture team Installing SQL Server cluster and deciding all the RAID Levels and what not.
Conceptually your SQL Server is ready to serve your application Databases at this point since it passed Operational Readiness.

Questions to ask yourself:
were your SQL Servers really tested with required Stress?
There’s a fabulous Tool called SQLIO(Free tool from MSFT SQL Server team, Infact they made it available with your default installation of SQL Server starting SQL 2008)…which you can simulate various work loads.
Were your Drives configured with Proper partition Allignments? Trust me convincing management to these tests to be performed atleast for your Brand new servers really really helps you.(I mean it)
Who else are Sysadmins on your SQL Server?
Why the heck in this World really needs your OU admins/Domain Admins as SysAdmins on your SQL Server? Are they giving us Domain Admin rights if you ask them..No they’ll never. Do the same! Revoke them if you see any. That’s the rule called “Seperation of Duties”. Trust me any SA sitting on your SQL Server can make you loose your Job and nobody in this world would agree that he/she dropped a Database or dropped the Service account or tried to delete your Master Database.

Well It’s Friday….for me:) Will start blogging some real technical stuff real soon….Wish me luck with this!