Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant 2nd Edition covers the all editions of SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2. The book is designed for:
• Current SQL Server 2008 database administrators
• Accomplished users who have some administrator responsibilities
• Administrators migrating to SQL Server 2008 from previous versions
• Administrators transitioning from other database architectures

Reviews & Information

The Amazon.com Review If specialization is for insects, those of us who have only two legs are bound to need reminders when we sit down to perform a specialized task. For those times in which the specialized task at hand involves the latest version of Microsoft's high-end database management system (DBMS), Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant 2nd Edition will provide how-to answers on the double-quick. This small, inch-thick volume fits nicely into a briefcase, and opens flat for easy reference. It makes little attempt to explain how SQL Server works, assuming instead that the reader knows what he or she needs. For example, a quick scan of the index for "Logins, Assigning Roles for Multiple" yields a reference to a page that explains exactly what to do, step by step. Procedures are a large part of the appeal of this book; value tables and Transact-SQL syntax documentation contribute the rest. A typical value table lists all standard database roles, along with commentary on what sort of user is appropriate for each role. Transact-SQL documentation includes generic "all available options" statements of syntax, followed by usage examples. Deeper explanations of what each option does would make the syntax documentation stronger, but what's here is certainly enough to jog readers' memories and point them to heavier reference material, if they need it. Keep this book handy if your job requires you to hop from DBMS to DBMS. FROM THE PUBLISHER Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant 2nd Edition is the hands-on, immediate reference you need as you deal with the details of Microsoft SQL Server administration in small, medium, and large organizations. Ideal at the desk or on the go from server to server, this fast-answers guide focuses on what you need to do in specific situations as you support and manage both SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2. Topics covered include: SQL basics administration tools configuring and tuning managing the enterprise database administration, security backup and recovery importing and exporting data data replication monitoring and profiling creating tables and indexes automation and maintenance more SYNOPSIS The practical, portable guide to Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 and R2! Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 Administrator's Pocket Consultant 2nd Edition is the ideal concise, immediate reference you'll want with you at all times as you deal with the details of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 database administration. Whether you handle administration for 50 users or 5000, this hands-on, fast-answers guide focuses on what you need to do to get the job done quickly. With extensive easy-to-read tables, lists, and step-by-step instructions, it's the portable, readable guide that will consistently save you time and minimize system downtime by giving you the right information right now. This hands-on guide gives you the fast answers you need to: Grasp the fundamentals. Understand the SQL Server 2008 architecture; learn administration tools, techniques, and concepts; and discover how to modify configuration settings to optimize memory usage, take advantage of parallel processors, and more. Complete core tasks. Perform basic tasks to create and manage databases, servers, and server groups; and create logons, configure logon permissions, assign roles, and conduct other essential security measures. Administer databases. Manage tables, indexes, and views; query and manipulate data; import and export data; and integrate SQL Server data with other data sources. Control distributed data. Administer linked servers and distributed transactions, configure data merging and replication, and supervise data publication and subscription. Optimize and maintain databases. Profile and monitor SQL Server, conduct data backup and recovery, and take charge of automation and maintenance.

Table of Contents

Speed and ease of reference are essential parts of this hands-on guide. The book has an expanded table of contents and an extensive index for finding answers to problems quickly. Many other quick reference features have been added to the book as well. These features include quick step-by-step procedures, lists, tables with fast facts, and cross-references. The book is broken down into both parts and chapters. The parts contain a part-opener paragraph or two about the chapters grouped in that part.

Part I, "Microsoft SQL Server 2008 & R2 Administration Fundamentals," covers the fundamental tasks you need for SQL Server administration. Chapter 1 provides an overview of SQL Server administration tools, techniques, and concepts. Chapter 2 discusses deploying SQL Server. Chapter 3 shows you how to configure SQL Server’s services, components, and networking capabilities. Chapter 4 examines the structures available for configuring and tuning SQL Server. The chapter looks at SQL Server’s system catalog and then continues with a discussion of catalog queries and stored procedures.

In Part II, "SQL Server 2008 & R2 Administration," you’ll find the essential tasks for administering SQL Server. Chapter 5 details management techniques for server groups and servers. Chapter 6 explores configuring and tuning SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio. You’ll learn about optimizing memory usage, parallel processing, authentication, auditing, and more. The core administration tasks for creating and managing databases are covered in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 discusses the essential techniques for managing full-text catalogs, full-text indexes, stopwords, stoplists, thesaurus files, and other components of full-text search. Chapter 9 focuses on SQL Server security. To manage server security, you’ll create user logins, configure login permissions, and assign roles. The permissions and roles you assign determine the actions users can perform as well as what types of data they can access.

SQL Server data administration is the subject of Part III. Chapter 10 covers techniques for creating, managing, and optimizing schemas, tables, indexes, and views. In Chapter 11, you’ll find tasks for importing and exporting data, as well as the old standby bulk copy program (BCP). Chapter 12 focuses on integrating SQL Server databases with other SQL Server databases and with other data sources. You’ll find detailed discussions on distributed queries, distributed transactions, Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC), and linked servers. Chapter 13 explores data replication. You’ll learn all about the latest replication techniques, including merge replication and immediate-updating subscribers.

Part IV, "SQL Server Optimization and Maintenance," covers administration tasks you’ll use to enhance and maintain SQL Server. Chapter 14 provides the essentials for working with server logs, monitoring SQL Server performance, and solving performance problems. Chapter 15 starts by explaining how to create a backup and recovery plan. Afterward, the chapter dives into common tasks for creating and restoring backups. Chapter 16 explores database automation and maintenance, showing how to create alerts, schedule jobs, handle operator notifications, and more. You’ll also learn how to create maintenance plans and resolve database consistency problems. Chapter 17 begins with a discussion about log shipping and database mirroring. Log shipping and database mirroring are disaster recovery solutions designed to help improve availability and quickly recover SQL Server. In Chapter 18, you’ll learn about essential tasks for implementing Policy-Based Management. Policy-Based Management defines policies that not only configure SQL Server settings but also control whether and how settings can be changed. Before you deploy SQL Server, you should familiarize yourself with the available options and determine whether your servers will be put into specific management groups.

About Ordering

This book is available everywhere Microsoft books are sold. I hope you'll order the book from your favorite bookstore. All on-line bookstores carry the book as well. Here's the direct link to order the book at these bookstores:

Amazon.com
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