My SQL Saturday Firsts

In October 2011, after working with SQL Server since 1998, I discovered something called SQL Saturday and PASS. For those unaware, these are local events, setup and run by volunteers. Speakers come in from all parts of the country to share, for free, their knowledge of SQL Server and other topics of interest to data professionals. These events also draw sponsors of various types. Without this symbiosis, the events would not work.

My First SQL Saturday  

At this first event, held on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, I got to meet and learn from some of the big names in the community, referred to as SQL Family. Thomas LaRock (t/b) kicked off the morning with a keynote. Afterwards, I found Tom is a HUGE bacon aficionado. This was my first realization these folks were approachable and not “full of themselves.” Very different from other professions I’ve been around. After the keynote, it was off to learn from the likes of Jim Murphy (t/b),  Wes Brown (t), Joe Celko, and many others.

I was hooked. I started traveling the country to attend these events as an attendee, usually at my own expense. Thanks to SQL Saturday, I’ve been to Portland ME, Atlanta, Louisville, Omaha, San Diego, Houston, Salt Lake City, and countless others.

One Road Leads to Many Paths

In October 2013, while at a CodeCamp in Austin, I met John Sterrett (t/b). He had decided it was time for Austin to host a SQL Saturday, the first since October 2011. It was a big hit and repeated in 2015. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to find a suitable venue since; but hope to be able to bring SQL Saturday back in 2019. I tell this part of the story because John is responsible for the next part.

It used to be a standing joke that we saw each other more away from Austin than in Austin. One frequent topic of conversation was, “Hey Jay, you come to these events, why don’t you speak at them?” My answer was always, “I don’t know anything these people don’t already know.” He kept telling me the same thing I had heard other speakers say: At least one person doesn’t know what you know, or you have a different take on something others speak about.

Diving in to Become a Speaker

It took several years of prodding, but I did my first SQL User Group presentation to the Austin community in June 2017. It had been years since I was up in front of a non-work group, but it went well, except for the demos of course. Now I was hooked again, I went to work on my next presentation idea, which was delivered late in 2017. It went well enough I decided, OK, I was coerced into submitting to a couple of SQL Saturday events, Wheeling and Albuquerque. I was selected to speak at Wheeling but unfortunately had to withdraw from Albuquerque.

Fast forward, OK, not really fast, but I’m getting there. I tried very hard not to fall into the trap I heard all speakers talking about: don’t change your presentation last minute, have an extra laptop so you can deal with hardware failures, make sure you have plenty of cables, etc. I made it to Wheeling with extra laptop and redundant cables but found myself updating the presentation on Saturday Morning to include a new item I had seen earlier in the week.

Whew, I did it!

Even with last minute changes, everything went well with my first SQL Saturday presentation. Feedback was helpful even though it was limited. Based on the input, I’ve updated the presentation and been accepted to speak at SQL Saturday events in Los Angeles and Houston. I will also be co-presenting with John Sterrett at SQL Saturday Dallas. I admit to a bit of nervousness as I expect both to be bigger, but I think I’m up to the challenge.

I’m looking forward to preparing new presentations and being a speaker and volunteer at many of the locations I’ve just been attending to this point.

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The Importance of SQL Saturdays

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I had the distinct honor of helping John Sterrett (t/b) and Dolph Santorine (t) organize and run SQL Saturday #717 in Wheeling, West Virginia on April 28, 2018.  It was a chance meeting at the event that drove home to me why we invest so much of our personal time and effort into organizing/running/presenting at SQL Saturdays.  The short answer as to why we do it is: We do all of this to promote free education to all who choose to seek it.  That’s right…. FREE.  Education is the best gift that can be bestowed upon and received by anyone.  I met Kyle, this was his first SQL Saturday and his tweet sums it all up:

“Free” means FREE?

Each SQL Saturday is organized by individuals or teams of volunteers.  We do not get paid for our time.  The speakers do not get paid for their time.  Speakers are sometimes compensated by their employers when they present at SQL Saturdays, but most of the time these speakers pay the travel and lodging expenses out of their own pockets!  The events are funded by sponsors.  Thus we are able to give away free education from active industry professionals!

Sponsorship is key.

Like I mentioned, the events are funded solely by sponsorship.  The cool thing about sponsoring a SQL Saturday is that not only are you expanding your marketing campaign for a minimal amount of money, you too are giving back to a noble cause.  Marian Wright Edelman wrote, “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and the world better than you found it.”  Being a sponsor allows you the awesome privilege of helping make a difference in someone’s life.

Why we do what we do.

During a chance meeting at SQL Saturday Wheeling, I met a USMC Veteran who is trying to find his way in the tech field.  He was referred to the event by a college professor.  Much to his surprise, not only did he walk away from the event armed with tons of information and a new-found excitement for learning SQL, he walked away with a lot of new SQL friends and mentors.  He was introduced to fellow Ex-Marine and Veteran, Jim Donahoe (t/b), who then put him in contact with others in the industry who can directly help make an impact on his career!  That is at the core of who we are as a community.  We left as we rise.

Friends and mentors.

In the SQL community, we pride ourselves in giving back and helping others.  On twitter we even have an open hashtag (#SQLHelp) where you can ask questions and get responses from experts in the SQL community.  If you participate, you will find a friend and mentor who will help provide information, keep your spirits up, and help you find your way through the weeds.  I personally have been blessed through the community, and my mission is to help bless others.

Thoughts on being an organizer.

Helping to organize and run a SQL Saturday is no small task.  There are many moving parts, many small details that can be overlooked or forgotten.  I was so very thankful to have friends who are also organizers who helped me along the way.  I certainly learned a lot about event planning!  More-so, I learned a lot about the value of kindness.  They provided guidance and tips, and I too will do the same for others who want the help.  Standing there Saturday morning before the doors opened I thought to myself “Here we are.  All these months and we are finally here.”  And honestly, I was afraid.  What if no one showed up?  What if the equipment failed?  What if I had forgotten something?  What if lunch doesn’t show?  

And you know what happened?  Attendees arrived, speakers arrived, everything worked, lunch arrived early, we had plenty of coffee, and everyone had a great time!  It was not a huge event. In fact, it was a very small event.  Something I noticed from being at both large and small events is that the quality of education is the same.  It is the same because the presenters are all there for the same thing I am….to share their unique vision and experience in hopes that someone in the audience will gain new perspective and it will grow their career.

Final thoughts on volunteering.

I personally feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when I can help someone else with no expectation of reward.  But there is a reward, there is always a reward!  My reward was smiles from speakers and attendees, but mostly, knowing that we all touched the lives of all those who attended.  

For more information on how to attend or volunteer for a SQL Saturday in your location, please visit the SQL Saturday website!

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Free SQL Education!

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What is the best way to learn?

     The best way to learn is directly from industry professionals!  We are thrilled to be helping the SQLSaturday Wheeling organizers put together a great SQLSaturday, April 28, 2018.  The schedule is packed full of knowledgeable SQL professionals waiting to share their unique experiences and knowledge with you!

What is SQLSaturday?

     SQLSaturday is a free training event for Microsoft Data Platform professionals and those wanting to learn about SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Analytics. Admittance to this event is free, and most costs are covered by donations and sponsorships.  This event will be held on Apr 28 2018 at West Virginia Northern Community College, 1704 Market Street, Wheeling, West Virginia, 26003, United States.  You can register here: SQLSatWheeling

* To register for a SQLSaturday, you must first become a PASS member. A PASS account is free and makes it convenient to manage your SQLSaturday user profile, update preferences, and keep track of your SQLSaturday registrations.

What topics will be discussed?

     SQLSaturdays offer a wide variety of sessions from beginner to advanced.  There truly is something for every data professional at every level of his or her career.

  •  The topics covered are:
    • Analytics and Visualization
    • Application and Database Development
    • BI Information (Delivery, Architecture, Development, and Administration)
    • Cloud Development and Implementation
    • Enterprise Database Administration and Deployment
    • Professional Development

     The full schedule for SQLSaturday Wheeling can be found here.

What else does a SQLSaturday offer?

     Education is a very important element in growing your career.  Another often over-looked important element to growing a successful career is networking!  SQLSaturdays provide an excellent opportunity to meet new people, reconnect with old, and have a great time networking.  There will be a networking event Saturday after the event, so you will have a chance to unwind, grab a bite to eat, and chat with your newfound SQL friends!

     We will be there, and we hope to see you as well! Networking

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Come See Us at Houston TechFest 2017!

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ProcureSQL is proud to be a first-time sponsor for Houston Techfest 2017. 

We would love to see you at this years Houston Techfest!  The admission is FREE!  You can register here.  The complete agenda is posted on their facebook page here.

What is Houston Techfest? 

     It is a large community-run event focusing on SQL Server, other data solutions, security, mobile development, and agile development.   It will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 starting at 8am to 6:30 pm.  The event will take place at the NRG Center, North Stadium Drive, Houston, Texas 77054. 

Did you miss seeing John at Microsoft Ignite in Orlando?  

     If you did not see John’s session at Microsoft Ignite, you are in luck!  Not only will we be sponsoring, but John Sterrett will be presenting three sessions entitled “Make Your SQL Server Queries Go Faster!” , “Learn SQL Backups and Master SQL Restores” and “Successfully Migrating Existing Databases to Azure SQL Database.”  Come join us for another great day of free education!

John Sterrett speaking at Ignite

John Sterrett at #MSIgnite 2017

     Drop by our booth and chat with Angela and John, they will have some cool swag and a chance to win a great prize!

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Speaking at Microsoft Ignite 2017

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We are proud to announce that John Sterrett will be speaking at Microsoft Ignite. This will be John’s first time speaking at the Microsoft Ignite conference. John will be talking about migrating existing databases over to Azure.  If you are going and passionate about your data, SQL Server, or just want some help solving your business problems with SQL he would love to meet you there.

Meet John at Microsoft Ignite

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Does Automation Kill the DBA “Store”?

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In my opinion, automation will enhance DBAs.  It will allow DBAs to provide more value to the business.Good DBAs will be fine. If you are a DBA with ten years of DBA experience who just repeats year one ten times, this might be a different story for a different blog post.  Therefore, automation enhances the Good DBAs careers just like the sync button enhances turntablists but the sync button doesn’t replace good turntablists’ careers.

Follow along to see if you agree or disagree. I look forward to seeing your feedback in the comments section on this topic.

Some of my good friends know I have a passion for DJing on the ones and twos.  A subset of those friends know I took a job in high school just so I could buy two Technics 1200s and records. In my free time, I started taking an online DJ Masterclass and it quickly jumped out to me that the sync button for turntablists, club DJs (see just like DBAs there are several different types of DJs) isn’t much different from automation for good DBAs. The sync button is a way to automate the tedious task of making sure two different songs are played at the same speed so they could be mixed together. In the past few years, I started to hear buzz that automation will replace DBAs so I wanted to write a blog post providing more details into a recent tweet of mine.

 

What is this sync Button You Speak Of? How does it relate to DBAing?

Going back to my high school days for a second. One of the core fundamentals of being a turntablist is using beat matching to keep the dance floor going as you transition from one song to another song. It took me months to learn this fundamental skill. I had to learn how to measure BPM (beats per minute) to see if the songs could even mix together. I had to learn beats (think of pages) and bars (think of extents) and learn how to mix the songs on the same beat on right bars. I had to learn how to adjust the speed of each of the two records to make the BPMs match on my own. When mixing, I had to make sure the two records stayed on beat during the mix.  Syncing records isn’t the hard part of DJing, it’s just a tedious part.

Today, most DJ software packages have a sync button so this process can be automated.  Now we can hit the sync button and the BPMs will match almost all of the time.  What would you do if you didn’t learn the basics and relied on the sync button and the BPM for your song is wrong, or worse, your venue doesn’t have the sync button? I think this would be similar to having corruption occur and not knowing the basics behind DBCC CHECKDB, Backups and Restores. You won’t be keeping people on the dance floor for long, or have a successful DBA Career.

If you don’t know the basics, you will rely on the software and have no other options if and when the software doesn’t automatically work for you. 

 

I Love Automation, I have loved it for years!

I love automation because it allows me to automate tedious tasks and focus on ones I love and which provide value. For now, I will talk about automation in general and will focus a bit later on some new features with SQL Server that help automate things.

 I have been using automation as a tool in my toolbox for almost my whole DBA career. I have given talks on Getting Started with PowerShell for DBAs; my first PASS Member Session was on utilizing Policy-Based Management to automate basic health checks. You can even use 3rd party tools or custom scripts like this, this, this, this, or this to help with some automation. Just make sure they work for you and your environment. I have seen a nice automated SQL Server installer built a very long time ago that used JavaScript before JavaScript was cool. I bet it actually started with JScript (Insert painful JScript vs JavaScript memories from my web development days).

The language used doesn’t matter, what matters is what the process does. 

At the same time, I have actually seen a software service provider application that in my opinion didn’t monitor transactional log backups correctly, yikes.  I mention this not to scare you, but to remind you that you need to know the basics to know if an automation process works for your needs. If you don’t know what the automated process is supposed to do how do you know it is doing it correctly? Using the wrong automation tool, or using the tools incorrectly, could be very hurtful to your career. This looks a lot like the sync button for DJing to me. Automation tools/scripts also evolve and change so this isn’t a set it and forget it thing either, in my humble opinion.

Good, experienced DBAs have been leveraging automation for years.

It has been a tool in their toolbag for quite a while, not a new thing. DBAs also know how to leverage it as a great tool instead of seeing it as a new tool that replaces their jobs.  BIML is a great automation tool for Business Intelligence (BI) Developers. Does BIML automate good BI Developers out of their jobs? Nope. Does it help them automate so they can focus more time toward high-value tasks and get more things done? Yep, it sure does.

If automation is new to you as a DBA, or maybe you are starting out as a DBA, I suggest checking out some well-proven open source tools in a non-production environment. If you try to test out automation, several solutions include options to script out but not execute the tasks. This can be very helpful for learning (just like I used the script feature in SSMS to learn a lot about T-SQL behind the GUI).  If you are looking for a place to start, I highly recommend dbatools.io . It’s amazing to look at all the things one could do with this single tool.

Can Self-Tuning Databases Completely Automate DBA Tuning?

Performance tuning is one of my favorite parts of being a DBA; therefore, there is no way I would skip talking about some of the great enhancements that allow SQL Server to tune your own environment in Azure SQL Database and the box product. It’s purely amazing to see some of the new cutting-edge tuning features that, in my opinion, are game changers that will help Microsoft further separate themselves from all other database management systems on the market. 

Don’t hold your breath while you try to read about some of these great performance improvements provided just since SQL Server 2014.  There is cardinality estimator changes, auto tuning for adding and removing indexes, adaptive plan changes, query store, resumable index rebuilds, heck good old Database Tuning Advisor gets better and wait for it…. Automate Tuning. Don’t take my word for it that these features will be amazing. Go check out Lance Tidwell’s  about some of these new features in his PASS Summit talk in November. Actually, take a second to read his abstract. Notice the following, “We will also look at some of the pitfalls and potential issues that can arise from these new features.” I find it interesting that it looks like Automated Tuning and other features might not safely automate all your tuning needs.

I don’t foresee Self-Tuning Databases being able to self-tune everything.

 A friend of mine Joey D’Antoni wrote a great blog post recently on Self-Tuning Databases. Let’s go by this statement in his blog post, “I am sure this would take years and many versions to come into effect.” Let’s fast forward and assume this is fully in effect including even multiple features outside of execution plan changes. I will throw in an example, Artificial Intelligence that could find several common known T-SQL Anti-Patterns and rework the code for all of them so the optimizer friendly version executes.

Let’s take a look at why I do not foresee automated tuning fully replacing Performance Tuning DBAs.

The way people implement business processes with technology will prevent automated tuning from fixing everything in your environment. It could be hardware, database design, could be bad coding, bad anti-patterns in code, misuse of ORMs, ORMs struggling to your data model, etc. My point is, I don’t see performance tuning getting completely automated to the point where performance tuning skills will be obsolete. I am not alone, another good friend of mine, Grant Fritchey writes, “Finally, despite the fact of adaptive plans and automated regressions, you are still writing code that NO amount of automation can fix.”

 

Will the Cloud Automate DBAs Out of their Jobs?

The cloud will not automate DBAs out of their jobs. First, let me start with the fact that I love the cloud. I write about Azure, and I give presentations on Azure SQL Database. Azure SQL Database has grown a lot over the years and almost has all the same features as the box product. Microsoft has also added great additional features to differentiate themselves from their competitors like Query Performance Insight, Automated Tuning to add and remove indexes, Geo-Replication and more to help make Azure SQL Database my favorite platform as a service offering. Soon, Azure Managed Instances of SQL Server will even make admin tasks easier for DBAs as they will be able to apply their skills directly with fewer changes like the box product. 

Even though it is a fantastic time to leverage cloud services not all companies are going to put all of their critical data there. Many are still using SQL Server 2005. Some still work with mainframes. Using the same logic, shouldn’t those DBAs have been automated away years ago?

migrations to multiple cloud providers and even helped clients spin up their own cloud environments that they offer as a service, while also providing them Remote DBA Services as well.

I know what you’re thinking.Why do I need DBA help if I am in the cloud?

If someone is using a managed service for their databases in a platform as a service model (PaaS) like Amazon RDS or Azure SQL Databases, why would they need a DBA to manage the databases, isn’t the managed service managing them for you? Well, it’s simple, your needs might not be completely aligned with the service level agreements that are offered. Take a second and read Amazon RDS SLA and then Azure SQL Database SLA. Keep in mind, I am not telling you to not leverage these services; I just want you to know what is covered and what gaps DBAs can still fill. If you also take a look at Amazon RDS Best Practices you see several things that can keep DBAs busy. 

Did you notice any mentions of your data in the SLA’s? 

Is anything mentioned in writing about what will happen when stack dumps occur or data corruption happens? Did you see anything written on how you get notified if corruption happens and what actions will be taken on your behalf that might cause data loss, or if you should make business decisions and take action? 

Thinking this could not happen to you? I ask because while performing our health check on a non-Microsoft cloud PaaS provider for a new client, we detected stack dumps… and this was the first time our client was notified, yikes!

The DBA Profession Is Not Going Away

To wrap this up, I don’t see the DBA profession going away. The DBA role has pivoted and evolved constantly over the years.  I don’t see that changing.  It’s one of the many reasons why I am passionate about helping clients solve their business problems with SQL Server.  While some think  machines are close to automating away your job as a DBA, I would hate it if new DBAs or experienced DBAs see written content like this and assume they need to change their career. Not only do I respectfully disagree, I do not see this happening and I am not alone. 

When you want to focus on growing your skills, I see several benefits towards investing time both inside and outside of the role of a DBA.

I think automation will enhance good DBAs and reduce time spent on repeatable trivial tasks allowing DBAs to move faster and provide more value.  I don’t see good DBAs being replaced by a handful of PowerShell scripts.  To me, this is the DBA version of the sync button that allows turntablists to spend less time on preparing a mix and more time to providing a better experience to the dance floor.

Seriously, don’t just take my words for it. NPR predicts only a 3% chance of automation taking over DBAs’ jobs.  Even better, take a look at US Bureau of Labor Statistics you will see DBAs are not losing their jobs. When the tedious parts of both database administration and DJing have been automated away, it leaves people like me more time doing what we love. Embrace automation and find ways to add value so the business loves you.

Don’t make DBA stand for Don’t Bother Asking or you might get replaced by another DBA or a managed service provider. 

 

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Want to Learn which SQL Server High Availability Features Are For You?

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Curious about the basics of SQL Server High Availability?  Please join our founder and MVP, John Sterrett, where he will be presenting SQL Server High Availability 101 on Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 at the North Austin SQL Server User Group.  

[Update – Sept 5th]

You can now watch the full presentation online.  You can see also see some reference links below as well. If you have any questions feel free to contact us!

Links:

High Availability Reference Material

Abstract:

Here is a quick synopsis of what will be discussed:

Have you ever wondered how companies keep their databases online through unplanned disasters? Have you wondered which high availability features might be best for our shop? In this session, we will go over a quick look at log shipping, database mirroring, transactional replication, failover cluster instances, and availability groups. John will identify pros and cons for each feature and share some tips from the field.

You are also invited to meet afterward for networking and cocktails!  It is a great opportunity to learn, connect with fellow SQL Server professionals, and build solid relationships for your future.  We cannot wait to see you there!

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Meet us at SQL Saturday Houston

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Procure SQL is a proud sponsor of PASS SQL Saturday Houston, June 17, 2017! This is a free event for you, your employees, teammates or anyone interested in learning SQL Server for free. Make sure you sign up and come on down. 

Please stop by the booth and say hello to me.  I would love to meet you!  Mention that you read this blog and I will have a gift for you!  

I will have a prize wheel to spin for cool prizes, one of which is a hand spinner!  They are all the rage.  Have you ever played with one?  They are great for calming me during heavy database work!

We have the spinners...

We have the spinners…

Our founder, John Sterrett, will be speaking at 4pm.  Be sure to drop in and say hello before or after the session!

His session is titled Table Partitioning: the Secret Weapon for Your Big Data Problems.

"Is big data starting to slow you down? Is data growth putting your maintenance tasks in danger of not meeting your service level agreements? 
Do you wish you could archive old data with minimal impact to your tables during the archive process? 
Do you wish you could eliminate the majority of the data in your tables when you query them? If so, it's time you consider implementing 
table partitioning to help with your general performance and to reduce your maintenance window for completing your maintenance tasks. 

In this session, you will learn how table partitioning works and when it should be implemented. You will be able to understand how to 
initially configure partition functions and partition schemes to have a rock solid partitioned table. You learn how to implement new features 
added in SQL Server 2014 to improve table partitioning.  Finally, you will learn how to implement an automated sliding window to maintain 
your partitioned tables for ensuring optimal performance."
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Introduction to Performance Tuning in Azure SQL Database

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Are you interested in performance tuning in Azure SQL Database?  You are in luck!  Procure SQL’s very own founder, John Sterrett [t,b] is giving an Introduction to Performance Tuning Azure SQL Databases in Idera’s April 26th GeekSync! 

Come spend an hour with John and learn how Azure measures performance with DTU’s and how DTU usage can impact data loads, migrations, and your daily workload.

John will cover:

  • how to monitor changes in performance to determine if you should pay more or less for the right performance tier for your workload;
  • which existing tools and processes you can leverage from managing on-premises instances to managing Azure SQL Databases; and
  • identify which databases might need some tweaks and others that need no changes to help you monitor performance.

Join our friends at Idera to learn more about Geek Sync!

The event is online and FREE!  Did I mention FREE???  Sign up here

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