SQLSaturday #840 - Edmonton 2019

Event Date: 04/27/2019 00:00:00

Event Location:

  • NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre (PIC)
  • 10210 Princess Elizabeth Ave NW
  • Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

PDF of Schedule

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Sessions

This is a list of sessions from the event, based on the schedule in the XML files.


Title: Building a Modern Cloud Data Warehouse

Abstract: Organizations treat data as an asset. They always look for ways to improve existing analytics solutions and extract information from terabytes and petabytes of data.

One of the recent trends is the migration from legacy DW platform to the Cloud Data Platform. During this journey, data engineers meet lots of challenges and sometimes try to reinvent the wheel.

This talk will cover the journey towards Modern Cloud Analytics Solutions with Microsoft Azure. Moreover, It will cover the ETL tool selection process for the Cloud as well as the adoption process for the end users.

Finally, I will cover Big Data use case using Hadoop and Spark as well as Data Lake concept and idea.

This talk will help you understand the potential of Azure Cloud Analytics and learn about our use case and save time for future projects.

Speaker(s):

  • Dmitry Anoshin

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - PIC233


Title: Why should I care about … the plan cache?

Abstract: SQL Server is a huge product, with many different places a DBA can go to look for information on how the server is performing. So many in fact that they can often overlap, which sometimes makes it hard to understand why tackling a new tool is worth the effort. In this installment of Rick’s “Why should I care” series, he lays out a case for why working knowledge of the plan cache is critical for performance tuning efforts in real world environments. A review of relevant views and functions is included for the (newly?) motivated audience.

Perfect for those who are relatively new to performance tuning concerns, or advanced DBAs trying to figure out how to have a similar conversation with their less experienced peers, or developers who are curious as to why their DBAs often seem so frazzled. This is not a deep dive into the cache, it really is primarily a session exploring why these DMOs are worth slogging through.

Speaker(s):

  • Rick Lowe

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - PIC232


Title: Generate Data with Google Analytics

Abstract: If you are familiar with Google Analytics (GA) but aren’t sure what to do with your data, then this is the session for you! In this session, you will learn how to create custom GA reports and visualizations using Google Sheets, Data Studio, and Google Scripts.

Speaker(s):

  • Sam Hamilton

Track and Room: Analytics and Visualization - PIC234


Title: DW loves DevOps ??!!

Abstract: Many organization spend months and potentially years designing and implementing their data warehouse and by time of delivery the business requirements have evolved. Moreover such system is very complex and making any changes requires large amount of regression testing which slows down making improvement to system. Many of these problems plagued traditional application development and have for the large part been addressed by adoption of agile methodology and DevOps practices. In this session we’ll draw parallel between the challenges of both domain and what the solution may look like.

Speaker(s):

  • Sepand Gojgini

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - PIC234


Title: Managing and monitoring SQL Server on Linux from the command line

Abstract: When SQL Server arrived on Linux in 2017, Microsoft brought with it a database engine that works exactly the same as it does on Windows.

While you can manage and monitor SQL Server on Linux using existing tools designed for Windows, there are command line tools that will feel right at home to seasoned command-line and scripting veterans, including Oracle DBAs.

This session will cover mssql-conf (for configuring the server instance), mssql-cli (for connecting to the database engine), and dbfs (mounting a virtual file system) to query database management views (DMVs) using bash.

Speaker(s):

  • Randolph West

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - PIC232


Title: Architecture for AGILE and DevOps

Abstract: Have you struggled to get BI off the ground, or had months or years of work overturned by a change in management? In this talk we will discuss how we can set ourselves up for success with an AGILE data warehouse, and methods of utilising AGILE and DevOps in delivering business intelligence in a fast, effective, and user-centred method. Architecture of our warehouse, data flows, data security, user engagement and how it all fits together to build rapid value for the organisation and set yourself apart.

Speaker(s):

  • Christopher Docherty

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - PIC233


Title: Educating yourself will make a SQL career more fulfilling

Abstract: Do you want to turn your SQL knowledge into a possible career? This session will show you what options are available to learn about MS SQL Server and make you more knowledgeable about the product by providing links to people and organizations who offer training and advice He has now performed this at 3 SQLSaturday’s and gotten great feedback from attendees. The slide deck will contain all the links that are shown during the presentation. This session will show the many different options available to learn MS SQL Server ranging from free events thru to international conferences It will also show how to make any conference more affordable and justify the benefits

Speaker(s):

  • Chris Wood

Track and Room: Professional Development - PIC234


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 - PIC234


Title: Weird Stuff I Saw While … Working With Heaps

Abstract: We’ve all been told at some point that heaps are usually bad for select, update, and delete performance. But how bad are they really? Can they also be problematic for worloads that are mostly insert? Are they always recommended for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) operations? Does it help to create non-clustered indexes on top of heaps? For this installment of Rick’s “Weird Stuff” series we will take a closer look at why heaps can cause issues and maybe see a deadlock or two.

Speaker(s):

  • Rick Lowe

Track and Room: Application Database Development - PIC230


Title: Setting up a test lab with Hyper-V

Abstract: So, you want to play with SQL server and/or Windows Server but you don’t have extra hardware lying around. In this session I’ll go over creating the necessary virtual networking and virtual machines to allow you to do this and protect your local network from possible harm.

Speaker(s):

  • Jay Falck

Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - PIC230


Title: SQL Server The Case of the Missing User Interface

Abstract: Relational Databases represent a powerful tool and store a treasure trove of information. In this session you will learn how to use dbFront to extend the power of your SQL Server database and its valuable data to your users quickly, economically and safely. This helps eliminate the Silos and Dark I.T. created by users frustrated with the limitations of existing systems. Included is a solid introduction to dbFront and detailed examples showing how to implement several common scenarios.

A free PRO license for dbFront will be provided to everyone who attends!

Speaker(s):

  • Anthony van Orizande

Track and Room: Application Database Development - PIC230


Title: Create a Time Travelling Database

Abstract: You’ve created a table or two to store historical data but how about an entire database? This talk will give you the tools the tools to create a temporal database using current and past relational databases. Learn how to store and query temporal data but, more importantly, how to think about data as it changes over time. Spoiler: it does not involve SQL Server’s new Temporal Tables, data warehousing, etc. It can all be done in your current database.

Speaker(s):

  • Chris C

Track and Room: Strategy and Architecture - PIC230


Title: Corporate Data Rot and Machine Learning Readiness

Abstract: An exploration into the large legacy data infrastructures used by many of today’s corporations and the challenges they present. How dependencies can lead to paralysis on future projects, and how these infrastructures can be optimized for machine learning.

Speaker(s):

  • Jonathon Machinski

Track and Room: Advanced Analysis Techniques - PIC233


Title: Service Broker - for Good and ETL

Abstract: This session will go over what is service broker, how does service broker work and how it can help with a near-realtime ETL process. Service broker allows for asynchronous operations to occur on a database. Using this, you can push data from your operational database to a data mart and provide users with near realtime access to live data without risking an impact on the live system with blocking or deadlocking.

Speaker(s):

  • Brian Gale

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - PIC234


Title: Data Security - Everyone likes a parfait!

Abstract: When you have a data breach, it is not just the network guys who catch the heat. Know your security, know your layers, and use the tools you have in the Microsoft environment. Exercise your authority as a data expert and enact the architecture to keep your warehouse secure! A discussion of the SQL Security architecture, the tools and how to build layers to ensure your warehouse is secure, and keep your data safely embedded in layer five, where it belongs.

Speaker(s):

  • Christopher Docherty

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - PIC233


Title: Learn 4 key features of SQL Server 2019 part 1

Abstract: Intelligent query processing, UTF-8, Secure Enclaves, and Accelerated Database Recovery. What does it all mean? Join Randolph West in a two-hour walkthrough of four key features of SQL Server 2019 for database administrators and developers.

Speaker(s):

  • Randolph West

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - PIC232


Title: Learn 4 key features of SQL Server 2019 part 2

Abstract: 2nd part of learning Intelligent query processing, UTF-8, Secure Enclaves, and Accelerated Database Recovery. What does it all mean? Join Randolph West in a two-hour walkthrough of four key features of SQL Server 2019 for database administrators and developers.

Speaker(s):

  • Randolph West

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - PIC232


Title: Untangling the spaghetti: Patterns and Anti-Patterns in SQL and ETL development

Abstract: Everyone has heard of “spaghetti code”, but not many talk about “spaghetti data”. Data environments grow over time, and often databases and servers become a tangled mess; if you had some pasta sauce, you could make lunch out of it! In this session I will show the most grievous bad practices, what sorts of problems and constrictions they cause, and how they can be re-written to achieve much looser coupling across all data in an enterprise. Any DBA or developer that uses more than two part table or view names in their queries or stored procedures should attend!

Speaker(s):

  • Mike Diehl

Track and Room: Application Database Development - PIC230


Title: Conan the Librarian: “Put your data sources into Azure Data Catalog, or ELSE!”

Abstract: Are all the sources of data in your organization well documented and easily discovered? Can someone new to your organization find out who is the knowledge expert on your data sources? Is it clear who they should contact to request access to a data source? Do your data sources clearly describe their meaning? If you want to answer YES to all these questions, you should come to this session! We’ll cover the basics of Azure Data Catalog - registering data sources, adding metadata and documentation, tags, and experts. And we’ll discuss the scenarios that it is intended to address.

Speaker(s):

  • Mike Diehl

Track and Room: BI Platform Architecture, Development Administration - PIC233


Title: Introduction to Linux for SQL Server

Abstract: SQL Server is now available on Linux but you only know Windows, now what? During this session we’ll introduce the Linux version of Windows commands you use on a daily basis for administering SQL Server. We’ll look at updating Linux, updating SQL Server, moving files between Windows and Linux, and backing up and restoring databases from one system to another. We’ll also look at default file locations for SQL Server and what can be moved and how to accomplish that.

Speaker(s):

  • Jay Falck

Track and Room: Enterprise Database Administration Deployment - PIC232


Speakers

This is a list of speakers from the XML Guidebook records. The details and URLs were valid at the time of the event.

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.

Christopher Docherty

Twitter: - SQL_Doch

Contact: https://blog.sqldoch.ca/

Originally a statistical process control specialist, the lure of working with data could not keep Christopher away for long. From planning logistics operations as an officer in the military, or building up end to end business intelligence solutions in higher education or just building up data mining algorithms on his data lab at home, Christopher can only be described as a avid enthusiast of the data platform. He can be reached through his ongoing blog at SQLDoch.ca and is always open to discussing new ideas and methods to improve.

Dmitry Anoshin

LinkedIn: Dmitry Anoshin

Dmitry Anoshin is a Practice Director Cloud Analytics and Data Engineering at Rock Your Data. His mission is to provide high-quality analytic solutions for Canadian companies and help them drive business with informed decisions by leveraging powerful and modern cloud capabilities. He has a solid experience in building End-to-End Analytics solutions across many business industries. Moreover, he is the author of 5 books and often present at North America conferences .

Chris Wood

Twitter: - ChrisAVWood

He has been an MS SQL DBA since 1997 starting with 6.5. Worked with 7/2000/2005/2008/2008R2/2012/2014/2016 and 2019 during those 23 years. He has attended 14 Pass Summits, 3 SQLCruises and 2 SQLConnections conferences. He has been the Communications Director for EDMPASS chapter since its inception in 2008. Spoken at 6 SQLSaturdays including the keynote at SQLSaturday 710 Edmonton in 2018. Passionate about SQL and educating himself to know more about it. He has migrated systems while always attempting to take advantage of any new features from 7.0 all the way to 2014 and 2016 and now 2019 He has learned and implemented lots of best practices from SQL Server MVPs.

Jay Falck

Twitter: - @jayfalck

LinkedIn: Jay Falck

I started as a night shift computer operator out of high school. I moved to applications development after graduation from SAC. After a few years with the State as an applications developer, the manager of Systems Programming decided it would be better to have me on the inside looking out rather than on the outside trying to get in. I spent the next 14 years as a mainframe system programmer for two state agencies. In 1996 I moved to Healthcare IT and have been that ever since. I’ve spent most of the past 14 years doing ETL, performance and HIPAA security. In these various jobs, I’ve used all manner of databases including InfoTec IMP, IBM VSAM and DB2, Interbase, Informix, Universe, Oracle 9i and SQL Server from 6.0 to 2008 R2.

Sam Hamilton

Sam is the Web Services Librarian at the Edmonton Public Library (EPL), where she works with the library’s Google Analytics data. She has worked in digital libraries for 3 years, picking up data management and coding skills along the way. She holds a Masters in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from the University of 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.

Rick Lowe

Twitter: - DataFLowe

LinkedIn: Rick Lowe

Contact: http://dataflowe.wordpress.com/

Rick is a Microsoft Certified Master with more than 20 years of SQL Server experience in a variety of roles. He currently lives in Washington state and works as an independent consultant providing remote performance DBA and performance tuning services for clients in the USA and Canada. His first exposure to SQL Server was as a database developer, but over time he became more and more interested in how the database engine operated… eventually specializing more on performance issues than code.

Rick will work with all things relational, but most enjoys helping smaller companies get better performance from MSSQL, as well as smoothing over relationships between DBA and development teams.

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.

Anthony van Orizande

Twitter: - dbFront

LinkedIn: Anthony van Orizande

Anthony van Orizande formed dbFrontWorks, a tech startup focused on creating a powerful and natural database interface targeted at regular users but managed by DBAs. Anthony is a former DBA / Analyst, Development Lead, Mobile Developer, Web Developer, and all round computer geek. Anthony gave up a perfectly good career to fill what he saw as a huge void with Relational Databases.

Jay Falck

Twitter: - @jayfalck

LinkedIn: Jay Falck

I started as a night shift computer operator out of high school. I moved to applications development after graduation from SAC. After a few years with the State as an applications developer, the manager of Systems Programming decided it would be better to have me on the inside looking out rather than on the outside trying to get in. I spent the next 14 years as a mainframe system programmer for two state agencies. In 1996 I moved to Healthcare IT and have been that ever since. I’ve spent most of the past 14 years doing ETL, performance and HIPAA security. In these various jobs, I’ve used all manner of databases including InfoTec IMP, IBM VSAM and DB2, Interbase, Informix, Universe, Oracle 9i and SQL Server from 6.0 to 2008 R2.

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.

Rick Lowe

Twitter: - DataFLowe

LinkedIn: Rick Lowe

Contact: http://dataflowe.wordpress.com/

Rick is a Microsoft Certified Master with more than 20 years of SQL Server experience in a variety of roles. He currently lives in Washington state and works as an independent consultant providing remote performance DBA and performance tuning services for clients in the USA and Canada. His first exposure to SQL Server was as a database developer, but over time he became more and more interested in how the database engine operated… eventually specializing more on performance issues than code.

Rick will work with all things relational, but most enjoys helping smaller companies get better performance from MSSQL, as well as smoothing over relationships between DBA and development teams.

Mike Diehl

Twitter: - @MikeDiehl_Wpg

LinkedIn: Mike Diehl

Contact: http://weblogs.asp.net/miked

Mike Diehl is the practice lead for databases and Business Intelligence at Imaginet Resources, a Microsoft partner with offices in Dallas, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Mike has over 20 years of experience using Microsoft database technologies and is an expert in Agile Analytics, Scrum, Kanban, and Microsoft Team Foundation Server.

Christopher Docherty

Twitter: - SQL_Doch

Contact: https://blog.sqldoch.ca/

Originally a statistical process control specialist, the lure of working with data could not keep Christopher away for long. From planning logistics operations as an officer in the military, or building up end to end business intelligence solutions in higher education or just building up data mining algorithms on his data lab at home, Christopher can only be described as a avid enthusiast of the data platform. He can be reached through his ongoing blog at SQLDoch.ca and is always open to discussing new ideas and methods to improve.

Mike Diehl

Twitter: - @MikeDiehl_Wpg

LinkedIn: Mike Diehl

Contact: http://weblogs.asp.net/miked

Mike Diehl is the practice lead for databases and Business Intelligence at Imaginet Resources, a Microsoft partner with offices in Dallas, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Mike has over 20 years of experience using Microsoft database technologies and is an expert in Agile Analytics, Scrum, Kanban, and Microsoft Team Foundation Server.

Jonathon Machinski

LinkedIn: Jonathon Machinski

Data Specialist at AltaML, former Data Analyst for AIMCo’s Data Management team, and Owner of Cavalry Fence Inc. BSc in Computing Science with a Business Minor from the University of Alberta.

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.

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.

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.

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