SQL Server related thoughts

Looks like an old bug came back in VSPhere4 concerning SQL 2000 – When you update the VM tools MSVCP71.dll goes missing and the SQL service will not start.

Version 4.0.0, build 164009

This can be resolved by placing the file back into the %SYSTEMROOT%\System32 folder

I think there is a lot of potential using powershell to build a cmbd.

rhyscampbell on twitter has a great post on his site

Also Chad Miller cmille19 on twitter has done some great stuff with the  sqlpsx project

I  am still pursuing using merge but there is definately an advantage to dropping to csv and then using etl in in one go.

I figured out how to do get variables from a query. So i added a second get-sqldata function within the loop

Because i have a mixed environment i need a version check to set the sysprocess table or view -The new columns will need to be added to the merge statement in the the previous script and the table updated

if ($srv.Version.ToString() -lt "9.00.0000.00")
{$sysprocesses = "sysprocesses"}
else
{$sysprocesses = "sys.sysprocesses"}
#Write-Host $sysprocesses
function Get-SqlListsstarttime
{
Get-SqlData $Server "master"  "SELECT login_time AS Started ,DATEDIFF(DAY, login_time, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) AS daysUptime FROM $sysprocesses where spid = 1;
" | foreach {$_.started,$_.daysUptime} |
foreach { $uptimeList.Add("$_") > $null }
}# gets time started and uptime
Get-SqlListsstarttime
$started = $uptimelist[0]
$daysuptime = $uptimelist[1]

I don’t feel competent enough for full reviews but here are my high level view’s of some of the current SQL 2008 books on the market that I have read. (all links go to Amazon)

First though, about myself. I come from a system engineering background not a programming background so I’m sure I bias in that direction

The first 2008 The first 2008 book I read was Itzik Ben-gan’s Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 T-SQL Fundamentals -I really enjoy Itzik’s books and this is no disapointment, some books miss a basic learning fundamental of not building on previous lessons. This is definately not the case. A great book, an enjoyable read, great as a reference to. I definately reccomend

The next book I was Professional Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Administration by by Brian Knight (Author), Ketan Patel (Author), Wayne Snyder (Author), Ross LoForte (Author), Steven Wort (Author)

This has to be one of the best SQL server books I have read. A great read, goes into a good depth. I have bookmarks all through this book and find myself constantly refering back to it. A must have in my opinion.

I haven’t gone into much detail and my opinion doesn’t really count for anything, but here you are my two cents.

I am currently reading Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management and Administration – then I have SQL Server Forensic Analysis on my shelf, not to mention the books I have preordered from amazon

When you restore a database “FROM Database” in SSMS you are restoring from the last backup set of the database not from the live database itself. This might not appear apparent in the GUI.

Notice when you choose from the database dropdown list you are seeing backup sets.

If you use the script button in the gui you will see “FROM DISK” -

Another clue will be that any database that has not been backed up will not appear in the drop down list.