Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration

Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration provides the essential skills and knowledge needed to begin a successful career as an SQL Server database administrator. It’s an ideal book for those new to database administration, as well for those moving to SQL Server from other database brands such as Oracle and IBM DB2.

SQL Server is more than just a database. It's situated within a larger context that includes solutions for reporting, for integrating data from other systems, for business intelligence and analysis, and more. Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration paints the big picture to help you understand SQL Server’s place in the grand scheme. Then you’ll move into the nuts and bolts of installing the product, learning the management tools at your disposal, creating your first database, and maintaining that database in an ongoing state of readiness.

Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration goes beyond teaching just the core competencies of effective database administration. You will also learn the latest trends in SQL Server such as virtualizing and consolidating of servers, and using SQL Server in the cloud as a service. Administrators experienced on other platforms will find insight from comparisons of key features between SQL Server and other platforms. Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration lays an excellent foundation for success as an SQL Server database administrator.

• Provides the essentials of successful SQL Server administration
• Covers the latest trends such as virtualization and cloud computing
• Paints the big picture of Microsoft’s data platform

What you’ll learn

• Master basic database administration skills
• Plan and install new database environments
• Ensure the ability to recover from disaster and data loss
• Manage security and regulatory compliance
• Take advantage of new features in SQL Server 2012
• Create private-cloud databases for your organization

Who this book is for

Beginning SQL Server 2012 Administration is aimed at aspiring database administrators, as well as at experienced administrators from competing platforms such as Oracle. The book quickly provides the essentials of SQL Server administration, laying a foundation for success in a career as an SQL Server database administrator.

About the Authors

Rob Walters is a data platform technology specialist for Microsoft. His extensive experience with Microsoft SQL Server began over 10 years ago when he worked as a consultant for Microsoft Consulting Services in Denver, Colorado. Shortly after the dot-com bubble burst, Walters returned to Microsoft’s headquarters and worked as a program manager in the SQL Server product unit. There, he owned various features within SQL Server including SQL Server Agent, various management features, and the security for the database engine. Walters has co-authored three patents for technologies used within SQL Server.

Walters has also co-authored Programming Microsoft SQL Server 2005 by Microsoft Press, and Pro SQL Server 2005, Accelerated SQL Server 2008, and Beginning SQL Server 2008 Database Administration by Apress. He holds a bachelor's of science degree in electrical engineering from Michigan State University and a master's degree in business administration from Seattle University. When not at work, he is very active in his community as an on-call firefighter.

Grant Fritchey works as a development database administrator for FM Global, an industry-leading engineering and insurance company. In his previous time as a database administrator and developer, he has worked at three failed dot-coms, a major consulting company, and a global bank. He has developed large-scale applications in languages such as VB, C#, and Java and has lived with SQL Server from the hoary days of 6.0, right through to 2008. His nickname at work is "The Scary DBA." He even has an official name plate, and he displays it proudly.

Grant volunteers for the Professional Association of SQL Server Users (PASS) and has written and published articles on various topics relating to SQL Server at Simple-Talk, SQL Server Central, SQL Server Performance, the PASS web site, SQL Standard, and the SQL Server Worldwide Users Group. He is the author of the book Dissecting SQL Server Execution Plans. He is one of the founding officers of the Southern New England SQL Server Users Group (SNESSUG).