Author: SQL Padre

Learning about Licensing

SQL Padre SQL, SQL 2014

So, I was working on a project for my employer trying to determine the best course of action for licensing a new instance of SQL Server (i.e. what is the cheapest way to get it legally).  And I came across something I did not know.

Found deep inside the bowels of a 40 something page document, I learned something new from the Microsoft SQL Server 2014 Licensing Guide. 

SQL Server Developer Edition
SQL Server 2014 Developer Edition is a full-function version of SQL Server software—including all of the features and capabilities of Enterprise Edition—licensed under the Developer Tools model, which is a “per user” model. One license is required for each person that accesses or uses the software.

“Per User” is what I didn’t realize.  If I translate this correctly, I purchase one Developer License and install it on a machine, only I can use it as a development box.  To open it up to a team of developers, each member of the team must purchase a Developer License.  If I have multiple development servers for a multiple person team, this could get expensive.  But hey, it is still cheaper than licensing a server by Cores and most likely cheaper than Server+CAL method.

Write this up as my “learning for the day”!

Some self reflection

SQL Padre SQL

Earlier last month, a contest was brewing to be mentored by Paul Randal (b|t).  Yes, THAT Paul Randal of SQLSkills.  Despite knowing my SQL Server level of proficiency, I figured what the heck, it can’t hurt to try and the worst that could happen is I wouldn’t win.  But in Paul’s quirky fashion, everyone won!  That’s right, I am extremely fortunate to be included in the Mentoring Class of 2015 by Paul Randal. I hope to document this experience here.

Now, that all being said, one of the first requirements beyond the obligatory “hellos” was to complete my homework Work Items.  (Eeek gad, homework?  I haven’t heard that word in a long time, not counting my kiddos of course).

They were simple: #1) Who are you? and #2) What do you want help with?  Are they really that simple though? They both all seem simple enough.  All I have to do is provide basic info about me, what I like to do and simple stuff.

It was the second “Work Item” that really got me thinking.  What do I want help with?  Really?  I could write for days where I need help: both professionally, physically, mentally, personally?  But, I didn’t want to scare Paul away so I kept my answer simplified. 

I want to learn! Knowledge is Power! 

Reflecting back on my experiences and then interacting with others in the SQL community has taught me lesson. I am only but a “notch up” from a novice.  There is so much I should learn about SQL.  I always feel like I am a step behind on everything.  I want to catch up. I want to earn my MCSE SQL 2012.  I want to be able to defend my recommendations with facts and documentation.

So Paul, if you are reading this, strap your boots on because this is going to be one hell of ride; I am dedicating the next year to learning as much as I can about SQL Server administration. And hopefully with your guidance, after this year I can say, I am a “real” Database Administrator!

Padre’s Toolbox

SQL Padre Software, SQL Toolbox

I have been working with SQL long enough that I have built my personal “toolbox” for SQL related tools that I use on a regular basis. They range from FREE to minimal cost (by that I mean mostly under $100; yeah, I know I am cheap).

You can find my tools here, Padre’s Toolbox and I hope to keep it updated as I test drive and use more and more different SQL programs.  For now, I will briefly introduce my favorite tools (in no particular order).  In the future, I hope to write a post on how and why I am using these tools.

SQL CoPilot

Since my initial review of this software, Richard Fryar has even further enhanced his product to include Query Plan analysis. 

SQL Server First-Aid Kit

This is from Brent Ozar Unlimited.  Enough Said! You not only get their excellent diagnostic scripts, but e-books, whitepapers, and posters Oh My!

DMV Diagnostic Queries

Here is the most recent iteration of Glenn Berry’s fantastic information queries.  Glenn has been providing these since SQL 2005 and if SQL stores the information, these queries will find it!

Idera Free Tools

A collection of free SQL tools, I find my self using these more and more for “spot checking” issues or problems.

Terminals

Not technically a SQL Tools, but as a DBA we have to sometimes manage the OS itself.  This tool is crucial for me to be able to remote into multiple servers without having to minimize RDP session to switch between servers.

SQL Sentry Plan Explorer

My newest tool in my arsenal, is one that quite frankly scared the hell out of me at first.  Just like Cache Plans in general. But I am mudding through the learning process and I am coming to rely more and more on this program.  I haven’t purchased the “Pro” version yet, so I am still evaluating the usefulness of this program and see if I can justify the cost to my “powers-that-be”

Lock or not to Lock Pages in Memory, that is the quesiton!

SQL Padre SQL

We all are aware of the “standard practice” of enabling the Security Policy “Lock Page in Memory” for your SQL Server service account.  Just about everywhere you read, it is pretty much standard practice, and so like an red-blooded “Accidental DBA”, I have always used it.

Until today…, well at least for one particular machine!

Let me preface this blog post by saying: I can’t prove nor do I know how to prove that my solutions was the answer to the problem; but it hasn’t been a problem since the change.

 

Problem:

I have a physical 32 core, 448 GB RAM, SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition, her after referred to as “The Beast”!  Unfortunately the Beast got it’s legs chopped off at the knees.  Sometime ago, my company bought a new SAN for this server and other shared servers as well.  This new SAN, would be 10K drives with loads of storage. The Beast was used to 15K drives which would hide a myriad of query problems. This new SAN also had what the vendor called “tiered storage”.  A SSD that would be refreshed every night with ~100GB of the most used files actually read from the SAN since the previous 24 hour check to allow quick access.  I personally don’t believe this is a wise configuration for a SQL server with multiple MDF files greater than 400 GB, just sayin’! We have disabled this feature for now.

Anyway, since the new SAN went online, every so often, especially on larger READ queries, the SQL Server would crash and burn. OS RAM was maxed out to the point RDP was not accessible, SQL Server would create a SQL Mini dump referencing page latch issues and the only way to revive it was to execute a remote SHUTDOWN /r command.  This went on for a couple of months.

Solution:

Then I read, Jonathan Kehayias’ article Great SQL Server Debates: Lock Pages In Memory.  It is a little old, but it is still a good read.  Now this got me thinking, quite possibly this policy may not be for every server.  So I researched and researched the whole concept of storing data in memory, dirty pages, and everything I could about how the SQL Engine manage memory, drives and data.

So, with the thought process that my SQL server engine was trying to take more memory from the OS and literally strangle the Beast out of any life by consuming and trying to add more data pages to the Buffer and not releasing older pages, I disabled the policy Lock Pages In Memory. 

Since then, my Beast has been happy Smile.  I have noticed more writes to the MDF file in the last three weeks, not a steady increase just bursts here and there.  I am thinking that is SQL writing dirty pages back to disk, which wasn’t happening before. The Buffer cache is being swapped out with data being used vs. old data at a more consistent rate now.

At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!