SQL Server Magazine UPDATE, September 15, 2005--Best Practices from Project REAL

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Free Disaster Recovery Toolkit for the SQL DBA

Quest Software -- Quest Central for SQL Server

ALERT: How Hackers Use SQL Injection to Steal Your Data

Microsoft ASP.NET Connections Conference

September 15, 2005

1. Perspectives

2. SQL Server 2005 Watch

3. News & Views

4. Reader Challenge

5. Events and Resources

6. Featured White Paper

7. Peer to Peer

8. Announcements

9. New & Improved

Sponsor: Free Disaster Recovery Toolkit for the SQL DBA
Written by SQL Server expert Brian Knight, this handy, "how-to" toolkit contains comprehensive first-hand advice and scripts for SQL Server DBAs that need to build and implement a successful disaster recovery plan. With his tips and quips, Brian walks the DBA through real-world scenarios using an easy, step-by-step approach. And as part of the download, you'll receive four scripts, which will greatly speed your recovery time!

1. Perspectives

REAL Best Practices

    by Brian Moran

SQL Server 2005 Database Mirroring Delayed

At this week's Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC), the company announced that the November release to manufacturing (RTM) of SQL Server 2005 won't include the much-anticipated Database Mirroring feature. Instead, Database Mirroring will have an extended customer-deployment and testing cycle. In a public letter, Microsoft Senior Vice President of Server Applications Paul Flessner explained, "We believe our Database Mirroring feature needs more time in the hands of customers before we make it generally available for production use. The feature is complete, has passed extensive internal testing, and we are committed to making it generally available in the first half of 2006. We will continue to field-test the feature with customers and will release it for general use as soon as you tell us it is ready."

Read more news from Microsoft PDC in Paul Thurrott's PDC 2005 Blog.

New Instant Poll: September CTP "Will you download the SQL Server 2005 September CTP?" Go to the SQL Server Magazine home page ( http://lists.sqlmag.com/t?ctl=13CE8:7B3DA ) and submit your vote for:

4. Reader Challenge

September Reader Challenge Solution: Defining Extended Properties

by Umachandar Jayachandran

1. Modify the schema of the table to support searching the data in the CustID column in a case-insensitive manner--without modifying the original CustID column or the data it contains.

2. Allow efficient searches or a determination of duplicates based on the CustID column.

3. Be sure schema modifications are in addition to existing columns because this schema is used by other processes.

5. Events and Resources

Get Ready for the SQL Server 2005 Roadshow in Europe

Back By Popular Demand -- Get the facts about migrating to SQL Server 2005! SQL Server experts will present real-world information about administration, development, and business intelligence to help you implement a best-practices migration to SQL Server 2005 and improve your database-computing environment. Receive a one-year membership to PASS and one-year subscription to SQL Server Magazine.

SQL Server Magazine Connections Fall 2005

Celebrate the release of Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 at SQL Server Magazine Connections, November 7-10, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Every attendee will go home with a fully licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition AND Visual Studio 2005 Professional. Call 203-268-3204 or 800-438-6720 for details.

Register Now for the 2005 PASS Community Summit

The 2005 PASS Community Summit, September 27-30 in Grapevine (Dallas), Texas, is your final chance to obtain in-depth information on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 prior to its upcoming official launch. Register by September 25 for just $1695 for the LARGEST user-driven SQL Server educational event!

Discover SQL Server 2005 for the Enterprise. Are you prepared?

In this free, half-day event, you'll learn how the top new features of SQL Server 2005 will help you create and manage large-scale, mission-critical, enterprise database applications--making your job easier. Find out how to leverage SQL Server 2005's new capabilities to best support your business initiatives.

Identify the Key Security Considerations for Wireless Mobility

Wireless and mobile technologies are enabling enterprises to gain a competitive advantage through accelerated responsiveness and increased productivity. In this free, on-demand Web seminar, you'll receive a checklist of risks to factor in when considering your wireless mobility technology evaluations and design. Sign up today and learn all you need to know about firewall security, transmission security, OTA management, management of third-party security applications, and more!

Hot Tip: Monitoring Queries in Analysis Services

by Carl Rabelerng

Hot Article: SQL Server 2000 SP4

SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4) should be considered an essential update for SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine (MSDE) systems. In his September SELECT TOP(X) column "SQL Server 2000 SP4," Michael Otey highlights six important updates that SQL Server 2000 SP4 includes.

Microsoft ASP.NET Connections Conference

Celebrate the release of Visual Studio 2005 and SQL Server 2005 at Microsoft ASP.NET Connections, November 7-10, in Las Vegas. Every attendee goes home with a fully-licensed copy of SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition and Visual Studio 2005 Professional.

Share Your Story and Get a T-Shirt!

Have you used a product that saved you time or made your job easier? Tell us how your favorite product solved a SQL Server problem for you, and if we print your submission in the magazine's Hands On department we'll send you a SQL Server Magazine t-shirt. Send your email today to [email protected]!

Get a SQL Server 2005 Database Management Solution

Embarcadero Technologies announced DBArtisan 8.1, a cross-platform data and database-management solution that supports the SQL Server 2005 Community Technology Preview (CTP). The solution uses a set of common APIs to provide consistent management capabilities across database platforms, letting DBAs manage SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, Sybase, and MySQL databases through a single, consistent interface. The product provides a layer of abstraction that reduces the amount of code needed to perform core functions across your environment. Thus, the centralization of administrative functions improves performance while letting DBAs more effectively control database security and management. Additionally, support for the SQL Server 2005 CTP lets customers evaluate the latest SQL Server version for their database systems. Embarcadero offers a flexible licensing plan that lets you customize the product for your environment. The base price for DBArtisan 8.1 is $2495, and a free evaluation copy is available for download. For more information, contact Embarcadero Technologies at 415-834-3131 or [email protected].

Get a Jump Start on Certifying Applications for SQL Server 2005

DataDirect Technologies announced its Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Early-Access Program, an assistance program for customers who want to implement the DataDirect Connect for JDBC driver on their SQL Server 2005 databases. The program lets customers get an advance start on using and certifying their applications for SQL Server 2005. As part of the program, DataDirect provides JDBC migration guides and limited telephone-based consultations to give customers "how to" approaches to migrating to DataDirect Connect for JDBC drivers on SQL Server 2005. The DataDirect Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Early-Access Program is available to all existing a future customers. For more information, contact DataDirect Technologies at 800-876-3101 or 919-461-4200.