Introduction to SQL Server 2008 Administration

Course 50238a: Five Days; Instructor-Led

About this Course

This five-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to administer SQL Server 2008.  The course focuses on support tasks, including installation, upgrading, backups, restores, monitoring, and auditing.

Audience Profile

This course is intended for database support personnel and database administrators who have basic Windows navigation skills.

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, students must have:

At Course Completion

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Install SQL Server.
• Create databases.
• Create logins and database users.
• Create and maintain indexes for optimal database performance.
• Backup and restore user-defined and system databases.
• Automate routine tasks.
• Monitor SQL Server performance.
• Audit a variety of user actions.
• Upgrade to SQL Server 2008.

Course Outline

Module 1: Installing SQL Server 2008
This module explains how to install SQL Server 2008.
Lessons

• Planning to Install SQL Server 2008.
• Installing SQL Server 2008.
• Post-Installation Tasks.

Lab : Installing SQL Server 2008

• Install a Named Instance of SQL Server.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Install a named instance of SQL Server 2008.
• Troubleshoot installation issues.

Module 2: Managing SQL Server 2008
This module explains how to use the standard tools for managing SQL Server installs.
Lessons

• Managing SQL Server.
• Metadata Retrieval.

Lab : Managing SQL Server 2008

• Manage SQL Server Services.
• Use Dedicated Administrator Connection.
• Retrieve Metadata.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use SQL Server Configuration Manager.
• Use SQL Server Management Studio.
• Use sqlcmd utility.
• Use Dedicated Administrator Connection.
• Use Powershell.
• Use system stored procedures.
• Use catalog views.
• Use dynamic management views.
• Use built-in functions.

Module 3: Database Management
This module explains how to create and manage databases.
Lessons

• Disk Configuration.
• Databases and Filegroups.
• Managing Databases.
• Data Compression.

Lab : Database Management

• Create a Database.
• Add a Filegroup to an Existing Database.
• Delete a Database.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe various disk types such as SATA, SSD, SCSI.
• Describe storage solutions such as SAN.
• Describe common RAID levels.
• Create a database with files spread across different filegroups across separate disks.
• Describe the purpose of each system database.
• Modify and delete databases.
• Compress data at the row and page level.

Module 4: Security
This module explains how to administer security in SQL Server 2008.
Lessons

• Overview of Security.
• Accessing SQL Server.
• Advanced Security.

Lab : Security

• Modify SQL Server Authentication Mode.
• Configure Permissions.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe Principals and Securables.
• Create schemas.
• Change the authentication mode of SQL Server.
• Create logins.
• Create database users.
• Create roles.
• Assign principals to roles.
• Understand impersonation and delegation.
• Create linked servers.

Module 5: Disaster Recovery
This module explains how to backup and restore data in SQL Server.
Lessons

• Disaster Recovery Overview.
• Disaster Recovery Using Full Database Backups.
• Disaster Recovery Using Differential Database Backups.
• Disaster Recovery Using Transaction Log Backups.
• Disaster Recovery Using File and Filegroup Backups.
• Advanced Disaster Recovery.

Lab : Full Database Backups

Lab : Differential Database Backups

Lab : Transaction Log Backups

Lab : File and Filegroup Backups

Lab : Advanced Disaster Recovery
After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Perform a full database backup and restore.
• Perform a differential database backup and restore.
• Perform a transaction log backup and restore.
• Perform a file and filegroup backup and restore.
• Restore system databases.
• Rebuild system databases.
• Restore a page.
• Create database snapshots.

Module 6: Automation and Maintenance
This module explains how to automate routine administrative tasks and perform maintenance tasks to keep the database performing optimally.
Lessons

• SQL Server Agent Automation.
• Advanced SQL Server Automation.
• Database Maintenance.

Lab : Automation and Maintenance

• Create a Job.
• Create an Alert.
• Export Data using the Import and Export Wizard.
• Create a Maintenance Plan.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create jobs.
• Create alerts.
• Configure operators.
• Configure Database Mail.
• Configure SQL Server Agent security using predefined roles.
• Create a master and target server for multiserver administration.
• Check for corruption in a database.
• Import and export data to and from SQL Server and other sources.
• Create maintenance plans.

Module 7: Indexing
This module explains how to data is quickly retrieved using SQL Server indexes.
Lessons

• Optimizing Data Retrieval.
• Types of Indexes.
• Creating, Altering, and Deleting Indexes.
• Index Maintenance.

Lab : Indexing

• Create Indexes.
• Remove Fragmentation.
• Delete Indexes.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe statistics and how the query optimizer uses them.
• Create clustered and nonclustered indexes.
• Create unique indexes.
• Modify and delete indexes.
• Create included indexes.
• Identify and remove fragmentation in an index.

Module 8: Monitoring and Performance Tuning
This module explains how to monitor activity within SQL Server and limit resources that are consumed by applications and users.
Lessons

• Areas to Monitor.
• Monitoring Tools.
• Data Collection.
• Resource Governor.

Lab : Monitoring and Performance Tuning

• Create a SQL Server Profiler Trace.
• Create a Table from Trace Data.
• Identify Missing Indexes Using Database Engine Tuning Advisor.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Monitor SQL Server using SQL Server Profiler, Activity Monitor, and various logs.
• Create a server-side trace.
• Identify missing indexes using Database Engine Tuning Advisor.
• Configure data collection and upload.
• Limit resource usage with Resource Governor.

Module 9: Auditing SQL Server 2008Lessons

• Triggers.
• Service Broker and Event Notifications.
• Policy-Based Management.
• Change Data Capture.
• Change Tracking.
• SQL Server Audit.

Lab : Auditing SQL Server 2008

• Create a DDL Trigger.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Create DML and DDL triggers.
• Configure Service Broker.
• Create Event Notifications.
• Create a Policy.
• Configure change data capture and change tracking.
• Configure auditing.

Module 10: Upgrading to SQL Server 2008
This module explains how to successfully upgrade to SQL Server 2008.
Lessons

• Pre-Upgrade Tasks.
• Upgrade Options.
• Post-Upgrade Tasks.

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand upgrade options.
• Identify pre- and post-upgrade tasks.