Voice of the DBA

Tag: Redgate

  • Learn about Encryption at SQL Saturday #265

    You can learn about encryption at SQL Satuday #265 is Portland, Oregon in a couple weeks. I’ll be heading out to the event on November 16, 2013, my first visit to Portland in 15 years.  In addition to my session on the various encryption options in SQL Server, I’ll be talking about your career with my branding talk, plus there are many other amazing sessions.

    A few quick links:

    Register for SQL Saturday #233

    Register for the FRIDAY, November 15, 2013, FREE Red Gate Seminar

    With the MVP Summit in Redmond the following week, you have the chance to learn about:

    Check the schedule for the details and to pick the best sessions for you. It’s a tough choice, but no matter what you choose, I’m sure you’ll learn a lot.

    It’s a busy day for me, as I’ll also have a lunchtime session where I’m looking to talk about Red Gate Software’s vision and experience with database deployment. We’ve been working hard to find ways to deliver our software faster, and we’ve put that knowledge into a few products. Our goal is to try and make it easier for you to deploy changes to your databases, so come let me know what challenges you face and what holes are in our solutions.

    It should be a great event, and if you’re in the area on Friday, November 15, 2013, and you want to learn about better database development and deployment strategies, Red Gate has a free SQL in the City Seminar that you can register for. Grant Fritchey and I will be talking about version control, continuous integration, and deployment in this FREE, half day seminar. It’s aimed at beginner to intermediate level people, so register today if you can attend.

  • Getting Started with CI and Databases

    It’s fairly easy. At least, I think it is if a salesperson can do it.

    Alex Yates, salesman extraordinaire at Red Gate Software, spent a lunch hour recently setting up a CI system so he could better understand how hard, or easy, it can be for customers. He wrote about his experiences using the Jenkins CI server.

    Check it out. If Alex can do it, I bet most of you developers and DBAs can as well.

  • One Down

    Yesterday was our first 2013 SQL in the City event in Pasadena, CA. I was excited and nervous, with 3 talk and a keynote that I needed to integrate and work with two others on. We practiced 3 or 4 times on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, trying to get our timing, and our lines down. It felt appropriate that we’d scripted out most of what each of us needed to say and produced this like a mini play or movie. I’m glad we practiced because the first few times were rough, but when it came time to deliver this Wednesday morning, it seemed to go over well.

    Tuesday was also setup day. We had plenty of Red Gater’s from the UK over to help. There were booths to be set up and laptops checked

    20131008_172139

     

    There were plenty of bags and badges to be readied and organized

    20131008_172127

    There was even one guy with a red shirt.

    20131008_172153

    On Wednesday it rained in Pasadena. I was surprised and unsure of what was going on as I drove in the early morning to work out. At first I thought the rain might be an issue and then I realized I was being silly. I have planned on swimming, so what’ s a little rain going to do? Get me wet?

    1394199_10202138612135688_786436885_n

    I had a nice swim, getting some laps in as the sun rose on the west coast.

    Then it was off to the venue, a touch more practice and as people trickled in, we opened with the keynote. The demos all worked, we took turns speaking without any pauses, and I think it was a good story. We got good feedback later in the day, which is always nice.

    I had my version control session up first, and it went well. Quite a few people were using version control for databases, which was good, and I had some good questions on how to get teams to start working together with VCS. No one even argued with my “shared development databases are bad” section.

    I also had an encryption talk later in the day, and then a backup common mistakes talk where my demos didn’t work well. I’d set up the VM, but for some reason my licensing expired on the local server. I think I must have snapshot’d it. Grrrr. Still, it was a good talk and I’m glad I included the backup description. Quite a few people had misconceptions on how a full backup actually runs and works.

    Everything ran smoothly, thanks to our amazing organizer, Annabel. You can see she was very relaxed throughout the day as the event went off without any issues.

     

  • 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.