SQL Server Magazine July 2005

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The Bare-Metal DBA
Kevin Kline shares some tips you can use to maximize SQL Server performance before you ever install the software! Also, learn how to cut the time it takes to unit test T-SQL Stored procedures, when reusing a query plan might not be appropriate, and more!
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[Focus]

Bare-Metal Tuning

Many of your system's performance problems result from simple ignorance of good hardware design. Here are some tips you can use to maximize SQL Server performance before you ever install the software.




[Features]

Pep Up T-SQL Procedure Testing

Wouldn't it be great to cut the time it takes to unit test T-SQL stored procedures? Well, now you can! You can automate your testing by using nothing more than Query Analyzer and a little T-SQL code. Here's the solution in four easy-to-implement parts.

Performance-Tuning the Data Model: Configuring the Database

You can improve performance by retrofitting a database with indexes and more powerful hardware, but you can never completely compensate for a bad data model. Performance-tuning SQL Server starts with a sound database configuration and data model.

Reporting Services Tip: Resolving 403.9 Errors on Windows XP

Here's a handy workaround to help you avoid errors that cause Microsoft IIS to lock up when when you're working with SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services on Windows XP.




[SQL Server Savvy]

Communicating with Analysis Services

ADO MD.NET and XMLA clients communicate differently with a SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services instance then with a SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services instance.

Deploying an Analysis Services Database

Learn how to deploy a SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services database from your development environment to your test, staging, QA, or production environment while keeping your production and development environments synchronized.

Fine-Grained Permissions in Analysis Services

Find out if you can delegate permission to a Window user or group to process an Analysis Services cube or dimension without also granting permissions to view the data in the cobe or dimensions.

Hardware and Software Resources for Analysis Services

Learn how to determine what hardware and software resources your SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services instance requires.

High Availability in Analysis Services

A typical approach to high availability in Analysis Services 2000 is to use Windows NLB to distribute user queries across multiple Analysis Services instances on disparate machines while also increasing availability.

Monitoring Queries In Analysis Services

How can you monitor the queries your business users submit?




[Editorial]

The Empire Strikes Back

With SQL Server 2005 Workgroup edition, Microsoft takes on the low-end database market.




[Inside SQL Server]

Reusing Query Plans

In many cases, reusing a precompiled plan benefits your stored procedure's performance--but not always. To know when reusing a plan might not be appropriate, find out how the query optimizer determines the best plan for each query.




[T-SQL Black Belt]

Performing Base Reconversions

In computer systems, you sometimes need to save space by using non-decimal values. But how do you convert those numbers back to decimals when you need them? Find out in this article.




[New Products]

New Products, July 2005

Check out new and improved SQL Server–related products.




[SELECT TOP(X)]

High Availability Options

Michael Otey discusses SQL Server's high availability options and shows you which types of failures each solution handles best.




[Preparing for SQL Server 2005]

Beyond SQLXML

For Microsoft's SQL Server development team, enabling Web services for SQL Server 2005 was important enough to warrant native support for the feature. Learn how you can use Web services support to improve interoperability and application connectivity.




[Ask Microsoft]

Configuring Log-File Backup This article is only available to registered users.  Sign up now and get instant access!

Microsoft's Patrick Conlan gives tips for making sure you correctly back up your transaction log.

Loading Text Into Analysis Services This article is only available to registered users.  Sign up now and get instant access!

Microsoft's Thierry D'hers describes the steps for getting a string to show up in analysis cubes.

Rebuilding an Index on a Heap Table This article is only available to registered users.  Sign up now and get instant access!

Microsoft's Patrick Conlan explains 3 methods for rebuilding a heap table index.




[Hands On]

Proactive Alerting Prevents Downtime

A reader highlights his favorite product: SQLCentric.