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SQL Server Certifications
Recently, I have spoken at several user groups and/or SQL Saturday events on SQL Server Certifications. I have posted my powerpoint presentation below.But I thought I would give a quick overview. First you will need to startby earning one of the foureight MCSA cerfitications. You have the classic MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 certification which has been available for several years. Or, you could obtain one of the newer SQL Server 2016 MCSA certifications in either Database Development, Database Administration, or BI Development. (Four new SQL Certification introduced in Spring 2017 are listed at the bottom of this post.) I really like the new streamlined 2016 certifications because you can focus on your area of expertise and you only need two exams. With the SQL Server 2012, you needed a broader knowledge base to earn the MCSA certification. I for one had difficulty with the 70-463 exam as I do not work with Data Warehousing on a regular basis, but I had to learn that material for the exam. If you still want to demonstrate your breadth of knowledge, there is nothing to stop you from earning more than one MCSA. Onceyou have earned your MCSA, it is now even easier to earn you MCSE. You only need to take ONE of the exams from the electives listed in the next picture to obtain an MCSE. What is even better is that your MCSE no longer expires. However, you can re-earn the MCSE by taking an additional elective exam in subsequent years. I really like this option, because in years past I would need to study older material to renew my MCSE. Now, I can learn new skills for new exams each year while I re-earn my MCSE. UPDATE: (March 22, 2017) You can now retake an exam that you have already passed to re-earn your MCSE certification, however you must wait at least 365 days from when you passed the exam before being allowed to take the exam again. You can still earn the two older MCSE certifications (Database Developer or BI Developer) until March 31, 2017. After that only the MCSE: Data Management & Analytics will be available. Don't forget that once you pass an exam or obtain a certification, head over to the Acclaim website to pick up your shiny, new badge that you can use on social media to show your freinds, family, and co-workers. UPDATE: (April 12, 2017) Four new MCSA certifications were announced today. (Update May 23, 2017) Names of new MCSA certifications have changed.Meet SQL Server’s biggest fan, KillaDBA
Atlanta-based Homer McEwen has been a database administrator for more than 20 years. But it’s what he does in his spare time that makes McEwen, aka KillaDBA, a little different. The husband and father of three writes and records songs about SQL Server, the platform that helps power the travel company he works for. We sat down with KillaDBA and learned about everything from his top musical influences to his reaction when he found out he’d be performing at SQL Saturday in Redmond on April 15. After talking with him and hearing his music, even we’re seeing SQL Server in a whole new light. Give it a listen. See the full interview here.MichaelHolsteApr 05, 2017Microsoft
Free SQL Training - Indianapolis
That's right, I said FREE! You're invited to a free, one day technical conference for SQL Server professionals. The user community for SQL Server is extremely passionate and have developed a contagious set of one day events around the world with the support of the national level user group association, PASS. The local user group of IndyPASS is bringing this event to Indianapolis! Join us for a full day of technical classes performed by world class speakers! They volunteer their time to bring their infectious enthusiasm for SQL Server and the SQL Server community here to share with you! We will have many technical and professional development tracks and sessions to choose from all day long so you can get the most out of the day. There are also many opportunities to network with fellow IT professionals in the area and become involved in the community. Saturday August 12, 2017 Ivy Tech Noblesville 300 N 17th St Indianapolis, IN 46060 You can register online at https://www.sqlsaturday.com/629/registernow.aspx. We will have a catered lunch on site for those interested for a $12 charge. You can pay this fee at registration. You are also welcome to bring your own lunch or step out to grab your own. We look forward to hopefully seeing you at SQLSaturday #629. Feel free to share news of this event with anyone you feel would like to attend. If you have any questions feel free to contact the Event Admins at sqlsaturday629@sqlsaturday.com. This event is provided through sponsorships. If you or anyone you know might be interested in sponsoring this event please share this with them. You can find more information at http://www.sqlsaturday.com/629/Sponsors/SponsorPlan.aspx. Thank You, Team SQLSaturday Follow this event on Twitter with hashtag #sqlsatindy, and get news on this event and network with attendees!SQL Server Professional Career Profile - Jaap Brasser
We just featured a career profile of MVP JaapBrasser who focuses on Powershell, Active Directory, SQL Server, Windows Server and many other technologies. If you're interested on his take on what a successful career in the cloud looks like, read the post in the IT Resources & Training community here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/IT-Resources-Training/Cloud-Careers-Friday-Feature-Jaap-Brasser/m-p/54236#M84AnnaChuMar 17, 2017March Member Madness Contest!
Think you can provide some fantastic content this month, or be the most active community member? We have some extra incentive for you in our March Member Madness contest, where you can win one of 15 pairs of Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones! The winners will be the top 5 members in the community in three categories: Most Posts, Most Likes Given, and Most Likes Received. I’m excited to see the contributions from the SQL Server community, and hope to spark insightful dialogue around SQL Server and Microsoft Cloud. For more information, check out the post on Community AnnouncementsDaniMartMSMar 11, 2017
Using Azure as an HA/DR site for SQL 2016
I wonder if anyone has dabbled with this concept, or if it is economically viable to my customer, which is a "little big shop" that would like to spend $-- for SQL HA and/or DR (probably the latter is the only realistic cost-effectiveapproach across data centers that feature geodiversity). So I'd like to have 3 on-premises instances replicate Async say 3-4x/day (RPO=6-8 hrs) to either IAAS instances that power on the same 3-4x/day to receive replication, or, if SQL Azure supports AlwaysOn, use that for a "target." Idea would be to use this as a read only DR site in use cases ranging from extended power outages to cratered HQ. Anything in this scheme that might work with reasonably limited engineering effort? I don't want to add a ton of complexity or cost. Any ideas or suggestions for reading will be appreciated.
Sample Always Encrypted application?
Is there a sample Microsoft web application/site for playing with and demoing Always encrypted? I've looked in the usual places. I can build my own, but would like to be internet lazy :catvery-happy: and see one that someone better at this has already done. Clarification: I am not looking for an "always encrypted application". I'm looking for pre-existing demos/sites like we have for other features. I can build my own. But I'm looking for content that may already exist for community use. Something, for instances, like a Wide World Importers or Adventureworks or Contoso. 
Disk size considerations
Hello. Could you suggest if there are any considerations regarding disk size for database files? Are there any limitations from MS SQL? Version that we use is SQL 2014 SP1. What we need is handling 200+ SharePoint content databases of total size about 16TB. So the question is whether it will be better from the SQL perspective to have, say, 4 x 4TB logical disks instead of one 16TB disk. Or are thereonly hardware considerations to take into account, but not SQL-related? Alex
