SQLSaturday #710 - Edmonton 2018
Event Date: 05/05/2018 00:00:00
Event Location:
- Canadian Western Bank Conference Centre
- 10303 Jasper Avenue NW
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Sessions
This is a list of sessions from the event, based on the schedule in the XML files.
Title: Modernizing your legacy database integration points
Abstract: Legacy corporate applications that are built in-house can quite often be tightly coupled together. Either you have cross database connections, load jobs, linked servers, multiple copies of data, etc. These design patterns increase your technical debt and application changes will need to carefully consider the impact to the downstream applications. Tightly coupled databases can also make migration/upgrade projects more difficult, especially as you start to looking towards cloud based solutions.
What if your organization has started to implement newer design patterns and technologies like microservices, restful web integration or enterprise service buses? Do you have to re-write all of your legacy applications to use these new technologies? This presentation will show a method that was used to update legacy applications to utilize an integration middleware platform without a major re-write of the application. We will then expand on this and show how your SQL Server database could
Speaker(s):
- Ian Chamberland
Track and Room: Application Database Development - ATCO Room
Title: Blue Collar SQL Tricks - Make Standard Edition Work for you.
Abstract: You want Enterprise Edition of SQL Server? Not gonna happen! When we are limited by having just the Standard version we have to dig into our “Blue Collar” roots, we need to become more creative and squeeze every penny it has to offer out of it.
In this session, we will review some of the limitations that Standard has. Then review items such as basic normalization and High Availability options available to Standard. You will also learn Blue Collar techniques to implement partitioning using techniques like as indexed views and partitioned views.
Let’s dig in and learn to make use of all we have until we beg our bosses enough to get Enterprise Edition!
Speaker(s):
- William Wolf
Track and Room: Application Database Development - Canadian Room
Title: DBA Checklists: Reliable, Repeatable, Automated.
Abstract: Now that SQL Server loves PowerShell and Microsoft loves open source, it is even easier to automate even your most time-consuming, repetitive, mundane or burdensome tasks.
Using the DbaChecks PowerShell module released at the SQLBits 2018 conference we can: Track SQL Server instance configurations Promptly provide required information to managmement, change configuration or developers Deftly respond to audit change requirements across your entire estate (and impress your auditor with PowerShell;) Restore SQL Servers to their correct state prior and post deployment Test everything from configuration to permissions, SQL service account share access to sysadmins, Agent Jobs to SPNs
This session will look at how to install and use this module . With multiple examples we will look at both running the checks and viewing the data in the supplied PowerBI reports.
Pre-requisites Some basic knowledge of PowerShell and DBA
Speaker(s):
- Patrick Flynn
Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - Western Room
Title: SSIS Sucks!
Abstract: If you are involved in data warehouse development using the Microsoft technology stack, then you have been introduced SSIS. The question you will have asked yourself many times as you develop is: “What the #%@ were they thinking?”. This session is dedicated to providing an overview to some of the items that just drive you nutz using this tool in an enterprise environment, and having a laugh while we learn.
From tiny windows designed for a 640x480 monitor, to clicky-clicky-clicky madness, to the tool being anti-agile. Developing and maintaining code with SSIS is enough to turn your hair gray early. But it sure looked “snazzy” when your boss got a demo of it, so now it is your problem.
So if you are a seasoned developer come on out and commiserate with the community, and if you haven’t used to tool yet you can find out what your boss is asking you to get involved with.
Either way this will be a fun presentation that I am hoping you won’t soon forget.
Speaker(s):
- Doran Douglas
Track and Room: Application Database Development - ATCO Room
Title: Columnstore Index Primer
Abstract: Overview of Columnstore indexes introduced in SQL Server 2012 and its evolution through each release. We will explore how data is organized differently in Columnstore and its impact on query performances. We would cover some of best practices when using this new technology and pitfalls to watch out for when designing your system.
Speaker(s):
- Sepand Gojgini
Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - Alberta Room
Title: Azure Data Catalog – Turning Unused Assets into Usable Knowledge
Abstract: Data is today’s currency. Azure Data Catalog (ADC) is a relatively unknown resource in the IT community. This is an unfortunate state since ADC is an incredibly useful tool that is easy to implement and use. Companies that are able to leverage their data have seen the greatest gains in growth and market capitalization. The reason for this is simple: We live in the information age. Being able to leverage the data you gather is the invitation you need just to compete in information age. ADC is an indispensable tool that helps companies organize and make sense of the mountains of data they collect every day. By walking participants through an implementation of ADC, I will introduce them to the product, and show how easy it is to use. By presenting concrete examples of how ADC is used, I will demonstrate its importance. Participants should leave this session determined to introduce ADC to their team and resolute in their intention to implement it within their company.
Speaker(s):
- Melody Zacharias
Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - Alberta Room
Title: DBATools! The reason to finally start learning and using Powershell
Abstract: Powershell has been part of Windows for > 10 years and has been part of SQL Server since 2008. In spite of this the adoption among Database Professionals for use in investigating and managing their environments has been low.
With the release of the open source DBA Tools module from DBATools.IO, with its 300+ commands, the time has arrived for Database Professionals to embrace PowerShell and upgrade their skills to support the modern Hybrid environment.
In this session we will look how to download, install and begin using the power within both this module and Powershell.
No prior experience with Powershell required!
Speaker(s):
- Patrick Flynn
Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - Western Room
Title: R For the SQL Server Developer
Abstract: R is the premiere language for data analysis. If the world of data science sounds fun and exciting, now is the time to get into R. We will walk through the core constructs of R, learn how to retrieve data from flat files and databases, and get a peek at the power behind R. This session will also give resources on where to go in order to become more familiar with statistics, R the language, and the R package ecosystem.
Speaker(s):
- Kevin Feasel
Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - Alberta Room
Title: Troubleshooting Service Broker
Abstract: Restoring service broker from a live system to a test system can give you strange results. From messages that refuse to send to messages that appear to send but never arrive. We will be troubleshooting using SQL profiler and some DMV’s to see what goes on in the background when service broker is misbehaving. Nothing more worrying than performing a disaster recovery and having service broker messages not send. We will also be doing a quick overview of what Service broker does and what is required for a service broker setup. Once we have shown the profiler method of diagnosing problems, I will show a quicker and easier way to find and resolve service broker issues.
Speaker(s):
- Brian Gale
Track and Room: Application Database Development - ATCO Room
Title: Power BI for the Faint of Heart - Understanding On-Prem, Hybrid and Pure Cloud Scenarios
Abstract: Power BI v1. Started off in Excel. Today Power BI v2 has Excel capabilities, a free desktop app for development, native mobile apps for consuming on all devices, and a cloud service to distribute your data visualizations at scale. Let’s look at some common architectures for pieces and how they can deliver value to your business.
Speaker(s):
- Scott Stauffer
Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - Alberta Room
Title: SQL Unmasked: Effective Tools, Tricks Fundamentals
Abstract: Optimize SQL Server from the roots. Through demonstrations this session will teach the intermediate user diverse, solid and rounded fundamentals that SQL Server offers. Explore the Master database to retrieve records for improved database administration. Learn how to query the Report Server database for essential information. Use Begin… END with TRY… CATCH: to Drop or Truncate tables with Set Operators. The goal of this presentation is to expose how fundamentals of SQL Server can be applied in ways that may be overlooked and how to enhance query performance optimization. Pick up a trick or two along the way.
Speaker(s):
- Evin Fenton
Track and Room: Other - Western Room
Title: Power BI for the Faint of Heart - Building an Interactive Report Step-by-Step!
Abstract: You’ve heard about Power BI, and you’ve seen it, but you haven’t yet rolled up your sleeves and got your hands dirty. It looks like it is really easy, but sometimes it helps to have someone step you through it the first time to help you hit the ground running. We will grab various public data sources, join them together in a model and build an interactive pièce de ré·sis·tance on the visual design surface!
Speaker(s):
- Scott Stauffer
Track and Room: BI Information Delivery - Alberta Room
Title: DevOps - Desired State Configuration
Abstract: Desired State Configuration (DSC) is PowerShell add-on released with PowerShell 4.5 update and updated with PowerShell 5.0. In this session we’ll look at how DSC can be used to deploy monitoring for configuration drift using industry standard approach.
Speaker(s):
- Mohit Gupta
Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - Western Room
Title: Automated tests in your database: tSQLt
Abstract: tSQLt is a database unit testing framework for Microsoft SQL Server. tSQLt is ideal for the database developer because tests are written in TSQL and is easy to use.
In this session you’ll learn how to use tSQLt to add automated tests to your database to ensure your code produces desired results even after modifications.
Speaker(s):
- Janice Gerbrandt
Track and Room: Application Database Development - Canadian Room
Title: Back to the Future with Temporal Tables
Abstract: Back to the Future is the greatest time travel movie ever. I’ll show you how temporal tables work, in both SQL Server and Azure SQL Database, without needing a DeLorean. We cover point in time analysis, reconstructing state at any time in the past, recovering from accidental data loss, calculating trends, and my personal favourite: auditing. There’s even a bit of In-Memory OLTP. There might even be time for demos!
Speaker(s):
- Randolph West
Track and Room: Application Database Development - Canadian Room
Title: Much Ado About Hadoop
Abstract: If you’re interested in Hadoop but don’t know where to begin, this session will give you an idea of what you can do with the open-source platform. We will see an overview of the Hadoop architecture, becoming familiar with the overall platform and its solutions for warehousing, ETL, streaming data ingest, in-memory processing, and more. We will compare Hadoop to SQL Server to help gain an understanding of when to deploy which technology.
Speaker(s):
- Kevin Feasel
Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - Canadian Room
Title: What’s New In SQL Server 2017
Abstract: SQL Server 2016 and 2017 introduced a number of features and improvements over previous versions. This session will take you through them at a high level, and help you decide on an appropriate upgrade path from older versions of SQL Server. I think this will work
Speaker(s):
- Randolph West
Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - Canadian Room
Title: Introduction to Object-Relational Mapping for DBAs
Abstract: This talk introduces DBAs to Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) from the point of view of a software developer creating a simple website. Aside from introducing ORM I’ll explain why developers like to use them, their strengths and weaknesses, and how DBAs and ORM developers can work together in perfect harmony.
Speaker(s):
- Chris C
Track and Room: Application Database Development - ATCO Room
Title: Confidence: The fuel for action
Abstract: Confidence is the fuel for action. How often have you thought about wanting to do something and thought you may not be successful at it, so it then became too much work to try? The American Pastor Robert Shuler famously asked a very powerful question: “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” Come explore this exciting topic with me, and we will see what we can accomplish together!
Speaker(s):
- Melody Zacharias
Track and Room: Professional Development - Alberta Room
Title: SQL Server Internals - Performance Troubleshooting Hands on Approach
Abstract: Where do you look when you are having performance problems? What tools you have available? In this session I’ll share with everyone a troubleshooting methodology that can help you identify and focus your search. In addition, we’ll walk through some hands on scenarios to fix performance issues.
Speaker(s):
- Mohit Gupta
Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - Western Room
Title: SQL vulnerability assessment
Abstract: Enjoy a fun filled adventure through the landscape of data and information security options available within SQL Server as we explore the promises, perils, and pitfalls of CRUD, Data Masking, Row Level Security, Transparent Data Encryption, and Always Encrypted.
Speaker(s):
- Brent Flesher
Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - ATCO Room
Speakers
This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.
Evin Fenton
LinkedIn: Evin Fenton
Evin Fenton has a decade of experience in the aviation industry. A holder of numerous awards for employee excellence, Evin is presently a Business Intelligence Analyst, following key positions as a Reservation Systems Analyst, Intermediate Quality Software Assurance Analyst, Database Developer, and Systems Coordinator. Holding a sound knowledge of SQL, Evin has extensive experience with Enterprise System Administration and General Business Intelligence, including the significant use of data and database tools. A graduate of Carleton Unversity, Evin was also a world ranked snowboarder.
Sepand Gojgini
Twitter: - @SwissArmySQL
LinkedIn: Sepand Gojgini
Product Director at Datateam Services, 10+ years of experience designing data warehouse model and ETL engines used globally. Had a chance of working on world biggest relational Data Warehouse at Amazon managing 5+ PetaByte of data with growth 7+ TeraByte daily. Seeking to apply best software development practices to ETL development and streamlining development process.
Melody Zacharias
Twitter: - SQLMelody
LinkedIn: Melody Zacharias
Contact: http://sqlmelody.com
Melody is the Sr. Microsoft Solutions Manager at Pure and has been in love with data since 1991. She has been sharing her passion with the community in technical sessions and blogs since 2014. She has been a Microsoft MVP since 2016, including winning Rookie of the year for Canada that year. This last year, she was elected to the board of directors for PASS.org, the professional association for SQL Server and was awarded Regional Director by Microsoft. She has co-authored 3 books, including, SQL Server 2019 Administration inside out by Microsoft Press.
Randolph West
Twitter: - _randolph_west
LinkedIn: Randolph West
Contact: https://bornsql.ca/blog/
Randolph West (they / them), founder of Born SQL, is an independent IT consultant, speaker, Calgary PASS user group leader, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, and lead author of “SQL Server 2019 Administration Inside Out”.
Randolph specialises in SQL Server performance tuning, disaster recovery, and migrations from really old versions, with an emphasis on implementing best practices.
Randolph has presented at PASS Summit, SQLBits, SQLSaturdays, and user groups. You can also find Randolph acting and directing on screen or the stage, or annoying people on Twitter.
Do not trust Randolph around chocolate.
Janice Gerbrandt
Twitter: - @gerbyj
LinkedIn: Janice Gerbrandt
Contact: https://islandsql.com/
Janice has been designing and implementing database solutions to improve business functionality since 2001. She is an active PASS member and leads her local user group and a virtual group, as well as organizing SQLSaturday Victoria.
Kevin Feasel
Twitter: - feaselkl
LinkedIn: Kevin Feasel
Contact: http://www.catallaxyservices.com
Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and CTO at Envizage, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand. He is the lead contributor to Curated SQL (https://curatedsql.com), president of the Triangle Area SQL Server Users Group (https://www.meetup.com/tripass), and author of PolyBase Revealed (https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484254608). A resident of Durham, North Carolina, he can be found cycling the trails along the triangle whenever the weather’s nice enough.
Chris C
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/saturdaymp
LinkedIn: Chris C
Contact: https://nftb.saturdaymp.com/
Chris’s first computer was a Commodore 64 but he didn’t realize how awesome computers were until he discovered he could create his own Doom levels. The original Doom not the remake (i.e he is an experienced developer, not old). While he still enjoys computer games his true passion is solving unique and challenging problems. He knows what it takes to get software out the door and get stuff done. Coincidentally he also runs a basement based software consulting company called Saturday Morning Productions that also prides itself on getting stuff done.
Doran Douglas
LinkedIn: Doran Douglas
I am a data warehouse hoser from rural Alberta.
Randolph West
Twitter: - _randolph_west
LinkedIn: Randolph West
Contact: https://bornsql.ca/blog/
Randolph West (they / them), founder of Born SQL, is an independent IT consultant, speaker, Calgary PASS user group leader, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, and lead author of “SQL Server 2019 Administration Inside Out”.
Randolph specialises in SQL Server performance tuning, disaster recovery, and migrations from really old versions, with an emphasis on implementing best practices.
Randolph has presented at PASS Summit, SQLBits, SQLSaturdays, and user groups. You can also find Randolph acting and directing on screen or the stage, or annoying people on Twitter.
Do not trust Randolph around chocolate.
William Wolf
Twitter: - sqlwarewolf
LinkedIn: William Wolf
Contact: http://www.sqlwarewolf.com
Bill is the Manager of SQL Server Performance Tuning for RDX. He works with over 400 customers on solutions within the SQL Server environment and specialized in code tuning and mentoring the team within RDX. He has become a SQLSaturday veteran speaking at nearly 40 SQLSaturdays in the last 3 years. He has also spoken at Summit and is an Idera Ace class of 2018. Bill is active in the Pittsburgh SQL Server User Group. He is also the chapter lead for the DevOps Virtual User Group. He is passionate about educating users on SQL Server and mentoring others.
Ian Chamberland
LinkedIn: Ian Chamberland
Ian has been working as a SQL Server Database Administrator since 2010. He focuses on new implementations of SQL Server environments and improving existing ones. He enjoys working with HA/DR technologies, ensuring performance requirements are met and automating tasks with PowerShell.
Scott Stauffer
Twitter: - @SQLSocialite
LinkedIn: Scott Stauffer
Contact: http://scottstauffer.ca
Scott Stauffer (@SQLSocialite) is very PASSionate about data and enjoys meeting with like-minded data geeks. He started the Vancouver PASS Chapter in 2004. In 2008, Scott was recognized by Microsoft with a SQL Server MVP award. In 2009, Scott started a PASS BI Chapter in Vancouver, and was also at one time the PASS Regional Chapter Mentor for Canada. For over 10 years he has been an independent consultant working with clients to solve their data woes and extract insight from their business data.
Melody Zacharias
Twitter: - SQLMelody
LinkedIn: Melody Zacharias
Contact: http://sqlmelody.com
Melody is the Sr. Microsoft Solutions Manager at Pure and has been in love with data since 1991. She has been sharing her passion with the community in technical sessions and blogs since 2014. She has been a Microsoft MVP since 2016, including winning Rookie of the year for Canada that year. This last year, she was elected to the board of directors for PASS.org, the professional association for SQL Server and was awarded Regional Director by Microsoft. She has co-authored 3 books, including, SQL Server 2019 Administration inside out by Microsoft Press.
Mohit Gupta
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/sqlcan
LinkedIn: Mohit Gupta
Contact: http://www.sqlcan.com
Microsoft SQL Server PFE for 6+ years; focusing primary on PTO amp; HADR.
Mohit Gupta
Twitter: - https://twitter.com/sqlcan
LinkedIn: Mohit Gupta
Contact: http://www.sqlcan.com
Microsoft SQL Server PFE for 6+ years; focusing primary on PTO amp; HADR.
Brent Flesher
LinkedIn: Brent Flesher
I have been working with SQL Server since 1998 (SQL 6.5 sp3a ) in a variety of industries including: Energy, Utilities, Finance, Education, Health and Insurance. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and am fascinated by data and databases.
Patrick Flynn
Twitter: - sqllensman
Contact: http://sqllensman.com/blog/
Patrick Flynn is a Senior Database Administrator with 10 years experience in large 24 x 7 enterprise environments. He is a certified master for SQL Server and a regular attendee of the PASS Summit.
Has presented at SQLSaturday events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, Edmonton and Calgary, Oslo and Cambridge
Patrick Flynn
Twitter: - sqllensman
Contact: http://sqllensman.com/blog/
Patrick Flynn is a Senior Database Administrator with 10 years experience in large 24 x 7 enterprise environments. He is a certified master for SQL Server and a regular attendee of the PASS Summit.
Has presented at SQLSaturday events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, Edmonton and Calgary, Oslo and Cambridge
Brian Gale
Twitter: - @gh0ce
Brian Gale is a DBA at Vecima Networks and has been in this position for approximately 8 years. He experience has been in query optimizing, random troubleshooting and administration of SQL Server. In his administrative tasks, he has been required to learn about various SQL things and currently is focusing on Service Broker and Query Store.
Kevin Feasel
Twitter: - feaselkl
LinkedIn: Kevin Feasel
Contact: http://www.catallaxyservices.com
Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and CTO at Envizage, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand. He is the lead contributor to Curated SQL (https://curatedsql.com), president of the Triangle Area SQL Server Users Group (https://www.meetup.com/tripass), and author of PolyBase Revealed (https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484254608). A resident of Durham, North Carolina, he can be found cycling the trails along the triangle whenever the weather’s nice enough.
Scott Stauffer
Twitter: - @SQLSocialite
LinkedIn: Scott Stauffer
Contact: http://scottstauffer.ca
Scott Stauffer (@SQLSocialite) is very PASSionate about data and enjoys meeting with like-minded data geeks. He started the Vancouver PASS Chapter in 2004. In 2008, Scott was recognized by Microsoft with a SQL Server MVP award. In 2009, Scott started a PASS BI Chapter in Vancouver, and was also at one time the PASS Regional Chapter Mentor for Canada. For over 10 years he has been an independent consultant working with clients to solve their data woes and extract insight from their business data.
Sponsors
The following is a list of sponsors that helped fund the event: