SQL Server 2008 R2 for the DBA Recording and PowerPoint

I recently had the opportunity to do two presentation on SQL Server R2 for the DBA.  In the first session there were approximately 150 attendees and at the second there were approximately 400 attendees.  The recording is available here and you can download the slide deck here.  I would like to correct something I said about the Utility Control Point and Data-Tier applications.  They are only available in SQL Server 2008 with Service Pack 2, SQL Azure and SQL Server 2008 R2. Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2008 CTP is available.  There are some limited capabilities in SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008 pre service pack 2.

Thanks to all that attended the sessions and if you have any questions regarding the presentation please feel free to email me at pleblanc@pragmaticworks.com.  You can also follow me on twitter, @patrickdba.

Here are a few good references:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa833292.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210548.aspx

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee240739.aspx

Patrick LeBlanc, SQL Server MVP, MCTS

Founder www.TSQLScripts.com and www.SQLLunch.com.

Visit www.BIDN.com, Bring Business Intelligence to your company.

.NET Speaker Idol, Guess who won?

Last night (July 21, 2010) I had the honor of being a speaker at the Baton Rouge .Net User Group.  This wasn't their normal meeting.  It was their 3rd Annual Speaker Idol.  The rules are as follows:

1.  There are three judges that get to ask questions and settle tie breakers.

2.  Each speaker has 15 minutes to speak.

3.  The audience is not allowed to ask questions.

4.  At the end of all the presentations the audience votes for the winner.

The prizes were an MSDN subscription and a $75 gift card.  When I arrived I found out that I was the last speaker of the night.  I really wanted to be first so I tried to convince them to change the order, but they would not.  Maybe they were saving the best for last.  There were over 40 people at the meeting and only two from our local SQL user group.  So the card were stacked against me.

After listening to the first four presentations,

Al Manint: End of the Free Lunch - Parallelism options in 4.0

Neil Martin: Resharper the TAO of the Code Ninja

Cody Gros: Powershell for Total Morons

Wayne Losavio: Getting Started with Sketchflow

I thought, there was no way I had a chance at winning this thing.  Nevertheless, I was game.  My presentation was titled, Speaking and Blogging.  I decided to break the monotony a little by delivering a non-technical presentation.  I almost changed it to a short technical presentation on Data-tier applications, but I decided against it and rolled on.

At the end of my presentation I still didn't think I had a chance, because the other 4 presenters gave really good technical sessions that delivered some good "food for thought"  in the time allotted.  We were all called to the front after I completed my session, then two people were asked to sit down.  To my surprise, I was still standing.  Then we were told that there was a tie for second place.  I thought, cool I came in second place, but I was wrong.  There was tie between the two remaining .Net presenters and I had WON!

While I was a excited by the fact that my presentation beat out the more technical ones, I found out that I won because I delivered my presentation in a way that was more engaging.  So it really wasn't about was I was saying, but more about how I said it.  Regardless of how I won, I won.  In the end, I graciously rescinded my victory and I gave my prize back to the community.  I have decided to expand this presentation and make it into an hour presentation.  I submitted a session to SQL Saturday #49 in Orlando, FL.  Hopefully it will get accepted.

Talk to you soon,

Patrick LeBlanc, SQL Server MVP, MCTS

Founder www.TSQLScripts.com and www.SQLLunch.com.

Visit www.BIDN.com, Bring Business Intelligence to your company.

Practice Your PASS Session on the SQL Lunch

We at the SQL Lunch would like to extend an invitation to all of the PASS speakers.  If you are looking for a place to practice your PASS session please email us at webmaster@sqllunch.com.  Don’t worry, you can have up to 90 minutes or you can break your session into small 30 minute sessions.  It’s completely up to you.  This is our way of saying thanks to all of you for giving your time and knowledge to all of us in the SQL Community.

Also, it is completely up to you if the sessions are recorded and if any materials are shared.  Thanks again.

Talk to you soon,

Patrick LeBlanc, SQL Server MVP, MCTS

Founder www.TSQLScripts.com and www.SQLLunch.com.

Visit www.BIDN.com, Bring Business Intelligence to your company.

Free Data Warehouse Training – Let's Get Dimensional

Join Adam Jorgensen, tomorrow on the SQL Lunch to learn about Dimensional Modeling.  Go to SQL Lunch and add this event to your calendar or use the link in this posting.  To receive notifications about upcoming SQL Lunches please go here.  Every week this month we will be hosting a lunch time meeting. 

Title:  #27 - Let's Get Dimensional

Add to Outlook:  Add to Calendar

Date:  7/22/2010

Speaker:  Adam Jorgensen

Join Meeting:  https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/usergroups/join?id=Z9N87J&role=attend

Description: Learn the basics or dimensional modeling, the foundation for any good data warehouse, with Adam Jorgensen on SQLLunch. Adam will take us through why how dimensional modeling is different from your typical applications database, why it’s different, and some mistakes to avoid. We will review some existing models and take your questions on you modeling challenges. We’ll review common scenarios and discuss why they are the best approach.

BIO:  Adam Jorgensen , MBA, MCDBA, MCITP: BI has over a decade of experience leading organizations around the world in developing and implementing enterprise solutions. His passion is finding new and innovative avenues for clients and the community to embrace business intelligence and lower barriers to implementation. Adam is also very involved in the community as a featured author on SQLServerCentral, SQLShare, as well as a regular contributor to the SQLPASS Virtual User Groups for Business Intelligence and other organizations. He regularly speaks at industry group events, major conferences, Code Camps, and SQLSaturday events on strategic and technical topics.

Talk to you soon,

Patrick LeBlanc, SQL Server MVP, MCTS

Founder www.TSQLScripts.com and www.SQLLunch.com.

Visit www.BIDN.com, Bring Business Intelligence to your company.

SQL Lunch Call for Speakers – Quarter 3

One of my quarterly goals is to get speakers for the SQL Lunch webcasts.  Q1 and Q2 of 2010 are in the books, so its time to start working on Q3.  To all of you out there who want to share your knowledge with all of us, please send an email to webmaster@sqllunch.com if you are interested in speaking on the SQL Lunch.  Include a short bio, the topic that you want to discuss and a brief description of the topic.  Please attach a head shot so I can share your picture with the world.  Remember the SQL Lunch webcasts are 30 minutes or less.   It does not matter if you are  a seasoned speaker or a new speaker, we at the SQL Lunch welcome you with open arms. 

Talk to you soon,

Patrick LeBlanc, MCTS

Founder www.TSQLScripts.com and www.SQLLunch.com.

Visit www.BIDN.com, Bring Business Intelligence to your company.

twitter:  @sqllunch, @patrickdba