Microsoft SQL ServerOverview:Product, Courses & Background

By George SquillaceNew Horizons Great LakesHusband, Dad, Coach, MCT, MCSE, MCDBA

MCITP – SQL 2008 Business Intelligence Development

MCITP – Database Administration

MCTS – Database Development

MCITP – Enterprise Messaging Administrator on Exchange 2007

MCITP – Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008

MCTS – Vista Deployment

CompTIA A+, Network+

Why should you care about selling SQL Server courses?

» Product knowledge is in high demand˃ The product is becoming increasingly entrenched˃ It’s market share is growing˃ The need to learn the product is in high demand.

» The following Microsoft products require some edition of SQL Server˃ SharePoint˃ System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)˃ System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVM)˃ System Center Operations Manager (SCOM)˃ System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM)˃ ForeFront Endpoint Protection˃ Microsoft Dynamics CRM

» More confidently sell high margin courses that are not provided by many vendors.

» Be able to respond to customer questions more rapidly.

» Make better course recommendations.

» Grow in your career skills.

What is “SQL”, Anyway?» SQL (Structured Query Language) is a

data-oriented programming language» SQL is an industry standard (ANSI, ISO)» SQL permits a nearly universal method of

querying (interacting with and changing) database data

» Most popular database servers support their own form of SQL (Microsoft’s is “Transact-SQL” or “T-SQL”)

» Microsoft SQL Server is a software product

• Database Administrators would use most or all categories of SQL statements.• Database Developers would use most or all categories of SQL statements.• Ad hoc query writers and report writers would primarily use

the SELECT DML statement.

The least amount of SQL code that can successfully be submitted for processing is a statement.

Statements are organized in to statement categories, such as “DML” and “DDL”.

A bit of Microsoft SQL Server Product History

» SQL Server was originally a product by Sybase

» Microsoft joint-developed the product early on but later severed ties to Sybase

» There have been many versions of the product

» Having gone through many versions and refinements SQL Server is a mature, robust, & stable product

» SQL 2012 was released on April 1, 2012.

Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Sql_Server

SQL Server ComponentsIn other words, “What does this product do?

» There are many installable components to the SQL Server product

» All these features are included with the price (depending on the Edition purchased)

Reference:http://www.e-squillace.com/tech/screenshotgallery/SQL/SQL2008/SQL2008_InstallScreenshots/Step9a-FeatureSelection_Empty.JPG

What SQL Server is best known for, the relational database service.

SQL Server for free?

» www.microsoft.com/express

» There are also free editions of the Visual Studio Windows and Web development tools!

» The free edition of SQL Server (SQL Server Express Edition) and the free versions of Visual Studio are found at the URL above

Next: Let’s look at application architecture…

“Front-End” Custom Programming v.

“Back-End” Custom Programming»Front-End Application Design

˃Custom Windows application using Visual Studio or alternatives˃Custom Web application using Visual Studio or alternatives˃Many Custom-made Applications Involve a Database

»Back-EndDatabase Design

˃Built Using Transact-SQL and/or GUI Tools

+Stored Procedures+Views+Functions+Triggers

Operating System & File System Design(Number of Drive letters, placement of \Windows folder, Pagefile, SQL Server binaries, etc.)

Database Creation, Files, Filegroup & Logfile Design(Ask: Do I need more than just the Primary Filegroup, and/or more than one file per filegroup?)

Table Design(Columns, Data Types, Relationships [Logical Data Model])

Server Hardware(CPU, RAM, Number and size of Disks, Number of Drive Channels)

Schema Design (SQL Server 2005)

Data Integrity Design(Constraints, Defaults and Rules)

Data Retrieval Design(Indexes)

Programming ObjectsViews User-Defined

FunctionsStored

Procedures Triggers

Database Snapshot Design (SQL Server 2005, Enterprise Edition)

Compare this model to: Microsoft Access

FileMaker

FoxPro

Reference:Database Construction Building Blocks Diagram

Example of a Custom Data-drivenWindows Application

Example of a Custom Data-drivenWeb Application

List of Job Roles which are Candidates for SQL Server Training

» Database Administrator (DBA) (including “Accidental DBAs”)

» Database Developers» Business Intelligence Developers

˃ Report Writers / Developers˃ OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) and Data Mining Developers and

Users˃ ETL Developers (Extract, Transform, & Load)

» Business Analysts

Core SQL Server 2008 Courses» 2778A – Writing Queries Using SQL Server 2008 Transact-SQL

(3-days)˃ Target: All data professionals (DBAs and Devs), Report Writers, Business Analysts˃ The SQL 2012 successor is course 10774A (five days)

» 6231B – Maintaining a SQL Server 2008 Database (5 – days)» Target: Database Administrators (DBAs)» The SQL 2012 successor is course 10775A (five days)

» 6232B – Implementing a SQL Server 2008 Database (5 – days)

˃ Target: Database developers (Devs)˃ The SQL 2012 successor is course 10776A (five days)

» We also offer courses from the courseware library, such as 50400

Ask: What do you need to know about the “B” revisions of these courses?

Definition: What is Business Intelligence (BI)?

» From Wikipedia: Business intelligence (BI) is a business management term which refers to applications and technologies which are used to gather, provide access to, and analyze data and information about company operations.

» Business intelligence systems can help companies have a more comprehensive knowledge of the factors affecting their business, such as metrics on sales, production, internal operations, and they can help companies to make better business decisions.

» So, BI is about making better decisions.

» Use Tools à Get Facts à Draw Conclusions à Implement Changes.

Business Intelligence SQL Server Courses

» 6234A – Implementing SQL Server Analysis Services (3-days) (If taking more than one BI course take this last!)˃ Working with Multidimensional Databases (rather than Relational) and Data Mining)

» 6235A – Implementing SQL Server Integration Services (3-days)˃ Transferring and Transforming Data (a.k.a., ETL, “Extract, Transform, & Load”)

» 6236A – Implementing SQL Server Reporting Services (3-days)˃ Data Presentation Platform

These course revisions are more tool-oriented than task-oriented, which (fortunately) changes in the SQL 2012 courses.

These courses are combined into two, five day courses in SQL 2012; courses 10777A and 10778A.

Reference: SQL Server 2008 Certification Paths diagram

Why Certify?

» Increases product knowledge» Increases competency; can solve more and

different kinds of problems» Increases confidence» May lead to other job opportunities within and

outside of your current organization» “You don’t know where you’ll be working next

Monday, so pack a parachute!” -me

A Few Specifics on SQL BI Certifications & Exams

» SQL 2008 BI Exams˃ Case study, my MCTS BI exam v. my MCITP BI exam

(Very challenging…my MCITP BI exam was 88 lengthy story problems, three full hours long)

» Remember, the BI exams cover all three functional BI areas, and test over Analysis Services disproportionately, which is the most challenging of the three areas!

» On my website homepage there is a link called “Strategies for Passing Certification Exams”.

SQL ServerCourse Prerequisites

» Basic Windows User Interface Knowledge

» Basic Windows Server Operating System Knowledge

˃ User and Group Accounts˃ Services and Service Accounts˃ File System and Shared Folder Permissions

» Background Relational Database Experience ˃ (Microsoft Access experience “counts”)

Suggested BI Course Prerequisites

» Basic Windows User Interface Knowledge

» Basic Windows Server Operating System Knowledge

» Background Database Experience ˃ (Microsoft Access experience “counts”)

» SQL Server Administration and Possibly Programming Experience˃ Course 2780 or 6231˃ Course 2779 or 6232

» Basic Query Writing Knowledge˃ Course 2778

What about SQL 2008 R2?» Microsoft released SQL 2008 R2

(the second SQL 2008 release, also known as version 10.5) in April 2010.

» As of yet there are no plans to release SQL 2008 R2-specific business intelligence course versions.

» Miscellaneous note: Microsoft offers free versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio with smaller feature sets. These are called Express Editions.

Resources (for you and your clients)

» Microsoft SQL Server homepage˃ www.microsoft.com/sql

» Microsoft Learning homepage˃ www.microsoft.com/learning

» My website˃ Homepage

» www.e-Squillace.com (Search button, Test taking tips link)˃ Diagrams

» www.e-Squillace.com/tech/techdiagrams (several SQL and SQL BI diagrams)˃ Screenshot Gallery

» www.e-Squillace.com/tech/screenshotgallery (look in the SQL screenshot category; a SQL BI category exists too)

˃ SQL Server reference homepage» www.e-Squillace.com/tech/techreference/sql (a huuuuge amount of links)

˃ SQL Server BI reference homepage» www.e-Squillace.com/tech/techreference/sqlbi/sqlbi.htm (also a huuuuge amount of links)

» My Library Books (click on this link)

» List of SQL Server User Groups in the Great Lakes Region, such as…˃ Chicago.SQLPass.org

September 17, 2011

What Are Your Action Items?» Learn & study?

» Download?

» Call a client with a recommendation or new opportunity?

» Flee?

» Other?

Reference: Suggested Action Items List

Thank you for your time!