It’s about that time to focus on a few things, one being Microsoft Certification. I passed the 70-433 Database Developer certification last year. My intention is to become a Microsoft Certified IT Pro Database Developer and DBA.
Microsoft has three Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and three IT Professional certifications for SQL Server 2008. The MCTS include Implementation and Maintenance (70-432), Database Development (70-433) and Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance (70-448). Each of these are the prerequisite to the IT Professional certifications (MCITP) . For instance if you take 70-432 and 70-450, Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Server Infrastructure using Microsoft SQL Server 2008, you obtained MCITP Database Administrator. Exam 70-433 along with 70-451, Designing Database Solutions and Data Access Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008, makes you an MCITP Database Developer. Lastly, 70-448 and 70-452, Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008, make you an MCITP Business Intelligence Developer.
I plan to log my voyage to obtaining my goals on this blog. I anticipate that discussing any details will boost my confidence, and perhaps will encourage others to shoot for Microsoft certification. You can get more details about SQL Server certification of other products from the Microsoft Learning site.
A few tips that I know of. First and foremost, set a date to test. I noticed I prep more for the exams when I schedule and actually register for the test. Registration fee’s for most MS exams are $125 USD. You can register for an exam at www.prometric.com. Currently, they have an offer, from now until June. I’ve known of the free retake voucher for any Microsoft Exam from Prometric for some time now. I been a very bad geek and have been putting if off for some time. Also, thanks to Rob Boek, I have obtained a 50% off voucher for the 70-432, the first requirement for Certified DBA. Step one, register, secondly, log into Microsoft Learning Plan with a MS Live account and take advantage of the free Microsoft material which include readings, tutorials and recommended books.
Lot into it. If you’re about to take a test, Good Luck and I Hope this information helped.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
SQL Server R2 Countdown
The time upon us is near. MSDN subscribers will be able to download the full second release of SQL Server 2008. I’m looking forward to it. At the organization that I work for, we have been sitting on SQL 2000 for a while. Although we have implemented SQL Server Report Services, it is now time to focus on the new. Our plan of attack includes migration of DTS to SSIS and a full performance tuning routine to include reviewing of index, clusters, bottlenecks, etc. Moreover, our existing Disaster Recovery will be updated, and luckily, R2 should make it easier.
All in all, it’s a very exciting time, with that said, I killed some time creating this simple R2 countdown in JavaScript. If you’re interested, simply copy the code below and add it to your site.
| <script language="JavaScript" src="http://gvilla.co.cc/sql_rs_cntdwn.js"></script> |
I plan to write more on this as we go along, perhaps I can get some thoughts from others.
Best regards.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
SQL Server 2008 R2 announcement
Twenty months after SQL 2008 was released, Microsoft announced this morning SQL Server 2008 R2 has been released to manufacturing in a conference call with Sr. Vice President Ted Kummert. After several “Launch Goofs” and speculated dates, the definite dates are May 3rd, 2010 for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and the public will have the R2 available to them on May 13th, 2010. Although, a trial version and a light weight Free SQL Server 2008 R2 Express is already available for download.
Although I cursed Pivot tables at a previous job where we lived by them on a day to day basis, a highly talked about feature of R2 is PowerPivot. PowerPivot is a self serviced data tool for user access using Excel 2010 and SharePoint 2010. A feature I look forward to is the Report Builder 3.0. Coming from Crystal Reports development and just recently began using SSRS, the new release will provide enhanced wizards, visualizations and authoring.
Other features include a Master Data Services to centrally manage critical data assets companywide and across diverse systems. In addition, Master Data Services will enable more people to securely manage master data directly. Also featuring StreamInsight a latency complex event processing platform to help monitor, analyze and act on the data in motion to make more informed business decisions in near real-time.
And even though PBM was only slightly mentioned in the Q&A, R2 will be capable to manage applications and instanced by policy. To learn more about PBM, pick this book up, Pro SQL Server 2008 Policy-Based Management.
To conclude, the most important detail of conference call in Redmond was SQL Server 2008 R2 availability dates, May 3rd for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and May 13th available for public download. There’s no Launch party as of yet, however you can get more details on the R2 Digital Tour.
Although I cursed Pivot tables at a previous job where we lived by them on a day to day basis, a highly talked about feature of R2 is PowerPivot. PowerPivot is a self serviced data tool for user access using Excel 2010 and SharePoint 2010. A feature I look forward to is the Report Builder 3.0. Coming from Crystal Reports development and just recently began using SSRS, the new release will provide enhanced wizards, visualizations and authoring.
Other features include a Master Data Services to centrally manage critical data assets companywide and across diverse systems. In addition, Master Data Services will enable more people to securely manage master data directly. Also featuring StreamInsight a latency complex event processing platform to help monitor, analyze and act on the data in motion to make more informed business decisions in near real-time.
And even though PBM was only slightly mentioned in the Q&A, R2 will be capable to manage applications and instanced by policy. To learn more about PBM, pick this book up, Pro SQL Server 2008 Policy-Based Management.
To conclude, the most important detail of conference call in Redmond was SQL Server 2008 R2 availability dates, May 3rd for MSDN and TechNet subscribers and May 13th available for public download. There’s no Launch party as of yet, however you can get more details on the R2 Digital Tour.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Next Gen iPhone: Lost and Found
Weather Gray Powell lost his iPhone or this is just a distraction so Steve Jobs can really WOW Apple fans for a different announcement, Gray Powell will go down in history. Just like Thomas “John” Crapper (going to the John or taking a Crap), Gray Powell will be synonymous with losing things.
“Make sure you back up that data, you don’t want to Powell it”. “Those Redsox are having a Gray season aren't they?”
But this story needs more fact checking. Why is it that Gizmodo has the scoop and how did they get the phone from the guy sitting next to Powell and some “Random Really Drunk Guy”. Or could this simply be some ploy.
“Make sure you back up that data, you don’t want to Powell it”. “Those Redsox are having a Gray season aren't they?”
But this story needs more fact checking. Why is it that Gizmodo has the scoop and how did they get the phone from the guy sitting next to Powell and some “Random Really Drunk Guy”. Or could this simply be some ploy.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
T-SQL Tuesday #005 SQL Server Report Services Basic Parameter Tips
Today is my first attempt to participate in T-SQL Tuesday. T-SQL Tuesday is an idea by Adam Machanic, inviting new and existing SQL Server bloggers to post about the same topic on the same day. I decided to take a look at this Tuesday’s topic, Reporting, and give it a go.
I come from developing Visual Studio applications with SQL Server databases, and Crystal Reports have been my reporting tool of choice. Until now of course, I utilize SQL Server Reporting Services. This has been a recent change, and the hardest thing for me was to find basic help or online resources. Aside from sources writings on how to install and configure SSRS, therefore I share with you basic parameter tricks. The first thing one need to know is they must have SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio or Visual Studio installed.
SSRS allows you to set parameters on your report on the SQL syntax. For instance, you want to show a report pertaining to specific date range, your SQL would be something like this:
SELECT ProductID, Description, ModelNo, WarrantyExp FROM Products WHERE WarrantyExp BETWEEN (@DateFrom and @DateTo)
When you browse to this report, you will see on the toolbar two input boxes, DateFrom and DateTo. Open the “Report Data” Tab from the View menu. You will see a directory with Parameters, these being the ones in your query. You can right click and select their dataype, to where a DateTime datatype will enable a date picker in the input boxes at run time. Keep in mind that the input boxes will be names accordingly to the parameter variable without the “@” sign.
I come from developing Visual Studio applications with SQL Server databases, and Crystal Reports have been my reporting tool of choice. Until now of course, I utilize SQL Server Reporting Services. This has been a recent change, and the hardest thing for me was to find basic help or online resources. Aside from sources writings on how to install and configure SSRS, therefore I share with you basic parameter tricks. The first thing one need to know is they must have SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio or Visual Studio installed.
SSRS allows you to set parameters on your report on the SQL syntax. For instance, you want to show a report pertaining to specific date range, your SQL would be something like this:
SELECT ProductID, Description, ModelNo, WarrantyExp FROM Products WHERE WarrantyExp BETWEEN (@DateFrom and @DateTo)
When you browse to this report, you will see on the toolbar two input boxes, DateFrom and DateTo. Open the “Report Data” Tab from the View menu. You will see a directory with Parameters, these being the ones in your query. You can right click and select their dataype, to where a DateTime datatype will enable a date picker in the input boxes at run time. Keep in mind that the input boxes will be names accordingly to the parameter variable without the “@” sign.
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