Rick Heiges

Since SQL Server 2005 has been released, there has been a lot of discussion about upgrading to this release.  I was thinking it is similar to Windows 95.

I can remember reading articles about upgrading your system to Windows 95 and being able to take advantage of a bunch of neat features in the OS.  This sounds very similar to SQL 2005 - doesn't it.  I can remember the one biggest tip before upgrading your 3.1 machine to 95 was to get it running as well as it can in 3.1 before upgrading to 95.  I think this little tip is probably still valid today.  Get your SQL 7/2000 servers running as well as they can before you upgrade.  Odds are if your server isn't performing well under SQL 7/2000, upgrading to 2005 won't buy you much. Even though 2005 performs better in most scenarios, you can't expect it to solve all of your performance problems.

I upgraded Windows 3.1 to 95 on a 386sx/33 (overclocked to 66!).  I took the time to get Windows 3.1 running well before the upgrade.  I can't remember any huge problems that I encountered.  At the time, I was also assigned to assist some other non-technical folks with their upgrades.  I had given these folks a checklist of things to do in preparation of the upgrade (Defrag, CheckDisk, uninstall non-critical programs, etc.).  The ones that followed the checklist had a much better experience than the ones who "said" the followed the checklist.  Of course, when we all got better machines (486/Pentiums), Windows 95 ran much better, but applications had to be reinstalled and personal configurations reset.  Things ran much smoother on new hardware and without those old 16-bit apps on it.

The point here is to get your SQL 7/2000 DBs running as well as they can before upgrading.  Use tools like the Best Practices Analyzer and Upgrade Advisor.  This will surely help your upgrade avoid the bumpy road.

It is nearing the end of March.  It has been a long month for me as I have been a lot of places.  I started off with a trip to South Africa for some work related activities.  I would love to tell you all about the sights that I saw in South Africa, but you would think I was describing any major city as I was there for only 3 days in Jo'burg.  The people there were very friendly and helpful.  I would like to go back at some point and spend more than 3 days there.

I also went to Dallas/Houston for some Lunch and Learns on Reporting Services 2005.  I was also able to work in the Houston User Group on March 14th where I discussed Database Snapshots.  The people in the user group were good enough to move their meeting time back by 30 minutes to insure that I could get there on time. - Thanks!  Nancy Hidy-Wilson leads this group.

I also was in LA to deliver a 1-day course on Upgrading to 2005.  I caught the red-eye back east and headed to Columbus, OH.  I was fortunate enouch to spend a few hours with my sister before speaking at the User Group event in Columbus.  The Columbus group moved their meeeting night to work me into their schedule.  Thanks!  Jon Baker (he also blogs on sqljunkies) leads the group.  As my company (Scalability Experts) is based in Texas, he thought I was from Texas too.  There was a very big game last fall between Ohio State and Texas (Texas won).  He was going to have a little joke and present me with an OSU mug, but when he found out that I live in NC, he had to change his plans a little (at least with the joke portion).  After discussing a few things, I revealed that I have been an OSU fan since I was a kid (family ties).  This eliminated the "Joke", but turned into a very well-appreciated gift.  Thanks Jon!  I drove to Cleveland to deliver another L&L for the following day. 

This week, I will only be making a short trip to Atlanta for a L&L on Tuesday.  It will be good to be spending at least most of the week with the family!

The first week of April brings on the SQL Connections conference.  Check out www.sqlconnections.com for more info.  I will be doing three sessions.  My first session is on Table/Index Partitioning.  My second is on Database Snapshots, and my last session is on Database Mirroring.  I am looking forward to it.  If you attend this event, please stop me and say "hello".

May brings with it another conference.  This one is in Montreal.  Dev Teach is a more focused on Developers, but is growing in its SQL Track.  Check out the details at www.devteach.com.  The event runs the week of May 8th.

I know this is old news, but the CTP of SP1 for 2005 is out and available for download.  I just downloaded it and installed it.  So far, things appear to be working fine.  Also, the CTP for SQL Server Express is out too.  The Advanced Features edition is what I am interested in as it includes some new tools/features that include Reporting Services!  The more I look at Express, the more I like it.

I recently returned from a trip to South Africa for work.  It is a VERY LONG flight (18 hrs from Atlanta!).  I knew very little about South Africa before I went.  I found out that I still need to learn more and spend more than a few days inside a hotel and office building.  ;-) 

South Africa is a relatively young democracy with a very proud and diverse people.  I was very impressed with the attitude of the people that I met through work and afterwards in the evening.  One night, I attended the South African Developers User Group meeting.  The topic was workflow which was well received.  Since the MSFT rep put me in touch with the organizer, he invited me up at the end of the session for some Q&A on SQL 2005.  It only lasted about 10 minutes, but I felt like the developers there really understaood the value of SQL 2005.

On another note, I will be in Houston on March 14th to speak on DB Snapshots at the User Group meeting.  If you are in the area, please stop by.  You can find out more at http://houston.sqlservercentral.com.