Edition: Saturday, February 24th, 2024
A common challenge DBAs encounter is efficient capacity planning. Ensuring that SQL Server is operational, optimized, and ready to scale is important.
In today's edition, I'll share insights on capacity planning, including strategies, tools, and best practi...
Edition: Saturday, February 17th, 2024
I recently had a conversation about the placement of SQL Server native backups. Backups were stored on the same drive as the database log files, and I mentioned that they needed to reside elsewhere.
Today, we will look at what happens when you lose a drive t...
Edition: Saturday, February 10th, 2024
Sign up for the DBA Challenges Newsletter here --> DBA Challenges - Newsletter (automatesql.com).
It's hard to believe we're already in the 2nd week of February 2024.
Today, I will focus on how to leverage Extended Events to identify and troubleshoot queri...
Introduction:
In part 5, we created the remaining configuration scripts that we'll use to create the Windows Server 2022 golden image. At this point, your AutomatedSandboxFramework directory should resemble the screenshot below.
Here's what we'll accomplish by the end of this post:
- Comp ...
Edition: Saturday, February 3rd, 2024
In today's issue, I will show how to perform a simple installation of Active Directory, cover basic concepts, and explain why it's crucial to a DBA.
For DBAs, understanding how SQL Server integrates with Active Directory is important for ensuring secure, eff...
Edition: Saturday, January 27th, 2024
Welcome to this week's edition. We'll break down the two most popular posts ranked by comments. Be sure to grab the scripts to work through the demo yourself if you'd like. We'll jump right in (I hear DBAs are busy people).
Day 24 - Comments 24
Let's ...
Introduction:
In part 4, we created the autounattend.xml and PackerShutdown.bat files and created the source block.
Most machine builds require additional configuration after installing the OS. At this point, you generally wouldn't turn the server over to the application or database team with...
Edition: Saturday, January 20th, 2024
Welcome to this week's edition (actually, this is the very first edition). We'll break down the most popular posts ranked by two categories: Most Comments and Most Impressions.
Most Comments - 39
Let's take a look at the first challenge.
Challenge:...
Introduction:
You know how annoying it is to install an OS manually. Having to click through the initial setup, remember which drivers to install, and then apply your basic configuration to every new machine is cumbersome.
Fortunately, both Windows and Linux operating systems support automate...
Introduction:
In Part 2 of this series, we reviewed the different aspects of a Packer template file. In this post, we'll begin creating the HCL template file for the Windows Server 2022 golden image. Here's what you'll have by the end:
- Install tools we'll use to create the HCL file and assoc ...
Introduction:
Part 2 covers the concepts of the build process and HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) templates. Builders create machines and generate images from those machines for various platforms. Multiple builders create the golden image in the Automated Sandbox Framework (ASF). Let's ...
Introduction:
If you're someone tasked with server provisioning, OS installations/configurations, or setting up a home virtual sandbox, this blog series is for you. In it, you'll learn about Hashicorp Packer and how it can make your job easier. We'll end the series with a set of scripts and an ...