What this book covers

Chapter 1, Getting Started with SQL Server 2008 R2, begins with SQL Server 2008 R2 version's new features and enhancements such as master data services, data-tier applications, and adding the service pack features using Slipstream technology. We will run through the designing best practice approach in upgrading to SQL Server 2008 R2 and take advantage of federated servers enhancements.

Chapter 2, Administrating the Core Database Engine, covers the new SQL Server 2008 R2 feature utility administration and enhancements within DBA tasks such as availability, security, performance monitoring, tuning, and automated administration practices. The recipes also emphasize the usage of SQL Server Agent scheduled jobs for ETL and replication processes.

Chapter 3, Managing the Core Database Engine, enables the user to produce a resilient data platform, which is possible with new features of SQL Server 2008 R2 such as Utility Control point, multi-server management, and implementing central management feature enhancements. The recipes cover the key best practices that combine a streamline of services for deployment, migration, and management of data platform.

Chapter 4, Administering core Business Intelligence Services, emphasizes on the process and procedures in preparing, installing, and implementing scale-out deployment of core business intelligence services—Analysis Services (AS), Reporting Services (RS), and Integration Services (IS), and finally key practices in managing the ETL process efficiently.

Chapter 5, Managing Core SQL Server 2008 R2 Technologies, dives into the implementation phases of SQL Server 2008 R2 new features and essential steps in planning and implementing self-service BI services, SQLAzure connectivity, StreamInsight technologies, and deploying the master data services feature. These recipes involve the planning, design, and implementation of features that are important to the management of the core technologies.

Chapter 6, Availability and Programmability Enhancements, is the biggest among all the chapters, and it covers the key SQL Server 2008 R2 availability enhancements within failover clustering, database mirroring, log shipping, and replication. The recipes also highlight the programmability enhancements such as compressed storage feature, data partitioning solutions, sparse columns, spatial data storage methods, and management of data-tier applications.

Chapter 7, Implementing New Manageability Features and Practices, spotlights the new manageability features and practices such as auditing, security, compression, change tracking, policy-based management, transparent data encryption, implementing best practices analyzer, and PowerShell for SQL Server features.

Chapter 8, Maintenance and Monitoring, is based on the typical day-to-day tasks of a DBA. It will go through the the aspects of maintenance and monitoring the best practices with real world examples. The recipes will help the DBAs to adopt best methods with available technologies to keep up the database functionality at peak performance.

Chapter 9, Troubleshooting, covers the brainier task of administration which helps the users to solve the problems proactively, and this chapter spotlights the essential chores of troubleshooting. The recipes begin with monitoring methods and various available features such as filtered indexes, table hints, and query hints, and perform parallel query processing methods by taking advantage of hardware and system resources.

Chapter 10, Learning the tricks of the trade, emphasizes on the important aspects of configuration, administration, and management of the core data platform.

Appendix, More DBA Manageability best practices, contains a list of DBA Best Practices that are important to handle day-to-day tasks of the SQL Server 2008 R2 environment.