To SQL or not to SQL

MS IT Forum 2

Copenhagen is blowing and cold....but still fun.

Networking with MVPs and MS staff is the order of the day....and partying with them at night. Wireless bandwidth until you have downloaded the whole internet and answered all newsgroup questions.

MOM, SMS, ISS, HIS, WMI, .NET, SQL, MMC.....all day long. I think I've heard more TLA's to last a week in just one day.

Listened to BillG live this morning. 2005 will be a very busy year for product releases, so hopefully early 2006, all the large corporates will move to the new versions. Windows Server 2003 R2 (2nd release of Windows Server 2003) will be interesting, depending on what features make it into the final product.

My conclusion on BillG's presentations: SteveB entertains you, BillG informs you. I heard SteveB talk in April 2004 at the MVP Summit. That was a seriously moving experience. This was the 2nd time is saw BillG live (last year in South Africa).

Positioning of the CLR in SQL Server 2005

Microsoft have published a White Paper on the positioning of the CLR in SQL Server 2005. It could have been called a "Best Practices Paper"

http://msdn.microsoft.com/data/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnsql90/html/sqlclrguidance.asp

Using the CLR as a full T-SQL replacement would be a big mistake as it is not as efficient in all areas as T-SQL is. Their usage scenarios are credible and as far as I have used the CLR functionality, is about as far as I would go, before hurting performance.

If the CLR was a full T-SQL replacement, SQL Server would be called CLR Server. Just remember that when designing your applications.

MS IT Forum

Off to MS IT Forum in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Listen to Bill Gates on Tuesday morning, meet fellow MVP's, get MVP Speaker's Training, see what else everyone is spinning about SQL Server 2005.......

Death by PowerPoint is not expected as there is enough material to cover, maybe a demo or two.

It is currently colder in Zurich than it is in Copenhagen, so it will be like a holiday. Yes, 5 to 10 degrees difference means a lot at -2 degrees Celsius.

Danish beer seems to be famous.....well...time to prove everyone right or wrong.

SQL Server 2000 Wait Types

The various wait types in SQL Server don't make much sense by just looking at them. There is a excellent list on http://sqldev.net/misc/WaitTypes.htm with good descriptions and possible fixes.

You see these wait types when running the system stored procedure sp_lock or though Enterprise Manager (Management, Current Activity tree).

On a system that is running optimal, you should not see many of them (maybe one or two infrequently).

SQL Server 2005 Webcasts

The SQL Server team will be hosting a week of webcasts, giving you insight into what SQL Server 2005 can do. Level 100 and 200.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/SQL/2005Webcasts/

There are some good hands on labs also available http://msdn.microsoft.com/SQL/Labs/default.aspx

What if you don't have a copy of SQL 2005? Get a beta of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/sql/

Written your first SQL Server 2005 CLR Managed Code procedure yet? If not, get on to the band-wagon!