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SSRS - RDL Definitions
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I have met a couple of partners and they keep asking where I can get the RDL deifinition and the schema's. Here are the links that will give you ample information:
RDL 2008 Schema
RDL Specificaiton documentation
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Nov VTD - SQL Track
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Sorry, folks have not been able to update specifically on the SQL Track that I was handling at the VTD. Actually, we had 2 full track around SQL Server - a Dev track and completely an ITPro Track. We will have the recordings on the site in about 10 days, but keep a tap on the site.
The Dev Track was interesting as we had various aspects and real experts doing the session :). We started with "Query Tuning with SQL Server", this was quite generic but we had a lot of examples covering why this was important and how one can tune their code inside of SQL Server. Then we moved to an relatively less explored world of iFTS (Searching Techniques with SQL Server) and I personally loved this topic when I included it into the agenda. Then we moved to the next part of "VSTS DB Pro" where we explored and explained some of the DB Pro features and how it could be used. It was more from a SDLC side and how one can make a seamless integration with VS. We followed it with a "Panel Discussion: Performance Tuning" which I did a tango with Praveen (MS MVP & RD). It was a lot of fun explaining things that affect performance and both me and Praveen enjoyed every bit of the session. We just shared a lot of customer issues and how we mitigated them. The last session ofcouse was the ADO.NET session by another fellow MVP Niraj from Bangalore. Though a long and tough day filled with excitement I couldnt sleep a bit because I had the SQL Track for Admins on Day 3.
This was an interesting ITPro Track that we had for SQL Server. It was really jam packed with quality content to be delivered. I enjoyed a lot in this track because it was really deep technical and a lot of fun preparing the demos. We started with "Diaster recovery with SQL Server" which was in a way to get closer to some of the nuances around Log shipping, Mirroring, back strategies and how to prepare a DR document. Discussed some high-level topics and some guidances that will help Admins get started with DR. Then we had a complete session around "Backup and Restore with SQL Server" where we discussed the specifics around backup options, page level restores and other specifics. Then we moved and changed gears into the VLDB scenario which was how can one manage and work with Very Large Databases and what are the options one need to keep in mind when working with such 100's of GB or even closer to a TB databases. I returned post that to do a back-to-back with "Data Recovery with SQL Server" and then "Database Snapshots Internals". To tell you frankly, the Data Recovery was an interesting topic for me personally and I talked about various enhancements from CHECKDB, restore enhancements, how to recover from suspect or recovery pending state and so on ... A lot of demo's and a lot of interesting conversations we had in that session. Then I talked at length about the Database Snapshots feature which I have seen is a lesser used feature and more often than not even abused by some. Folks really dont get the concept clearly and just go about using them. This particular session was to demystify most of the myths and the caution one needs to take when using this feature.
As I did before, once I get a consolidated Q&A I will try to post some of the answers on our TechNet Blog too. I will drop a line on this blog once that gets available.
PS: If you would love to see certain sessions handled during our next VTD, please drop a line and I will try to accomodate them provided there is popularity amongst the public.
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BI for DBA's
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More often than not it is difficult to explain BI concepts to even developers and decision makers. Now here is a overview for DBA;s from Derek's blog. A good read to understand some of the basics ...
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XML Schema Explorer Session
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Beth Massi and Yang Xiao did a wonderful session around XML Schema Explorer on Channel9. Best part of this is it can be used against any XSD set and a lot more interesting features. Watch the video here.
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BizSpark - Awesome for Start-ups
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I am actually doing a roadshow for ISV Innovation Days in ~6 Cities and and talking to some folks I got to hear on this cool annoucement from the ISV team around the fact that if you are an ISV developing products on Microsoft Technoligies and your company is less than 3 years then you are eligible to this program. Well you get a whole bunch of Microsoft Technologies for FREE, yes you heard me right, it is FREE.
Read more about this program here.
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256 Logical Processor Support - SQL Server
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At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) on Nov 6th this announcement was made but for the next version :). Yup, Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server - Kilimanjaro (As announced at the BI Conference earlier) will start to remove the limit of 64 logical processors to 256 logical processors. This is really a cool announcement. I seem to have caught up with this a bit late, nevertheless wanted to drop a blog around this.
Now how many customers use this is a different question. But if you have seen customers using above 64 logical procs, then drop a comment and would be really interesting to know. Now this can open up doors for large geo-consolidation servers, partioning databases in a single large instance, utilization of single instance having ultra-large databases etc. Now, if you are thinking already on this it is NOT as far as you think, it is first half of 2010 that this product will be available. You will hear on a CTP or Beta sometime next year sometime (I guess).
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Acceptance Test Engineering Guide (Beta)
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This is an interesting guide and some of the common scenario's handled in the paper are:
– How to Plan for Acceptance Testing
– What Kinds of Acceptance Tests to Run
– How to Create and Run Acceptance Tests
– Defining What “Done” Means
– How to Justify Your Approach
Codeplex site: http://codeplex.com/TestingGuidance
Project announcement: http://www.codeplex.com/Project/Download/FileDownload.aspx?ProjectName=TestingGuidance&DownloadId=40458
Community Forum: http://www.codeplex.com/TestingGuidance/Thread/List.aspx
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Unity 1.2 - Application Block
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The Unity Application Block (Unity) is a lightweight, extensible dependency injection container. It facilitates building loosely coupled applications and provides developers with the following advantages:
– Simplified object creation, especially for hierarchical object structures and dependencies
– Abstraction of requirements; this allows developers to specify dependencies at run time or in configuration and simplify management of crosscutting concerns
– Increased flexibility by deferring component configuration to the container
– Service location capability; this allows clients to store or cache the container
– Instance and type interception (via an extension introduced in this release)
MSDN site: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd140117.aspx
Community Forum: http://codeplex.com/unity
Community Extensions: http://codeplex.com/unitycontributions