Voice of the DBA

Tag: SQL Intersection

  • 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.

  • Reminders and Rehearsal

    I’ve spoken at quite a few SQL Saturday events. I won’t hit 50 this year, like Kevin Boles, but by my count, I’ve been to 21, with 4 or 5 more coming this year.  I have no idea when I’ll get to 50, but I hope I do.

    Capture_028

    That’s in addition to other events, which will likely bring my 2013 total to close to 15 events, similar to what I’ve done the last few years. That doesn’t seem like a lot, maybe 1 every six weeks, but I end up doing multiple talks, on multiple subjects sometimes. There was a stretch late last year where I did 12 talks in 7 different areas in about 3 weeks. It was slightly confusing for me.

    Yesterday I received an email from SQL Saturday #197 – Omaha, which had the schedule in it. I’d glanced at it before, and had seen I was giving my Encryption Primer talk, but this time as I scrolled down, I saw my name at the end.

    sqlsat197

    Hmmm, that didn’t say “The Encryption Primer”. I’m glad I looked and double checked the schedule because I’m giving two talks. In addition to encryption, I’m talking FTS with Searching Binary Data in SQL Server.

    I’ve given the talk before, and I’m not too worried about it, but I do want to refresh my memory of the flow, and practice the demos again. I have given the Encryption talk a few times this year already, but I was planning on double checking demos again before the event. Especially as I changed the talk around and added some material for a variation I’m giving next week at SQL Intersection.

    I find it’s always good to rehearse my talks. I’m comfortable in front of people, and I know I can get through the talk, but I want things to flow and to make sense to attendees, The more practice I do, the better things go. The less “ums”, “errs” and other placeholders I use as well.

    Plus this will be good practice for SQL Bits, where I’ll deliver this talk again in May.

  • What Do You Want to Know About I/O?

    Hope to see you at the conference.
    Hope to see you at the conference.

    There’s lots I want to know. What affect does an SSD have if I use it for a log file? One of my filegroups with indexes? What about tempdb? How do you dig in and prove latency to the storage groups from within SQL Server? Will the query optimizer take advantage of information about drive performance? There are lots of questions I have, and I’m hoping to get answers. I’m hoping to attend the “Ask Anything I/O” panel at SQL Intersection in a few weeks. I’m leaving the event Wed night, so unless there’s someone I’m trying to catch in a last minute meeting, I’ll be sitting in the audience.

    I am guessing that Brent Ozar, Kevin Farlee, and Mat Young will have lots of answers for me and others. I’m also guessing most of the questions will be met with references that are already out there, and I hope that the presenters will publish a list of questions and answers for attendees. That’s fine, as there are lots of times when I’m looking for information that has been published, but I can’t find in the ocean of Google results. Attending a session given by experts can be a way to shortcut some research and searching to find where the answers are located.

    That’s one of the reasons to attend a conference. Getting quick answers from experts, or learning how to better target your research. All the speakers at SQL Intersection are well known, longtime, expert SQL Server users who are friendly. They’re more than willing to answer questions, or help guide you to solve a problem or learn something new.

    The other great thing about conferences? You get to hear some great questions from other attendees. We all attack problems differently, and work in very diverse environments. There are many times I’ve heard how another person has implemented SQL Server and it’s intrigued, or even inspired, me to try something similar with my instances.

    If you can find the funding, SQL Intersection is a great event to attend, with an impressive list of speakers, each hand picked by Kimberly Tripp and Paul Randal of SQLskills. They provide amazing training in their Immersion events, and are trying to bring even more options to you with SQL Intersection. You can even walk away with something tangible in addition to all the knowledge you’ll gain: a Surface Tablet.

    Steve Jones

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  • It’s a Lineup at SQL Intersection

    I got this image in the mail recently, and it made me laugh. It looks like a police lineup, perhaps something from The Usual Suspects.

    Speakers

    I don’t think there are any suspicious looking characters in there (though maybe the third and fourth from the left in the second row qualify), but you never know.

    This is quite a lineup, and I’m honored to be a part if it. SQL Intersection, put together by Paul Randal and Kimberly Tripp of SQLskills, is taking place in April in Las Vegas. From the 8th to the 11th, there will be some amazing sessions being delivered to teach you about SQL Server.

    Register today (use the code “Jones” to support me) and I hope to see you there.

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