Sunday 16 June 2013

SQL Server 2014 product guide released by MS

Hi folks, Check out the sql server 2014 product guide information released by 2014,

you can download it here:

Here is the list of the white papers:
  • Mission-Critical Performance and Scale with SQL Server and Windows Server
  • Faster Insights from Any Data
  • Platform for Hybrid Cloud
  • SQL Server In-Memory OLTP Internals Overview for CTP1
  • SQL Server 2014 CTP1 Frequently Asked Questions for TechEd 2013 North America
Here is the list of slide decks:
  • SQL Server 2014 Level 100 Deck
  • SQL Server 2014 Mission Critical Performance LEvel 300 Deck
  • SQL Server 2014 Faster Insights from Any Data Level Level 300 Deck
  • SQL Server 2014 Platform for Hybrid Cloud Level 100 Deck
Appreciate your suggestions. Please comment your feedback and reach me out at email

Regards,
Ganapathi varma

Sunday 9 June 2013

Microsoft announces sql server 2014


Microsoft announces sql server 2014. The release date of Trial of SQL Server to be believed later this year.

Find the below link for more information.

http://visualstudiomagazine.com/blogs/data-driver/2013/06/microsoft-announces-sql-server-2014.aspx



New features of Sql server 2012



  • Always On supports now 8 secondaries instead of 4
  • Online Indexing at partition level – this is a good thing as now index rebuilding can be done at a partition level
  • Statistics at the partition level – this will be a huge improvement in performance
  • In-Memory OLTP works by providing in-application memory storage for the most often used tables in SQL Server. (Read More Here)
  • Columnstore Index can be updated – I just can’t wait for this feature (Columnstore Index)
  • Resource Governor can control IO along with CPU and Memory
  • Increase performance by extending SQL Server in-memory buffer pool to SSDs
  • Backup to Azure Storage


Appreciate your suggestions. Please comment your feedback and reach me out at email

Regards,
Ganapathi varma

SQL DBA's Best practices for hardening sql server


The passion for becoming a professional DBA lead to the creation of this blog.

Lets start the first day with DBA's Best Practices to harden the sql server.

Summary of Best Practices

·         SQL Server should be hardened after the installation.
·         After the installation, use the SQL Server Configuration Manager tool in order to disable unnecessary features and services.
·         Install only required components.
·         Recent service packs and critical fixes should be installed for SQL Server and Windows.
·         Windows Authentication mode is more secure than SQL Authentication.
·         If there is still a need to use SQL Authentication – enforce strong password policy.
·         Disable the SA account and rename it. Do not use this account for SQL server management.
·         Change default SQL Server ports associated with the SQL Server installation to keep hackers from port scanning the server.
·         Change the service account password at regular intervals
·         Hide SQL Server instances or disable the SQL Server Browser service.
·         Remove BUILDIN\Administrators group from the SQL Server Logins.
·         Enable logging SQL Server login attempts (failed & successful).
·         Disable the SQL guest account.
·         Disable xp_cmdshell unless it is absolutely needed.
·         Block TCP port 1433 and UDP port 1434 at the firewall except for when the Administration & Data Server is not in the same security zone as the Logger.
·         Change the recovery actions of the Microsoft SQL Server service to restart after a failure.
·         Remove all sample databases, for example, Pubs and Northwind.
·         Enable auditing for failed logins
·         Enable both Named Pipes and TCP/IP endpoints during SQL Server 2008 R2 setup. Make sure Named Pipes has a higher order of priority than TCP/IP.
·         Not all schemas should be owned by dbo.


·         Enable automatic updates whenever feasible but test them before applying to production systems.



Appreciate your suggestions. Please comment your feedback and reach me out at email