Voice of the DBA

Tag: syndicated

  • Do I have a Database Master Key in a database? #SQLNewBlogger

    Another post for me that is simple and hopefully serves as an example for people trying to get blogging as #SQLNewBloggers.

    How can I tell if I have a Database Master Key in a database? It’s actually easy. I query the sys.symmetric_keys DMV for data. If I get a result that has a name of ##MS_DatabaseMasterKey##, then I have a database master key.

    You can see this below. I’ve queried this DMV in my Sandbox database.

    2017-01-11 12_21_55-SQLQuery1.sql - (local)_SQL2014.Sandbox (PLATO_Steve (59))_ - Microsoft SQL Serv

    Now, what if I go to another database, say the Finances database. I see nothing.

    2017-01-11 12_22_34-SQLQuery1.sql - (local)_SQL2014.Finances (PLATO_Steve (59))_ - Microsoft SQL Ser

    Let’s add a master key here and then query. Note, I am not disclosing the real password here. Never do this, even in test systems.

    2017-01-11 12_23_14-SQLQuery1.sql - (local)_SQL2014.Finances (PLATO_Steve (59))_ - Microsoft SQL Ser

    This instance has been used with TDE, so if I go to master, I’ll get this:

    2017-01-11 12_24_20-SQLQuery1.sql - (local)_SQL2014.master (PLATO_Steve (59))_ - Microsoft SQL Serve

    You can see that I not only have a DMK, I have a Service Master Key (SMK), which protects the instance.

    When I create my DMK, the only parameter I can provide is a password, after the optional “ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD” keywords. I don’t name it, so I can count on the naming being fairly consistent. I don’t think that the name would change from version to version, but it could.

    I’d prefer that MS not create magic numbers or names, and instead, add a column to the DMV that denotes this is a DMK.

    References

    sys.symmetric_keys – https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189446.aspx

    CREATE MASTER KEY – https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174382.aspx

    Connect Item to add a flag – https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/3118588

  • Installing the SQL Clone Agent and the VC++ Runtime

    I was trying to get SQL Clone working recently and had an issue with the Agent. If you haven’t looked at SQL Clone, it’s a really cool product from Redgate that’s in beta right now. It will help you build and provision those large dev, test, customer service, etc. environments with full size copies of data without using the space (or time) for the actual files.

    In any case, when I downloaded the agent and ran the installer, I saw this:

    2017-01-12 16_09_57-Redgate SQL Clone Agent

    That struck me as funny because I have all sorts of VC++ runtimes on my machine. In fact, in debugging, I saw all these:

    2017-01-12 16_11_02-Settings

    After the download completed, I got an error.

    2017-01-09 07_57_09-

    This was strange, since I actually had a 14.3 version, but apparently SQL Clone doesn’t realize this is the case. This should be fixed soon, but for now, here’s what to do.

    First, run regedt32.exe. The setup program is checking for an installation in a key. I had the keys in the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\VC\Runtimes\x64, but not in the Wow6432 node.

    Browse to HKLM\Software\Wow6432\Microsoft\VisualStudio\14.0\VC. Here’s what I had:

    2017-01-12 16_15_00-Registry Editor

    Here’s my x64 folder structure:

    2017-01-12 16_15_54-Registry Editor

    In here I have the sub-keys and the “Installed” value.

    Since I know I have a later VC++ runtime, I did this. First, create the “Runtimes” key under VC, then add a “x64” key below that. Inside of x64, add an Installed value as a Reg_DWord with a value of 1. You should see this:

    2017-01-12 16_37_30-Registry Editor

    Now run the SQL Clone Agent installer:

    2017-01-12 16_37_16-SQL Clone Agent Setup

    Everything works.

    If you’d like to learn more about SQL Clone, check out this short video:

  • Vote for @SQLBits Sessions (pick me, pick me)

    The SQL Bits sessions are out and it’s time to vote for me. Well, vote for the sessions you’d like to see, but certainly include me in the list. I’ve got a few new ones, and a few that have been popular at other conferences. I am hoping to return to Telford, find a new costume for the party, and have a great week of SQL Server debates, discussions, and inspiration. Last time I did visit IronBirdge. This time, perhaps the birthplace of the modern Olympics and a little running.

    You can view the complete list of sessions and then vote for up to 10. There are some great ones, and honestly, it’s going to be hard to choose 10. I really appreciate how many people have submitted and the work they’ve put into crafting some really exciting presentations.

    I’ve written it before, but SQL Bits is really my favorite conference. It’s large, but not too large. There are lots of people and it’s exciting, but it’s also not too crowded, nor is it a security cumbersome event. Spouses are welcome, even kids, and it’s got a casual atmosphere at night and highly charged with learning and talking SQL all day.

    My hope is that I get to go again, and I get to see lots of you there this spring.

  • More #SQLintheCity–Behind the Scenes

    I posted this, but here it is again. A a shot from our engineer, behind the scenes of my live talk today.

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    When we decided to stream SQL in the City this year, I wondered how things would go. We’ve debated about a studio at the Redgate office but never built one. However, we did take over a room for this event, one on the top (2nd) floor, in a corner of the building away from most desks.

    We didn’t have a red “on the air” light, but our engineers did put a whiteboard in the hall outside.

    IMG_0212

    Inside, we had a backdrop and podium for presenters, tape on the floor for our marks, and multiple cameras. Our setup allowed for a few microphones, multiple video feeds, and a few monitors on the wall.

    IMG_0192

    My view from the podium shows a few desks and the monitors on the back wall. One had the live stream, and the other was hooked up to a laptop where Annabel would type questions that we could see (or other notes).

    IMG_0174]

    The event kicked off with Annabel providing an opening each day. Here is the opening segment from Wednesday morning. I watched most of the first day in the room, and then did what most presenters did the second day; I’d work at my desk and then pop in 10 minutes or so before my talk.

    IMG_0198

    There were lots of wires, and while most were taped down to the floor, we had to be careful about where we walked. I suspect next year we’ll have a better setup. At least, I hope we do, and hope that we actually do more streamed content throughout the year.

    IMG_0201

    I think this was a success, and certainly an easier way for me to present content. It was strange to not have an audience, but it helped to have a few people in the room that were watching and paying attention.

    While I really do enjoy live events and audiences, and I am pushing for a live SQL in the City 2017 in the UK, I also know that streaming and video broadcast is changing for all sorts of media. I’d like to experiment and do more here, and might do some more from home in 2017, but I do hope we’ll have more streaming from Redgate, perhaps even a Redgate TV show running on a regular basis.