DBA Challenges Newsletter
DBA Challenges is a weekly newsletter for SQL Server database administrators looking to become more efficient through automation and hands-on learning.
Every challenge presents a real-world problem and provides tips and resources to get you started. But, ultimately, the solution is up to you.
These are designed to be completed within personal virtual or cloud environments, in less than 8 hours.
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#013 Creating and Implementing Your First Policy
Usually, right after building a SQL Server instance, it's in pretty good shape. You've configured settings like maxdop, cost threshold for parallelism, max memory, etc. You've likely set up your standard maintenance jobs and set up users and roles appropriately.
But let's say it's a year or tw...
by Luke Campbell —
Nov 16, 2024
policy based management
#012 Introduction to Policy-Based Management
Policy-based management is often an overlooked feature in SQL Server. It's been around for years. I've used it to help enforce STIG controls on SQL Servers, which needed to be DOD-compliant.
No DBA wants to build an instance and then guess if it's still in compliance right before audit season...
by Luke Campbell —
Nov 09, 2024
policy based management
#011 Adding a Second Node to Your SQL Server 2022 FCI
Last week, you prestaged the SQL Server Network Virtual Computer Object (VCO) and installed SQL Server 2022 on the first cluster node. But you couldn't connect remotely and needed to add the second node.
We'll address both of these issues in this week's challenge. By the end, you'll have a full...
by Luke Campbell —
Oct 26, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#010 Pre-Staging the SQL Server Network VCO
Two weeks ago, you completed the cluster build in preparation for the SQL Server installation.
This week, we'll focus on the crucial step of pre-staging the SQL Server Network Virtual Computer Object (VCO). Pre-staging the VCO helps avoid permission issues during the SQL Server Failover Cluster ...
Oct 19, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#009 Build a Windows Server Failover Cluster - Part 5
Last week, you finished adding the shared storage.
We'll complete the cluster build this week in preparation for the SQL Server installation. There's a twist, though. Instead of using your domain admin credentials (the admin_* account you created in challenge 004) to build the cluster, we'll u...
by Luke Campbell —
Oct 05, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#008 Build a Windows Server Failover Cluster - Part 4
We're getting closer to finishing the cluster build. Last week you added a third network and configured it to isolate cluster traffic (aka heartbeat).
This week's challenge will focus on setting up the shared iSCSI disks and presenting those to both cluster nodes. We'll utilize the 10.0.1.0...
by Luke Campbell —
Sep 28, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#007 Build a Windows Server Failover Cluster - Part 3
A few years back, while working for a large healthcare organization, I managed a SQL Server failover clustered instance that would failover at random times.
This business-critical instance was used for reporting (data marts). By having a cluster, everyone thought it would provide high availabi...
by Luke Campbell —
Sep 21, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#006 Build a Windows Server Failover Cluster - Part 2
Real quick before we jump into this week's challenge. This past week has been extremely busy (hence this edition being a day late).
But, I needed to create a new vagrantfile to build this environment quickly using my Automated Sandbox Framework (ASF). I'll recreate the environment and add addi...
by Luke Campbell —
Sep 15, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#005 Build a Windows Server Failover Cluster - Part 1
SQL Server's high-availability features require a Windows Server Failover Cluster.
You may have created a failover clustered instance or Availability Group. But, this series of challenges will focus on building the underlying WSFC.
By now, you've built a domain controller and one server, SRV1. ...
by Luke Campbell —
Sep 07, 2024
high availability
windows server failover cluster
#004 Managing Users and Service Accounts
Service accounts, user accounts, managed service accounts, group managed services accounts.
What's the difference?
One of the most important aspects of being a DBA is securing data. That often involves managing access to SQL Server instances and databases through domain accounts.
This can b...
by Luke Campbell —
Aug 31, 2024
#003 Join a Computer to a Windows Domain
Joining a computer to a Windows domain is usually one of the first steps a systems admin will perform (after the virtual machine or server has been built that is).
Usually, the server is ready to go before being handed over to a DBA to complete the SQL Server install and configuration.
We, as D...
by Luke Campbell —
Aug 24, 2024
#002 Build Your Own Domain Controller
You may be thinking, "Why do I need to know how to build a DC, I'm a DBA?"
Fortunately, DBAs don't typically build DCs. However, I've found that knowing a bit about how SQL Server utilizes Active Directory has been very beneficial.
For instance, I was building a Windows Server Failover Cluste...
by Luke Campbell —
Aug 17, 2024