Darryl Burling

Quick Bites - Nov 26

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:33:30 +1100

SQL Pass Event - less than two weeks away.

Don't forget that the SQL Pass Weekend is just over a week away (December 6-7). Details of sessions and speakers are here. If you are interested in learning LOTS more technical and architectural details around implementing, maintaining or even justifying moving to SQL Server 2008, this is the event to be at. Register at the bottom of this page.

December Unplugged Registration open - Azure and PDC

The December Unplugged registration is now open - if you are interested in hearing about what happened at the recent PDC in LA, you'll want to head along to this. Mike and Mark will be talking about what Azure, Windows 7 and Office 14 will mean to developers. These are going to be held all around the North Island, so check out the locations and register here.

Thinking about Project Server on SQL Server 2008?

If you're considering deploying Project Server 2007 on SQL Server 2008, you'll want to check out these links. Firstly, check out the note at the bottom of this article regarding the order of installation. If you're wanting to use SQL 2008 Analysis services on Project Server 2007 Cube Building services, check this out. There is also some prescriptive guidance for implementing some of the new SQL 2008 features with Sharepoint Server 2007 here.

Upcoming SQL Server training

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:23:48 +1100

Auldhouse and Ace are updating their training schedules and were kind enough to let me know what they have scheduled around SQL Server 2008 over the next few months. Here are the offerings coming up by course with dates (approximate or exact as given).

6158: Updating Your SQL Server 2005 Skills to SQL Server 2008 (3 days)

Location	Dates	Learning Partner
Wellington	December 10-12	Auldhouse
Christchurch	January 19-21	Ace
Auckland	February 2-5	Ace
Auckland	February 25-27	Auldhouse
Christchurch	March 9-11	Ace

6157: Whats new in SQL Server 2008 (Hands on lab) (1 day)

Location	Dates	Learning Partner
Christchurch	December 16	Ace
Christchurch	February 5	Ace

If you are looking to get into SQL Server, these provide good options that allow you to ask questions and get your hands on the product.

For more details, click on the links in the right hand column and you'll go through to the appropriate page with more details and contact details or instructions on how to register.

Auckland SQL Server User Group (re)starting

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:38:45 +1100

Next Wednesday (November 19) the Auckland SQL Server User group kicks off again. It had a false start last year due to some extenuating circumstances, but now it is back in action.

Dave and Amanda (this Amanda) are working together to build out the SQL Server community in Auckland.

So, be at the SQL Server User group meeting in Auckland next week - 6pm at Microsoft (22 Viaduct Harbour).

You should also consider signing up to the mailing list for the user group. To do this, just send an email to announce@aucklandsql.com to be signed up.

Two days of SQL Server - registration open

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:13:21 +1100

Registration is now open for the SQL PASS community connection weekend in December. Details are here and some other information is in the previous blog post I did on it.

If you plan on getting along to this event (and I strongly encourage you to if you have anything to do with SQL Server), you'll need to register at the bottom of this page.

See you there!

Licensing and redundancy with SQL Server

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:53:05 +1100

If you are on SQL Server 2000 and you've been looking at your six CPU setup thinking "I'd hate to pay for the licenses to upgrade that" it may not be as bad as you think.

With SQL Server 2005 we introduced some license changes (note that there are no license changes from 2005 to 2008). One of the key changes for highly redundant solutions was that where the server has no active users against it because it is a passive server (i.e. used for DR or in a mirror), there is no licensing requirement.

Lets test this with a scenario (assuming CPU based licensing - it works similarly with Server/CAL licensing). Imagine you have a dual CPU server with a mirrored server (again with two CPU's). On top of this, you have a DR Server, also with two CPU's. In SQL Server 2000, you would have purchased SQL Server Enterprise Edition for six CPU's. With SQL Server 2005/2008, you wouldn't pay for the mirrored server (which simply replicates data unless the primary server is failed over to it).

Why is this the case? Because the licensing for SQL Server Workgroup, Standard and Enterprise allows you to install the equivalent number of instances as you license as cold or warm servers - meaning servers that are not accessed by users except when they are failed over to.

So what about the DR server? In the case above, it would need to be licensed. However, a work around for this would be to set up the mirror as a single CPU machine and the DR server as a single CPU machine and then license SQL Server for both CPU's on the primary server.

When would the passive server need to have a SQL server license? If a passive server is being used for anything other than simply absorbing data and information held in another system it needs to be licensed. An example of this would be when users are accessing the passive server for reporting or other sort of user access.

So if you are looking at upgrading to SQL Server 2008 from SQL Server 2000, and you have a highly redundant configuration - your licensing costs won't be the same as they were when you purchased SQL Server 2000.

Don't forget that we're just talking about SQL Server here. You'll still need to license Windows Server 2008 and any other products on the DR server.

Before you go and put together all your licensing around this concept, you'll want to take the time to read the product use rights - particularly the exceptions for SQL Server.

Note: I am not responsible for your licensing and can't legally advise you :-).

SQL Server 2008 training - this week

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:46:42 +1100

Just a quick note to remind you that we are running the SQL Server Training forum this week. Full details here.

When you walk away from this session, you should have a solid understanding of the product capabilities and features as well as an understanding of what to consider when architecting, building and deploying SQL Server 2008 solutions.

You won't walk away as an expert in SQL Server - but you'll know what areas to invest more training in.

If you have not registered, make sure you do so. If you have been waitlisted (Auckland is full), I would still come along on the day as I expect some people simply won't turn up. If you have registered and can no longer make it, please let me know so that those wait listed can be given the opportunity to register.

See you there starting tomorrow!

Visual Basic 6 support guidelines

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:33:26 +1100

There is sometimes confusion between what is and isn't supported of Visual Basic 6. What happens with Vista given it has the VB Runtime built in - how does support for that work? These are common sorts of questions.

There are two very good locations to check up on with VB6 support. One is this one which has a solid Q&A on VB6 and Visual Studio 6 support for VB. It covers the most frequently asked questions on VB6.

The other one is this one which outlines and answers most questions about the VB6 Runtime on Vista. If you are running VB6 you should look through these pages.

If you are looking at migrating or extending your VB6 application, a site that has lots of useful information is http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbrun.

SQL PASS Community Connection

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:05:20 +1100

A few years back we had the SQL Server Code Camp. This year the community is putting on the same thing in a different guise - the SQL PASS Community Connection.

This is a weekend of SQL Server oriented sessions that will cover a variety of topics relevant to anyone working with SQL Server in their day jobs.

When: December 6-7 (Saturday/Sunday)
Where: Whitireia Polytechnic, Porirua, Wellington

Turn up from 8am on Saturday morning. First sessions start at 9am and go till 6pm followed by an optional dinner. Sunday is from 9am-5pm.

Topics covered include:

Managing Data warehouses
Building a business case for SQL Server (by me)
Top 15 SQL Server DBA Tasks
DTS to SSIS migration
Troubleshooting SQL Server
Upgrading from SQL Server 2000
Reporting Services Architecture
Monitoring with DMV's
Business Continuity
Linq to SQL
Security
SQL Server Data Services
And more...

There are also some top speakers going to be there including:

Greg Low
Adam Cogan
Peter Ward
Chris Auld
and a bunch of gurus from around NZ

This looks like a great event, so I encourage you to be there.

Registration and more information is available on the .Net Website.

Buy or renew MSDN subscriptions online

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:48:00 +1100

While the rest of the world has been able to purchase and renew Visual Studio and MSDN online for some time, we have for some reason lagged behind. But now that lag is behind us and we can now order a new subscription or renew your MSDN subscription online.

If you are a small business, this is good news as you don't need to go through a LAR to purchase Visual Studio - all you need is a credit card and an Internet connection (and a Live ID).

To purchase MSDN/Visual Studio, click here and follow the "wizard" (for want of something better to call it). The pricing on the online store represents about a 10% discount on the standard price, so its not a bad way to purchase.

Developer Focus Groups

darryl.burling.nospam@nospam.microsoft.com (darryl) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:46:10 +1100

Do you have an opinion about what we are doing well or badly in the Developer space? Here is your chance to have your say.

We want to hear from you. Tell us what you love and hate about Microsoft! Every year we use your feedback to improve our products and services. This year, in addition to the annual online survey, we are planning to hold focus groups around the country and are looking for NZ developers to have their say.
Scott Wylie, the Director of the Developer and Platform Strategy Team for Microsoft NZ, will be facilitating these sessions. Scott’s role is to listen and understand your feedback which will enable his team to provide better support and resources for NZ developers.
If you would like to participate, please email your interest to nzeditor@microsoft.com with your contact details and preferred focus group (by session number as listed below) you would like to attend. We will confirm you attendance shortly after via email and phone. You can be assured that all information shared will be kept confidential.
Christchurch Convention Centre / Tuesday 11^th November 2008
Kilmore Street, Christchurch
Session 1: 8:30 -10:00
Session 2: 11:00 -12:30
Microsoft New Zealand Wellington Office / Thursday 13^th November 2008
Level 12, Vodafone on the Park, Lambton Quay, Wellington
Session 3: 8:30 -10:00
Session 4: 11:00 -12:30
Microsoft New Zealand Auckland Office / Wednesday 19^th November 2008
Level 5, 22 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland
Session 5: 8:30 -10:00
Session 6: 11:00 -12:30
Refreshments and a token of our appreciation will be provided for your participation. We look forward to hearing from those of you who are interested to participate in the focus groups. Please note that there are limited spaces available so please respond early to secure your space for the focus group.

This is a good opportunity to have a candid chat with Scott (my manager until recently).