Book Review–Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Administration Cookbook

 

Brief Review:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Administration Cookbook is a collection of recipes that help database administrators with day-to-day tasks.  The recipes from this book have a broad spectrum of topics, including  Piecemeal Restores, Optimistic Concurrency, Data-Tier Applications, Master Data Services, Replication, Multi-Server Management, Utility Control Point etc..  This book is a great reference on how to accomplish daily administrative tasks and challenges.

Detailed Review:

There are few books available that can keep your technical curiosity engaged, while presenting the information in a easy to understand manner.  Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is one such book.  This book delivers quality content in a simplistic manner that will benefit all database administrators.  My favorite thing about this book is that it delivers real world solutions to real world problems.  In today’s IT environment, the database administrator can be a seasoned IT professional with 10 to 20 years of database experience, or what some people call an accidental DBA.  An accidental DBA is a database administrator that assumes the role of database administrator, either through necessity or circumstance, and usually has little to no real world experience as a database administrator.  This book caters to both the seasoned and the accidental database administrator. 

As the name implies, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Administration Cookbook focusing on the administrative side of SQL Server.  This book contains over 70 quality recipes that database administrators can use in their day-to-day duties.  The great thing about this book is the diversity of the recipes.  The author does a great job of covering SQL Server administration from a lot of different angles using different immerging technologies.  The recipes include Resource Governor, Multi-Server Administration, Business Intelligence, High Availability and more.  There is an enormous amount of information spanning a broad spectrum of topics. Without sounding cliché, there is something for everybody, in this book.

The author’s writing style is clear and concise.  You do not have to be a Microsoft Certified Master to understand the fundamental concepts presented in each recipe.  Another thing I like about this book is the code samples.  I cannot tell you how many times I have cracked open a book and have to analyze and reread the code sample to understand what it is doing.  This book does not have that problem. The code samples are very easy to understand and follow.  By keeping the samples simple, the author delivers a better experience to the reader.

My favorite chapters in this book are Chapter 7 – Managing The Core Database Engine, Chapter 5 – Managing Core SQL Server 2008 R2 Technologies because these chapters contain a lot of useful information that a lot of database administrators do not know about, including Utility Control Point, SQL Azure, StreamInsight, and Master Data Services. 

The Verdict: 5/5

I recommend Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Administration Cookbook to any IT Professional currently working as a database administrator or wants to get into database administration, with SQL Server 2008 R2.  This book is a great administrative reference that you will want to keep close to your desk, regardless of experience level.

TSQL Challenge Quiz: Win an IPAD And Bragging Rights!

First and foremost, sorry for the long delay between posts, I have recently switched jobs and my laptop crashed.  I am just now getting back into a steady routine and will be posting more regularly in the coming weeks, so stayed tuned.  So now that I have the formalities out of the way….. How does a FREE IPAD sound?

TSQLChallenges.com is  currently running TSQL Quiz 2011.  TSQL Quiz 2011 will be running a TSQL SQL Server question each day in March 2011.  Each question is orchestrated by SQL Server experts and community leaders to address SQL Server problem areas and/or best practices.  TSQL Quiz is a great opportunity to interact with fellow database professionals, strengthen your SQL Server knowledge, and most importantly win an IPAD, compliments of Red Gate Software ! Even if you feel like you are not online enough to compete, do not fret because the questions remain open for 30 days. You really do not have anything to lose.

If you are interested in participating in TSQL Quiz 2011, you can start by clicking http://beyondrelational.com/quiz/SQLServer/TSQL/2011/default.aspx.  All the information you need is provided on the site.

If you want to help TSQL Challenges by becoming a Quiz Master, you can click here, http://beyondrelational.com/quiz/nominations/0/new.aspx

Good luck and happy coding.