Expert Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBAs

Automate your workload and manage more databases and instances with greater ease and efficiency by combining metadata-driven automation with powerful tools like PowerShell and SQL Server Agent. Automate your new instance-builds and use monitoring to drive ongoing automation, with the help of an inventory database and a management data warehouse.The market has seen a trend towards there being a much smaller ratio of DBAs to SQL Server instances. Automation is the key to responding to this challenge and continuing to run a reliable database platform service.guides you through the process of automating the maintenance of your SQL Server enterprise.**__Expert Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBAs__**Detailed discussion and examples on metadata-driven automationComprehensive coverage of automated responses to break/fix scenariosAutomate the SQL Server build processCreate intelligent, metadata-drive routinesAutomate common maintenance tasksCreate automated responses to common break/fix scenariosMonitor multiple instance from a central locationUtilize T-SQL and PowerShell for administrative purposes**Who This Book Is For**__**Expert Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBAs**__ Contents at a Glance......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 About the Author......Page 12 About the Technical Reviewer......Page 14 Introduction......Page 16 Using the APPLY Operator......Page 18 Understanding XML......Page 19 Using FOR XML RAW......Page 21 Using FOR XML AUTO......Page 28 Using FOR XML PATH......Page 30 query Method......Page 34 value and nodes Methods......Page 35 Pulling the Methods Together......Page 36 Efficient Looping......Page 37 Summary......Page 39 PowerShell Environments......Page 40 Enabling Script Execution......Page 43 Comments......Page 44 Standards and Aliases......Page 45 Variables......Page 48 Piping, Filtering, and Controlling Flow......Page 50 Importing Modules......Page 54 sqlps Module......Page 55 Navigating an Instance......Page 57 Summary......Page 58 Registering a Central Management Server......Page 59 Creating Server Groups......Page 61 Registering Servers......Page 62 Running Queries with Central Management Servers......Page 63 Evaluating Policies with Central Management Servers......Page 65 Configuring Server Agent for Multi-Server Environments......Page 67 MSDB Roles......Page 68 Prerequisite Tasks......Page 69 Configuration Tasks......Page 72 Creating Multi-Server Jobs......Page 77 Creating the Job in Object Explorer......Page 78 Creating the Job with T-SQL......Page 84 Summary......Page 91 Configuring a Consistent Port Number......Page 92 Profiling an Instance Workload......Page 96 Remove Ad Hoc Query Plans......Page 98 sys.query_store_query_text......Page 99 sys.query_store_query......Page 100 sys.query_store_plan......Page 101 sys.query_store_runtime_stats......Page 103 Identifying the Most Expensive Queries......Page 106 Dynamic Index Rebuilds......Page 107 Enforcing Policies......Page 111 Analyzing Performance Counters......Page 115 Summary......Page 119 SSIS Components......Page 120 Getting Started......Page 121 Creating a Simple Package......Page 123 Configuring Precedence Constraints......Page 129 Testing the Package......Page 132 Adding Extra Functionality......Page 133 Creating Event Handlers......Page 134 Run Against Each Server in the Enterprise......Page 151 Verifying Backups......Page 155 Respond to Operating System Events......Page 163 Summary......Page 171 Inventory Database Platform Design......Page 172 Inventory Database Logical Design......Page 175 Normalization......Page 176 1NF......Page 177 3NF......Page 180 Testing Normalization......Page 181 Inventory Database Physical Design......Page 184 Creating the Database......Page 187 Summary......Page 190 Building the Instance......Page 191 Performing a Simple Installation......Page 194 Using a Configuration File......Page 197 Parameterizing the Script......Page 206 Configure Database Scoped Configurations......Page 207 Configure the Port Number......Page 211 Updating the Inventory Database......Page 212 Orchestrating the Build......Page 216 Summary......Page 218 Understanding Data Collection......Page 219 Data Collection Roles......Page 220 Simple Implementation of Management Data Warehouse......Page 221 Implementing the Data Warehouse......Page 222 Implementing the Predefined System Data Collectors......Page 223 Viewing Collected Data......Page 224 Accessing Data with T-SQL......Page 230 Create a Custom Collector Set......Page 232 Create a Custom Collector Item......Page 234 Architecting the Custom Collection Solution......Page 238 Building the Solution......Page 239 Creating the Database Table......Page 240 Creating the SSIS Package......Page 241 Deploying the Project......Page 253 Scheduling the Custom Data Collection......Page 259 Using Monitoring to Drive Automation......Page 264 Summary......Page 266 Automating Patching Activity......Page 267 Creating a PowerShell Script......Page 270 Automating Environment Refreshes......Page 272 Creating the SSIS Package......Page 274 Automating Break/Fix Scenarios......Page 283 Designing a Response to 9002 Errors......Page 284 Automating a Response to 9002 Errors......Page 285 Summary......Page 293 Index......Page 294

Pro SQL Server 2012 Administrationis a one-stop source for all the knowledge you'll need to professionally manage a database under Microsoft SQL Server 2012. SQL Server administration is a complex field requiring an unusually broad and well-rounded skill set. A gooddatabase administratormust be part system administrator, part database design expert, and part SQL tuning optimization guru. Above all, he or she must be capable of restoring a damaged database at any time. Database administration requires excellent people skills for dealing with management and clients, and solid technical skills for dealing with the hardware and the software.

Pro SQL Server 2012 Administration addresses all aspects of database administration, regardless of the size of the implementation. Install SQL Server 2012 and create new database environments. Develop a sound backup strategy for your database. Perform recovery as needed, which many consider to be job #1. Authors Ken Simmons and Sylvester Carstarphen also help you automate your work throughthe use of policy-based management. Performance optimization gets good coverage, so that you can render assistance when developers need help with problem queries.

Rareamong database and other technical books is solid guidance on the people side of the equation. Success as a database administrator comes from working well with others, becoming involved in the community, and building the right combination of technical knowledge and people skills to solve problems and get things done professionally and amicably. Simmons and Carstarphen pay special attention to these aspects of the job in this new edition of their comprehensive book on SQL Server administration.

• Helps you manage a SQL Server 2012 database at professional level
• Covers the gamut of database administration skills
• Provides guidance on performance optimization

What you’ll learn

• Install SQL Server 2012 and create new databases
• Implement backup & recovery strategies to protect your database, and your job
• Diagnose and resolvequery performance problems
• Apply policy-based management for consistency across all databases in an organization
• Turn every interaction with a client, manager or executive into a stepping-stone towards career success

Who this book is for

Pro SQL Server 2012 Administration is aimed at junior and seasoned database administrators who are looking to develop their knowledge and skill set in Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Readers should already have some exposure to databases in general, or to SQL Server in specific.

Table of Contents

1. What's New?
2. Pre-Install Considerations
3. Choosing a High-Availability Solution
4. Installing and Upgrading
5. Post Installation
6. Multi-Server Administration
7. Security
8. Administering Database Objects
9. Indexing for Performance
10. Managing Backups
11. Restore and Recovery Strategies
12. Automating Routine Maintenance
13. Monitoring Your Server
14. Auditing
15. Extended Events Interface
16. Managing Query Performance
17. Secrets to Excelling as a Professional DBA
18. What's Next?

Automate your workload and manage more databases and instances with greater ease and efficiency by combining metadata-driven automation with powerful tools like PowerShell and SQL Server Agent. Automate your new instance-builds and use monitoring to drive ongoing automation, with the help of an inventory database and a management data warehouse. The market has seen a trend towards there being a much smaller ratio of DBAs to SQL Server instances. Automation is the key to responding to this challenge and continuing to run a reliable database platform service. Expert Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBAs guides you through the process of automating the maintenance of your SQL Server enterprise. Expert Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBAs shows how to automate the SQL Server build processes, monitor multiple instances from a single location, and automate routine maintenance tasks throughout your environment. You will also learn how to create automated responses to common or time consuming break/fix scenarios. The book helps you become faster and better at what you do for a living, and thus more valuable in the job market. Extensive coverage of automation using PowerShell and T-SQL Detailed discussion and examples on metadata-driven automation Comprehensive coverage of automated responses to break/fix scenarios What You Will Learn Automate the SQL Server build process Create intelligent, metadata-drive routines Automate common maintenance tasks Create automated responses to common break/fix scenarios Monitor multiple instance from a central location Utilize T-SQL and PowerShell for administrative purposes Who This Book Is For Expert Scripting and Automation for SQL Server DBAs is a book for SQL Server database administrators responsible for managing increasingly large numbers of databases across their business enterprise. The book is also useful for any database administrator looking to ease their workload through automation. The book addresses the needs of these audiences by showing how to get more done through less effort by implementing an intelligent, automated-processes service model using tools such as T-SQL, PowerShell, Server Agent, and the Management Data Warehouse. Pro SQL Server 2012 Administration is a one-stop source for all the knowledge you'll need to professionally manage a database under Microsoft SQL Server 2012. SQL Server administration is a complex field requiring an unusually broad and well-rounded skill set. A good database administrator must be part system administrator, part database design expert, and part SQL tuning optimization guru. Above all, he or she must be capable of restoring a damaged database at any time. Database administration requires excellent people skills for dealing with management and clients, and solid technical skills for dealing with the hardware and the software.Pro SQL Server 2012 Administration addresses all aspects of database administration, regardless of the size of the implementation. Install SQL Server 2012 and create new database environments. Develop a sound backup strategy for your database. Perform recovery as needed, which many consider to be job #1. Authors Ken Simmons and Sylvester Carstarphen also help you automate your work through the use of policy-based management. Performance optimization gets good coverage, so that you can render assistance when developers need help with problem queries. Rare among database and other technical books is solid guidance on the people side of the equation. Success as a database administrator comes from working well with others, becoming involved in the community, and building the right combination of technical knowledge and people skills to solve problems and get things done professionally and amicably. Simmons and Carstarphen pay special attention to these aspects of the job in this new edition of their comprehensive book on SQL Server administration.Helps you manage a SQL Server 2012 database at professional level Covers the gamut of database administration skills Provides guidance on performance optimization Pro SQL Server 2012 Administration is a one-stop source for all the knowledge you'll need to professionally manage a database under Microsoft SQL Server 2012. SQL Server administration is a complex field requiring an unusually broad and well-rounded skill set. A good database administrator must be part system administrator, part database design expert, and part SQL tuning optimization guru. Above all, he or she must be capable of restoring a damaged database at any time. Database administration requires excellent people skills for dealing with management and clients, and solid technical skills for dealing with the hardware and the software. Pro SQL Server 2012 Administration addresses all aspects of database administration, regardless of the size of the implementation. Install SQL Server 2012 and create new database environments. Develop a sound backup strategy for your database. Perform recovery as needed, which many consider to be job #1. Authors Ken Simmons and Sylvester Carstarphen also help you automate your work through the use of policy-based management. Performance optimization gets good coverage, so that you can render assistance when developers need help with problem queries. Rare among database and other technical books is solid guidance on the people side of the equation. Success as a database administrator comes from working well with others, becoming involved in the community, and building the right combination of technical knowledge and people skills to solve problems and get things done professionally and amicably. Simmons and Carstarphen pay special attention to these aspects of the job in this new edition of their comprehensive book on SQL Server administration. Pro SQL Server Administration brings SQL Server administration into the modern era with strong coverage of hybrid cloud environments, In-Memory OLTP, and installation on Server Core. This comprehensive guide to SQL Server Administration for todayĺls DBA helps you to administer the new and key areas of SQL Server, including Columnstore indexes and the In-Memory OLTP feature set introduced in 2014. You will also be guided through the administration of traditional areas of SQL Server, including how to secure your instance, monitor and maintain your instance, and to use features such as AlwaysOn to make your instance highly available. Also covered is the use of SQL Server features to scale out read-only workloads. Pro SQL Server Administration is an all-new book taking up-to-date and modern approach that you'll want and need to further your career as a SQL Server database administrator. Extensive coverage of hybrid cloud environments involving Azure SQL Database Detailed discussions on all new, key features, including AlwaysOn and in-memory support Comprehensive coverage of key skills, such as monitoring, maintenance and indexing