Voice of the DBA

Author: way0utwest

  • Backup Your Certificate for TDE

    If you’ve enabled TDE, you need to be sure you have a copy of the certificate that protects the Database Encryption Key (DEK). If you follow my instructions, then you have one.

    If you didn’t make a backup, or you have just discovered a TDE database, make one now, and secure the password you use with your DR materials (off site).

    How do you make a backup? That’s easy. Use the BACKUP CERTIFICATE command. Here’s the command I use in demos:

    USE master
;
go
BACKUP CERTIFICATE TDEPRimer_CertSecurity
 TO FILE = 'tdeprimer_cert'
  WITH PRIVATE KEY (
               FILE = 'tdeprimer_cert.pvk',
               ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'AStr0ngB@ckUpP@ssw0rd4TDEcERT%')
;
go

    

    

    

     
    

    The certificate for TDE is in master, so you must make sure you’re in master for the backup. The TO FILE option lets you choose the file path. By default, this will be in the DATA folder for your instance, but you can choose other locations. You can give an extension if you like. This file is the certificate (public).
    

    There is a private key portion of the certificate, which is backed up with the “WITH PRIVATE KEY” portion of the command. This is where you specify the password and provide the protection for your certificate.
    

    You will need this password on restore, so keep track of it.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
			
    Decisions, Decisions. Fall Events
    
			
    I was looking over my travel calendar this fall, and I’m somewhat amazed at the variety of events that are being held for SQL Server professionals. There are a number of SQL Saturdays, and if you can attend those, I’d highly urge you to do so. Most are free, or perhaps cost you a lunch fee, but they are great chances to see SQL Server presentations, network with colleagues, and get inspired with new ways to work with SQL Server. They take a day out of your life (they’re usually on Saturday) and there’s no break from work, but they price is right.
    

    However if you want something a little more exotic, or with a few more frills, you’ve got some great choices out there. I’m listing a few that I’m attending, and I hope to see some of you at one of these events.
    

    

    SQL in the City
    

    I list this one first because these events are sponsored by Red Gate Software, my employer, and they’re a lot of fun. They are also the right price: free.
    

    Like some of the paid conferences, Red Gate does a great job with amenities and food. The locations are nice, and even though it’s a one day event, it’s a lot to absorb in one day. This fall we have 3 large events, and 2 (possibly 4) smaller, seminar events taking place in the US. We’d love to have you attend SQL in the City if you can. The locations we’ve picked this year are:
    

      

    • San Diego – A seminar event, with the DBA Team, on Friday Sept 20, 2013.
      • 

    • Denver – A seminar event on development, on Friday, Sept 27, 2013.
      • 

    • Pasadena – A large event, on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2013.
      • 

    • Atlanta – A large event, on Friday, Oct 11, 2013.
      • 

    • Charlotte – A large event, on Monday, Oct 14, 2013.
      • 

    

    We’ll talk about some real world issues you face, and give you possible solutions. We do show Red Gate tools, but that’s because they’re the quickest way to show you a solution to a problem.
    

    Register today if there’s a SQL in the City event you can come to.
    

    DevConnections
    

    devconnectionsI have spoken at and enjoyed the DevConnections events for a few years. This fall the event returns to the MGM in Las Vegas from Sept 30 – Oct 4, 2013. There’s a great lineup of SQL Server speakers, of which I am one. There’s a lot to do, a lot to learn, and a lot of fun to be had in Las Vegas. With the schedule, this is a perfect event to attend and add in a weekend vacation with family.
    

    One of the great things about this event is that there are 5 conferences taking place together, and with your registration, you can attend any session in any one of them. This is a great event for those of you that don’t just work with SQL Server.
    

    If you’ve never been, consider coming to DevConnections this fall.
    

    SQL Intersection
    

    sql-int-centerSQL Intersection is a new event, managed by SQLskills. I spoke at the event this part spring, and I enjoyed it. Like DevConnections, the event takes place in Las Vegas, located in the MGM Grand from Oct 27-30. The speakers are selected and invited, and there are some very popular and talented speakers in this group. I’m honored to be a part of the event. I think you’ll get a ton of SQL Server knowledge here that you can apply back at work.
    

    There are 5 events taking place at the same time, so if you are interested in learning more about development, cloud computing , Sharepoint, or Azure, this might be a good choice for you. It’s also a fantastic time to take an extra day or two in Las Vegas. Halloween is truly a spectacle in that city.
    

    Take this letter to your boss, then register, and I hope to shake your hand when you come. If you use “Jones” as a registration code, you’ll get $100 off, and I get some credit Winking smile
    

    The PASS Summit
    

    passsummit2013This year the PASS Summit returns to the East Coast, to Charlotte, NC from October 14-18, 2013. The first day of pre-cons overlap with our SQL in the City event. This is the most popular, and largest, SQL Server only event in the world. There is a ton of networking that takes place, and it’s a great time to get to know other people in the community.
    

    There are a ton of sessions, too many in fact. Buy the DVD of the sessions since you’ll miss more than you attend. You can register today, and if you’re there early, look for me on Tuesday. I won’t be speaking at the Summit this year, but there are lots of other great speakers that you’ll enjoy.
    

    The Conference Argument
    

    I’ve got a busy fall. In addition to the events above, I have a few SQL Saturdays to attend and skiing to get in. I won’t be at SQL Live 360, but that’s another event you might consider attending. I’d love to speak there, but I need a break. Perhaps in 2014.
    

    I love attending these events, and I’d recommend them over a specific training class. Here’s why.
    

    If you aren’t self-motivated, you’ll waste a lot of time and not get much out of a conference. It’s easy to go to some sessions, or sit by the pool all day. However I’d argue that most of the people who aren’t looking to drive their career won’t get a lot our of week long class either.
    

    If you are motivated, you can learn the JIT skills from a book, by yourself, or with a relatively inexpensive class like the ones Pluralsight offers. However, at a conference, you’re the person that will network with others, talk about your problems, and get some inspiration or potential solutions from those conversations. You’ll also get new ideas and inspirations from many of the sessions. You’ll recharge better than you do from a class, and most people seem to come back to work more excited about SQL Server than when they left.
    

    If you’re a person that wants to move forward and are motivated enough to do so, consider attending one of these events this fall.
    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
  • 
		
		
    
			
			
    Cool Projects
    
			
    I had a conversation recently with a developer that was working on a rather neat problem. This had to do with a financial system and it involved some complex calculations and real time interactions with a variety of systems. It was important for their company, and a lot of pressure was on this developer to not only deliver this software quickly, but also to have it perform at a very high level. This particular person was using Red Gate’s ANTS Performance Profiler to dig into their code, feeling pressure to make it as efficient as possible.
    

    However this person was also enjoying themselves. It was a challenge, and it was a cool project.
    

    I know this community is made up of people working in all sorts of industries, in a variety of roles. We develop many different kinds of software. Some may be for employers, some may be for ourselves, some may be for a side business, but  across that spectrum of work, there are some interesting applications.
    

    What cool things are you working on?
    

    It might not be software. Perhaps you’re working on an interesting data application, like a super collider. Maybe you work on some gaming software, or you manage a system that makes people’s lives better, easier, or even possible. I’m sure more than a few of you work on some real time systems, which have all kinds of data challenges.
    

    Let us know this week what type of interesting work you’re doing.
    

    Steve Jones
    

    


    


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  • 
		
		
    
			
			
    The Costs of Data
    
			
    Most of us know that there is a cost associated with the management and storage of data. After all, it’s part of the reason many of us have jobs as data professionals. Our salary is a cost, though we also realize there are real costs in electricity, on-line storage, backup storage, and more that relate to the stewardship of data.
    

    Many US government agencies are being asked to share more of their data publicly, but without additional funding. That could mean less research is funded as the cost of opening their databases rises. How this should be handled is open to debate, but Vint Cerf and others have noted that someone has to pay to manage data, and public/private partnerships are a potential solution. However, the fate and cost of public data isn’t the core issue.
    

    The core issue is that data sets are growing, and in some cases, growing at phenomenal rates. We see companies getting caught up in the Big Data hype, often gathering and storing data just because they have the ability to capture more data. However as our data volumes, and rates of growth increase, that impacts the performance, and perhaps availability, of our systems. Perhaps more to the core for many of us, all the data impacts the performance of our jobs. Systems might run slower, we have more work to do to analyze data, write reports, or deal with the every widening array of tools that people want to use to analyze the bits and bytes we manage.
    

    The costs of data storage, of tracking and managing systems, or administering a multitude of environments, of supporting new tools for analysis, are going to grow. Most likely that means that each of us will be asked to handle more data, with few staff increases. We will be more valuable, but more will be demanded of us. The physical costs will be easy to measure, but I do worry about the personal costs, in stress and pressure, as we each continue to do more and more every year.
    

    Steve Jones
    

    


    


    Video and Audio versions
    

    Today’s podcast features music by Everyday Jones. No relation, but I stumbled on to them and really like the music. Support this great duo at www.everydayjones.com.
    

    


    

Follow Steve Jones on Twitter to find links and database related items and announcements.

    
    

    

    


    
Steve Jones
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log in to the Contribution Center