Voice of the DBA

Author: way0utwest

SQL Server Backup – Inadvertent Striping

When I started working with SQL Server I got bit in the rear one day while I was testing backups. I was in the process of making a quick backup before I deployed some changes. I think this was in the Enterprise Manager days of SQL 2000, but it could have been v6.5. In any case, I had a dialog similar to this one that I’ve shown in Management Studio. For simplicity I’ve recreated this with AdventureWorks:

No biggie, right? I click add, and enter my new file for the backup:

I accept this, and highlight me new file and click “OK” to do the backup. That will work, won’t it?

Actually it won’t. or rather, it will but not in the way I expect.

What this will do is create a striped backup (search in this article for “striped). I will have my data in a backup, but I will need both of these files in order to do a restore as each will only have half my data.

It’s a rookie mistake, one that’s not possible with a script, which is why you should backup with scripts, not the GUI.

However if you notice this, delete all the files, add yours back, and make a full backup right away. Chances are that you might have broken your recovery chain. And make sure you let everyone know this is not what you want to encounter.

July 18, 2011
How Many Times Will This Happen?

Laptops are being stolen with important data on them. Unencrypted.

This editorial was originally published on Jun 6, 2006. Steve is traveling in the UK this week and we are reprinting a few pieces.

Or is it a sign of the times and something that we’ll have in the news on a regular basis for the next few years? Another laptop theft with data, this time from Hotels.com. It was actually an Ernst & Young laptop, the firm that audits hotels.com, but still.

This makes me feel silly for complaining about JD Edwards laptops and the required Pointsec encryption we had to put on every laptop. I didn’t like it at the time, but it wasn’t a horrible intrusion and these days I think a necessary one.

With all of the hype on identity theft, data privacy, and portable computers, I cannot believe that every company that allows any data to go outside of their physical office, whether on a backup tape or a laptop, doesn’t require encryption or some type of protection. At least do something to protect it. Most thefts are random and the thief probably wasn’t looking for credit card data, so a simple password might protect the data in most cases.

If governments want to do something about identity theft and privacy, pass that law. Force everyone to encrypt their data and us in IT to come up with good ways to protect it. I didn’t like encrypting backups with Litespeed, the only choice a few years ago, but it was worth it to protect backup tapes. Now with more choices at very reasonable prices, and MSDE/SQL Express able to use them, every database that contains individual data, and especially financial data, should have its backups encrypted.

Steve Jones

July 18, 2011
Outsourced = Laid Off?

Offshoring has been used in many industries, including technology

This editorial was originally published on May 3, 2006. Steve is traveling in the UK this week and we are reprinting older pieces.

It seems like career week in the editorial department, but I found a bunch of articles recently on careers. According to the Department of Labor employees whose jobs are outsourced should be treated the same as laid off workers. Maybe we shouldn’t be helping factory workers if their industry moves, though I think I’d argue that point, but if we treat the guy rolling steel or sewing fabric this way, why not software developers?

Losing your job just stinks. I’ve had it happen and it’s a horrible feeling and really can impact your family, emotionally and financially. As the economy moves more globally, corporations increasingly look for ways to become more competitive. The price of moving goods, once way to keep things slightly more level, has fallen so low in the software business that on straight a dollar comparison, everything should move to India or any other country where the wages are lower.

But it’s not that simple. As many companies have learned, the savings have costs that are not worth it.

I think providing more benefits for the relatively few people that get outsources is a good thing. It helps to keep the economy going here because those people have assistance to keep buying food, paying their rent, keeping their car, etc. All things that benefit this country locally.

However if you are out of work for over a year in the IT field. Perhaps you should change the type of job you are looking for or move to a new field.

Steve Jones

July 15, 2011
Office Work

I have been working at home for over 8 years, sharing an office with my wife for most of that time. I like working at home, though I do notice that if my wife is gone for a few days, I go a little stir crazy being completely by myself. It’s almost “too quiet” for me and I end up sometimes going to a Starbucks to work, just to have some ambient noise.

This week I’m in the UK, visiting with my group at Red Gate Software. Typically I spend a few days in a conference room with my group and then a day or two in the office. Today is an office day, and it’s amazing just how busy and crowded the Red Gate spaces have become.

You can see the Red Gate building here, two wings, with the upper two floors being completely Red Gate space. When I came last year, the quadrant where my group is located was fairly empty. Now it’s quite full, with most desks in use.

Most of the space is busy, and the lunch service from the in house cafeteria is very busy. It was so busy I forgot to get a picture before eating, being slightly worried about getting my own food and finding a seat. I went back near the end of lunch and snapped this one:

The SQL Servery, as it’s known, was just getting going before, but now it’s in full swing, with the menu’s posted, and lots of choices. Yesterday I had a lamb ragout and today was a spicy pasta vegetarian dish instead of the bangers and mash (shudder). Juices of all sorts are around, along with the most important piece of technology in the office:

I have made liberal use of this machine in the two days I’ve been in the office. The food is mostly healthy, which is good to see. At first I was a little put off that the only sodas in the office are in a vending machine, requiring all sorts of strange UK coins, but on this visit I’ve rarely had a soda all week and it’s been fine. I think if I had a company these days I’d consider providing healthy snacks and drinks for free and letting people buy the unhealthy stuff if they want.

My “mini-me” is still there, which is cool. I thought this was one of the coolest pieces of art produced by the Red Gate designers. When I first saw it, I thought it was great. There are a few other walls that are decorated with various paintings and drawings.

The office is bright and airy, and surprisingly quiet given all the people there.

But there’s lots of them, more than I’m used to, so it’s a bit strange to walk around to get water or coffee and dodge people. Usually I’m just dodging a dog or two.

One other very interesting thing is the memory wall. A long wall, with some cork sections, and some metal sections, where people post photos from company events and various press articles. It seems there are regular Red Gate events (which I rarely get to) that build bonds and help keep the company close together. I need to send something over to place up there.

I’m not much of a foosball player, but I see games going on regularly in the lower lobby area. There is a ping pong table, and it makes me think I need to get mine set up in the basement back at the ranch.

Not much work getting done this week, but it’s a good trip and good to see so many of the people I correspond with on a regular basis and others I’ve known for years.

July 14, 2011