Introduction

SQL Server administration is an extensive subject that covers everything from the critical decisions you need to make before installing SQL Server to managing and tuning queries running on existing systems. Even though complete books can and have been dedicated to many of the topics covered throughout this book, we think that it is important for database administrators to have a “go-to” guide when they need to make those important administrative decisions. With that in mind, we set out to write a book that database administrators could keep on their desks to assist them in the planning phases of database administration and help them through its troubleshooting aspects, as well as provide them with a source of reference on the many topics critical to database administration. Our goal is to ensure that, after reading this book, you will be prepared to face the challenges that database administrators encounter on a daily basis.

Who Should Read This Book

This book is for junior and seasoned database administrators who are looking to develop their knowledge and skill set in Microsoft SQL Server 2008. This book is highly focused on database administration and the new techniques introduced in SQL Server 2008.

How the Book Is Structured

We have put a lot of thought into the organization of this book. We want to ensure the chapters are presented in the order that database administrators encounter critical choices, giving you the comprehension and proficiency needed to make tactical decisions. Instead of just writing about new features and how to use them, we dive into the details about when and why to use these new features and how they impact the database administrator. This book also focuses on database administration to allow the content to be thoroughly covered.

Downloading the Code

You can download the source code for the book at the Apress web site's Source Code page located at www.apress.com/book/sourcecode. The code is broken into .sql files by chapter.

You can download the sample databases used in this book from the CodePlex web site at www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples. You will want to download the SQL Server 2008 product sample databases and follow the installation instructions.

Contacting the Authors

You can contact Ken Simmons by emailing him at [email protected], or you can visit his blog at http://cybersql.blogspot.com. You can contact Sylvester Carstarphen by emailing him at [email protected] or visiting his blog at http://sqllazywriter.blogspot.com. There will be a tag on both blogs (called Pro SQL Server 2008 Administration) that you can use to filter posts directly related to the book. Please include the book title in any emails to help us identify questions or comments about the book.