Rick Heiges

Microsoft has 2 big umbrellas for products - MSDN for Developers and TechNet for IT Pros.  SQL Server is unique within MSFT because it can fall under each umbrella.  TechNet focuses on the DBA side of SQL Server quite abit with performance tuning and manageability type of materials.  MSDN focuses on the Database Developers with coding and Dev Tools.  This positioning also leaves SQL Server out in the cold at times because one umbrella may think that the other one is covering it adequately.  As more DBAs become more developer oriented, DB Developers will also become more "DBA Aware".  Be sure to check out the other umbrella's resources such as webcasts when you need an answer or want to learn something new.  What you are looking for may already be there, but under the other umbrella.

A great example is Reporting Services.  DBAs need to know how to install and configure it properly for the organization to get the most out of it.  But Visual Studio is the toolset used to create reports (or models used by Report Builder).  There is an MSDN Webcast about installing and configuring SSRS, but the TechNet audience would probably get more out of it.  There are other MSDN webcasts about developing reports, but deploying the reports is often left to the DBAs with the security model choice being a factor in the usability of the application and reports.  Both DBAs and DB Developers need to "cross-train" themselves to be more effective in their organizations.  If you are used to viewing TechNet Webcasts, choose a MSDN webcast next time.  What you learn could make your life easier.

I spent some time learning more about Virtual Server last week at TechEd.  Virtualization has some great uses I believe for the data center and saving costs.  The current state of Virtual Server R2 makes it not very good for SQL Server.  I think that the promise of Vista / Longhorn and the VM enhancements of that release may bring some very real possibilities of satisfactory performance within a VM.  The current state is still great for testing or proof of concept items, but stay away from mission critical production environments.  If you still want to "virtualize", many hardware vendors can "carve" out processors and memory from a bigger server to make this happen.

Since I had some work to do, I had to delay my journey over to TechEd on Thursday until 11:30.  I decided to go over to some other areas of the that I had not visited earlier in the week.  I found the certification area tucked away in its own corner.  If you are an MCP and had your card, you got a baseball hat.  Last year's hats were better in my opinion.  I spent some time with exhibitors on their last day looking for solutions that I may need some day.  Kimberly Tripp had a session in the TLC Theater on SQLCMD.  It was very well attended.  I heard several people comment on how much they like the intimacy of the TLC Theaters compared to the regular break-out rooms.  There is no way to evaluate these sessions.  If you attended TechEd this year, please put somewhere in the comments that it would be nice to evaluate the speakers in the TLCs as well.  I was excited about going to Fenway Park.  The busses were quickly loaded and were escorted by police to Fenway.  There was yor regular ballpark food everywhere!  I just wish there could have been a game instead of a concert.   The band, Train, performed.  Since I am not a huge fan, I left with the first busses at 8:30.  I was asleep by 10pm.

Friday - I went over early because I had some logistics to take care of with the PASS Table.  Joe Yong delivered a TLC presentation on Consolidation and the other TLC Theater had a session on SQL Server Everywhere.  I did learn that SQL Server Everywhere is an even lighter-weight version.  It does not run as a service, but more like Access using DLLs.  It is not part of the same code-base as the rest of the "2005" editions.  I will be learning more about this edition and blogging more about it in the future.  I had to leave early because of some calls I needed to make.  Friday was definitely "lighter" than the other days, but I still felt that a good number of people were there.  At the end of the week, I decided that it was a week well spent.  I got to attend a few sessions and catch-up with some old friends.  I had a great time podcasting with Chuck.  Check out the interview with SQL Server Gal at http://sigs.sqlpass.org/Resources/Downloads/tabid/99/Default.aspx. 

Also, my interview with Bill Baker form Wednesday is available at http://sigs.sqlpass.org/Resources/Podcasts/tabid/94/Default.aspx.

I started out at Dan Winn's session on DMVs.  He was enthusiastic and had some good demos on DMVs.  I then spent some time at the TLC for a while where some really good action took place.  Chuck asked me to interview a few folks for th epodcasts.  That was a lot of fun.  The podcasts will be posted in the SIGs area of www.sqlpass.org.  First, SQL Server Girl form the "Source Force"  came to the SQL TLC.  I interviewed her with Chuck manning the camera and her handler answering the questions.  Be sure to check it out.  I also interviewed Bill Baker and spoke to him about his new role in MSFT (not SQL anymore) as well as the BI Power Hour.  Michelle Crockett from SQL Server Magazine also joined us for some recollection about last year's road shows as well as some discussion about some upcoming road shows this fall.

There were 3 or 4parties happening tonight.  I first started out at the Redmond Magazine party at the Gypsy Bar.  Last year, they had some great food; this year was a little differnet, but still good.  I then made it over to the Influencer's party at Ned Deville's Irish Pub.  Here I saw the INETA girl and also Paul Silva.  Paul was in South Africa with me in March.  I also ran into some other friends at the party.  Last year, I went to another party and paid for it all week long.  This year, I was back in my room before 11pm. 

I am about to fall asleep.......z.z.z.z.zzz..z.z..

I spent quite a bit of time in the TLC today.  Chuck Boyce showed up today and started on his podcasting quest of TechEd SQL folks.  While starting up his first podcast recording, a studio technician from MSFT stopped by and gave Chuck a couple of pointers.  Chuck was very happy to learn some "best practices" for recording.  I also spent some time talking to Richard Campbell from DotNet Rocks.  This is the third month in a row that we have crashed into each other at conferences. I also ran into Allen White today as we spoke quite abit about certifications.  I have a brief 10 minute overview presentation on the new certifications at www.RickSQL.com by the way.  The "Chalk Talks" at the TLC at times have better attendance than the regular break-out sessions.

OK - now for some operational stuff.  Food:  Generally OK.  I love that there is always coffee, tea, soda, water available.  They also have some type of snack ready at almost any time of day.  The Lunches have not been the best in my opinion.  I'm sorry, but signs describing the chicken on the buffet line as "airline" immediately reduces the appeal for me.  Breakfast has been generally the best meal as long as the bacon is actually cooked.

Rooms:  I have attended some fairly full rooms.  I got to a session a little late on Tuesday AM and knew I would have to leave early for a call.  There were no seats even close to an aisle.  I decided to stand.  Not long after that, I was informed that I would have to find a seat because it was against fire code to stand.  I decided to leave.  I noticed in another session that people who wanted to stand were told the same information.  A majority of them made the same decision that I did and left.  It would be great to break up the seats a little more so that more aisle seats could be available, but that would reduce seating capacity.

The first "Real" day of Teched is now over.  It was a very long day, but it was a good one.

I made it in late to the Visionary Session which featured Technology like LINQ.  When you see a lot of others that you respect in the SQL Community attending this session, you know that this stuff is important.  The Demos were great and engaging.

I spent a good amount of time in the TLC manning the PASS table.  I was also able to hit some of the exhibitors in the PM beofre attending another session.  Work does not stop for TechEd and I had to do some work before the Evening Reception in the Exhibit Hall.  I am a a little tired, but looking forward to some great content in the morning. 

The TLC is the place to meet others in the SQL Community at TechEd.  I saw Gert Drapers, Bill Vaughn, Kimberly Tripp, Douglas McDowell, Rushabh Mehta, Tony Mann, Brian Knight, Adam Machanic, Alan Hirt, James L (I won't try to spell it here), Maciej (MVP from Poland, Fernando Guerrero, Andrew Kelly, Ron Talmage, Kent Tegels, Scott Reagin, Dave Duvarney,  and many more that my tired brain is not recalling at this moment.  I hope to see many more tomorrow and the rest of the week. 

Don't forget that even more great networking opportunities in the SQL Community can be found at the largest SQL Server Only Event at the PASS Community Summit in November in Seattle.  Check out www.sqlpass.org for more details.

I am a little tired already.....It is only going to get worse.

Keynote on Sunday Night!  Bob Muglia and Ray Ozzie headlined the Keynote.  I really enjoyed Ray's portion where he described where things are going.  The buzz term is "Services Disruption" from his presentation.  I had to leave the keynote a little early because I am just tired and there are too many good sessions to see this week.  I need my sleep so that I can get all of that new info loaded into the gray matter.

Chloe from "24" was a key figure in the Keynote.  I think she was a little nervous with all the geek brain power in the audience, but she did fine. 

For me, I really liked the new Virtualization stuff I heard that will be coming soon.  With the current state of Virtual Server, I have to stay away from it in production environments for SQL Server.  I want to learn more to see if it might be a better fit for SQL Server with the new bells/whistles.

Wow, A double dip!  Steve Ballmer AND Paul Flessner will be speaking at two keynote sessions at the PASS Community Summit this November in Microsoft's Backyard, Seattle.  I can just hear Steve now:  "DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs, DBAs".  And then: "DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers, DB Developers".  And then: "BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys, BI Guys".  If you don't get this little joke, do some research.

For more information, check out www.sqlpass.org.  While you're there, there is a link to streaming content presented at last year's summit in Dallas. 

If you cannot make it to TechEd in person, you can still enjoy some of the content that will be webcast from TechEd.  Here is the llink where you can start making room in your schedule for next week.  https://www.msteched.com/content/webcasts.aspx   There are 9 sessions currently scheduled for SQL Server to be presented live via webcast.  Naturally, these webcasts can be accessed on-demand later.

If youare going and have questions about TechEd, there is now a "bot" that you can IM questions to.  It is teched06@hotmail.com. 

Also, check out the latest content at www.RickSQL.com - the latest is how to run SQLDiag on a SQL2000 Cluster.

June means Tech Ed Time!!!!

I will be getting to Boston probably just in time to hear the keynote on Sunday night.  I'm not sure if I like that strategy, but it is different.  I will be in the SQL TLC or the Scalability Experts booth for most of the week.  I also plan to find out if there actually bars in Boston.  I have heard rumors to that effect. 

Last night, I added another 10 minute tidbit on SQL Express at www.RickSQL.com.  So far, I have stuck to my goal of a new presentation every week.   I would love to get some more feedback on the content on my site.  Please take a look and let me have it.