This talk looks at the reasons and ways that you might prepare for disaster. I cover a number of areas, some of which might seem obvious, but are often overlooked:
What is a disaster?
Why Prepare for Disaster?
RTO/RPO
Overview of SLAs
Backups as insurance for issues
Checks for corruption
A checklist of skills to practice
Scripting and scheduling
This talk was built at the request of Red Gate Software, my employer, so I have also included a few demos in the talk:
Object Level Restore with Data Compare
Quick overview of SQL Backup Pro
Running DBCC using Virtual Restore
I can also do this talk without the Red Gate demos at a 75 minute pace.
I’m not working, though I have checked some email and kept an eye on a few things while I’m in Pensacola, FL. I have made an effort, however, to not work, and not respond to emails that weren’t very time critical. Mostly I’m just trying to prune down things that might make my return hard.
SQL Saturday #77 was Saturday, and while Friday night and most of Saturday were consumed by the event (which was great, I’ll write tomorrow), most of Friday, Sunday, and today are vacation for me. I brought my daughter with me, and it’s been a fun trip for us. We’ve gotten to enjoy some sights together, but mostly just hang around, getting some great quality time.
I don’t usually take all my vacation, despite the ski days that I sneak in here and there, and that has started to bother me the last couple years. The nature of my job makes it hard to get away, but I’m making an effort this year, with a couple short vacations done and a couple more planned.
We’ll see how I do this year, but for now I’m enjoying the break.
Today we have an editorial reprinted from April 3, 2006 as Steve is on vacation.
We have heard lots of stories about hackers using social engineering or even paying employees to get information. It is not really amazing anymore and sadly, we kind of expect people to compromise their ethics when dollars are involved.
What is even sadder is our leaders, the management of companies we work for, who are supposed to set an example for work, build pride in the company, and help it to grow, are expected to throw ethics out the window on a regular basis. This story about Morgan Stanley executives pressuring IT to buy certain products in order to get those vendors to bring their banking business is nothing new. In fact most of the IT people I’ve worked with are surprised when it isn’t some political decision such as this that decides which products they will use.
I know that people often scratch each other’s backs. After all, each of us on a small scale usually wants to work with someone we know, trade favors, and show some loyalty to each other.
But when you put out a bid, it gets frustrating for the people that work hard to find out what they think is best for the company, or the best solution for a problem and have that circumvented because someone got to go play golf or had tickets to a sporting event given to them.
Or worse, the promise of a job or other financial compensation for steering business rather than awarding it. There are penalties for accepting gifts of this sort, and the article has some advice on avoiding issues if you are worried.
I don’t pretend to have a solution. Nor do I think I would be immune to this. Andy, Brian, and I have spent 5 years trying to build a community we’re proud of, often putting the profit second or third on the list to having a place we are proud of running.
We don't seem to have this kind of focus in the modern world.
Today we have an editorial reprinted from March 29, 2006 as Steve is on vacation.
Do you want to be a node on the network of life? Constantly alive and in touch? Maybe you suffer from continuous partial attention. The article is kind of funny actually. The author doing the interview while driving around, giving her own partial attention to the interview. At least that’s what I hope and it’s not partial attention to the road. Or at least, less partial attention.
I think this is a huge problem in today’s world, especially as we are more connected with technology. It used to be that you could have some time to yourself on your commute or any other time in transit. You could get a few minutes to walk around the office, stop by a Starbucks for a latte, something to unwind. Your kids competed for your attention with others that they could see you talking with. You could enjoy a movie in peace. Even answering machines, as much as they were first decried by many people, gave you a chance to escape from unwanted calls.
Now most people carry cell phones. Or worse, Crackberrys. Conversations with someone face to face are interrupted constantly by call phones on the sports field, in movies, the restroom, and the worst, when you’re writing some SQL content. No place is safe these days and as connectivity grows, with data services and wireless connections being deployed further and further, it becomes harder to get away.
Now I don’t think that the advances are all bad. I like being able to call someone while driving on an errand, or even taking a call while shoveling manure when my wife is traveling. I get two things done at once, one usually not requiring much thought, and save some time in the day for other things. Like spending time with my kids. But I think you have to draw some lines. Turn off your cell phone in places. Set the expectation that you’re not always available. I know every call from your spouse could be an emergency, but you don’t need to answer in the middle of a movie to hear that milk is low at home. Your kids don’t deserve to be interrupted from their baseball or soccer game because your boss wants to ask you something.
There are definite times where you need to be reached and it’s great that you can. But setup some code or page. Use 911 or something similar if someone really has an emergency, but wanting to ask if you want pizza for dinner is not an emergency. A query about how your project is going is not an emergency. Your child going to the hospital for stitches is.
As we become more connected, the need for boundaries becomes more important. Not only to show respect for those around us, but also to keep our sanity. The thresholds for alerts in life are as important as the need for alerts. Learn to miss a few calls or emails and pick them up later.
Those of us standing in front of you, trying to carry on a conversation with you will appreciate it.
Voice of the DBA 