virtual techdays india │ 28-30 september 2011 tips for successful sql server deployment in...

virtual techdaysINDIA │ 28-30 September 2011

Tips for Successful SQL Server Deployment in Enterprise Environment

Balmukund Lakhani │ Technical Lead – SQL Support, [email protected] | http://SQLServer-Help.com |

mailto:[email protected]

http://sqlserver-help.com/


A B O U T M E…

• Working with SQL Technology since 2001 (almost 10 years)• Currently working as Technical Lead with Microsoft SQL Support Team• Premier Field Engineer @ Microsoft• ERP Onsite Support @ Ramco Systems• DBA @ Ramco Systems• Developer @ Ramco Systems

• Team Blog – http://blogs.msdn.com/SQLServerFAQ • Personal Blog – http://SQLServer-Help.com • Active Participant in MSDN SQL Forums.

http://blogs.msdn.com/SQLServerFAQ

http://sqlserver-help.com/

Best Practices or Good Practices or Better Practices? Installation Memory Security Database Files TempDB Files Placement Backup Monitoring SQL Server


S E S S I O N A G E N D A


Good Practices around Installation/Patching of SQL Server


SQL Server Installation/Patching Tricks• Use domain account (not domain admin) as Service Account.• Have separate account for each server.• If you install SQL 2005, please remember to install non-cluster aware component on both nodes.• SQL 2008 Onwards, use Slip Streamed media

– Avoid known issue of setup itself.– Overall reduced time to install SQL Server.

• SQL 2008 onwards, first apply patch on passive node in cluster (rolling upgrade), failover and then apply on active node.

• Provide “Perform Volume Maintenance Tasks” permission (using SecPol.msc) to service account.• Use Configuration File / Command line install for faster deployment.• Configure antivirus software to skip LDF/MDF/NDF/Backup files (KB 309422)• Make sure ReadMe of release is followed to understand the known issues in advance.• Evaluation Edition Expired?


Good Practices around Memory Settings of SQL Server


SQL Server Memory Configuration Tricks• If you are using 32 bit SQL Server and you have more than 2 GB of RAM, please configure AWE if

you want more memory to be used.

• To use AWE, SQL Service account needs “Lock Pages in Memory” privilege.

• Limit Max Server Memory of SQL Server.

• Keep an eye on DBCC MemoryStatus output.

• Don’t use Task Manager to check how much memory SQL is using. Use PerfMon.


Good Practices around Security in SQL Server


SQL Server Security Tips• Change Production Server Port to something other than 1433.• Don’t add SQL Server Service Account as SysAdmin.• Make sure permission is given to those who need it.• Rename sa to some other name.• Keep strong passwords for SQL Logins.• Don’t add unwanted users to SQL Server.• Remove Builtin\Administrators• Disable xp_cmdshell unless it is absolutely needed.• Use Windows Authentication where ever possible.


Demo

Recover from a locked out situation


Good Practices around Database Files


SQL Server Database Files Tips• Multiple Transaction Logs file won’t help in performance.• Don’t Shrink the data files to save space unless it’s the last thing in the world!• Don’t let the file grow automatically. Plan in advance.• Don’t have AutoShrink of database turned ON – worst than performing manual shrink.• Don’t have AutoClose ON for the database.• Avoid having percentage growth. Fix size is better.• Frequent Autogrowth is not healthy.• Don’t Scan the files by Antivirus.


Demo

Problem caused due to Many VLFs&Shrink is an E V I L


Good Practices around TempDB Files


SQL Server TempDB Managament• How may tempdb database we have? • There are multiple suggestions around how many tempdb data files.• If you see any contention on PAGELATCH then increase the tempdb files.• Track tempdb usage and make sure that drive has enough space to allow growth.• If there are multiple temdpb data files, make sure the size is same.


Good Practices around Monitoring


SQL Server Monitoring• Automate as much as you can.

• Alert for long Blocking• Alert for Data File Free Space.• Alert for High CPU Usage.

• Be proactive• Check ErrorLog regularly.• Check for Dumps.• Use DDL Triggers on production to avoid any mishap of dropping objects.• Install Performance DashBoard on Servers to look in graphical DMVs output.

• Use SSMS colour feature to make sure you are working on proper server.


Demo

SQL Server Management Studio Status Bar Color&DDL Trigger to avoid accidents


And … have a solid maintenance plans.


SQL Server Maintenance Plan tips• Don’t blindly update stats for all table and rebuild all indexes.• Check with Business Unit about tables and their data change frequency.• Check the RTO and RPO from business to decide backup frequency.• If recovery model is full, make sure log backups are taken.. Please! Please!! Please!!!• Don’t ever have shrink in the Maintenance Plan.• Myth – If backup is successful, backup file is restorable.• Check database integrity (DBCC CheckDB) on regular basis.• Have a sound disaster recovery plan!• And make sure you test the plan before you actually do it.


Puzzle Time!


Puzzle

Full backup

1 (12:00

PM)

T-Log backup 1 (1:00

PM)


PM)


PM)

Full backup 2 (3:25

PM)


PM)

03:22 PM


RELATED CONTENT in VTD Sep 29th 2011 – DBA Track Ancient Trade of Performance Tuning - Index, Beyond Index and No Index

Pinal Dave 11:45am - 12:45pm

High Availability - A Story from Past to Future Balmukund Lakhani 1:45pm - 2:45pm

Monitoring Performance in Cloud for SQL Azure Applications Vinod Kumar 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Managing SQL Server Made Easy - Features and Concepts Amit Banerjee 4:15pm - 5:15pm

virtual techdaysTHANKS│28-30 September 2011

Please do give your Feedback, Complete evaluation at the end of this session. You could also write to be at :

[email protected] │ http://twitter.com/blakhani

mailto:[email protected]

http://twitter.com/blakhani

http://twitter.com/blakhani

virtual techdays india │ 28-30 september 2011 tips for successful sql server deployment in...

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