Speaking, Technical Community Involvement & Publications

I’m actively involved in Technical Communities in Canada, USA and SouthEast Asia (yes, that’s where I am from). I speak on topics related to SQL Server and sometimes anything about Microsoft technologies (a more comprehensive list is available on my Microsoft MVP profile page). I’m an advocate of continuous professional development among technology professionals and have spoken on topics about leadership, management, communication skills and the likes (I do maintain a separate professional development blog). If you would like more information about having me deliver a presentation to your group, click here for more information.


Previous Events


SharePoint Saturday – Montreal, QC, CANADA (8 Feb-2014)
Common Mistakes To Avoid When Deploying SharePoint 2013

Deploying SharePoint 2013 farms need not be a terrible experience. In this session, learn the most common mistakes that IT professionals make when deploying SharePoint and how to avoid them.

Ottawa Windows Server User Group
Gone Clustering in 60 Minutes (27-Jan 2014)

Deploying a Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008/2012 has become a lot easier with the availability of online resources. However, making it easy does not mean ignoring the basic principles of the underlying technology. In this session, learn the fundamentals and principles behind how Windows Failover Clustering works and how SQL Server or other cluster-aware applications leverage on the technology, allowing you to build highly available infrastructures.

Architecting a SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups Topology (Webcast: 25-Jan 2014)

So, you’re tasked to implement SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups but don’t know where to start. You have a lot of different topologies to choose from but they’re all the more confusing. Creating effective design architecture is key. In this session, we will look at the different topologies – from simple ones to advance – that you can implement and how to build them. At the end of the session, you will walk away with the knowledge on how to build the right SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Group topology that will address your high availability and disaster recovery requirements.

You will learn:

  • Common design patterns and guidelines that you need to consider when building your architecture
  • Proper selection of quorum configuration
  • Network configuration for local and geographically dispersed replicas
  • Combining SQL Server Failover Clustering with AlwaysOn Availability Groups.


Ottawa IT Community – Ottawa, ON, CANADA (23 Jan-2014)
Lap Around Windows Azure SQL Database and Microsoft SQL Server in Windows Azure Virtual Machines

Windows Azure SQL Database is a fully-managed, scalable service based on SQL Server technology. Yet “fully-managed” does not necessarily mean that many or all of the tasks and responsibilities of the DBA are managed and executed by Microsoft or the service itself. The DBA is very crucial in Windows Azure SQL Database, and this session takes a look at the all-important role of the DBA when working with Windows Azure SQL Database. This session looks at how many of the on-premises functions, tasks, and responsibilities of the DBA are accomplished in a cloud environment, specifically Windows Azure SQL Database. This session also looks at the tips, tricks, and best practices a DBA should know for accomplishing similar on-premises tasks in the cloud.

Restoring SQL Server databases: the options and steps (Webcast: 22-Jan 2014)

Everyone knows they should have backups in place for their SQL Server databases, but what do you do with these backup files when you need to recover an entire database, an object or data?

In this webinar, we will explain the various aspects of restoring databases along with the commands and options that can be used for recovery. We will discuss the different restore paths that can be taken based on the backups you have generated, talk about strategies to recover specific objects and data along with how system tables can be used to assist with auto-generating restore commands.

The Transaction Log and How It Affects High Availability and Disaster Recovery (18-22 Nov 2013)

When choosing the appropriate SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) solutions, it is important to understand the SQL Server Transaction Log as it affects any solution you choose. In this session, we will look at transaction log basics, how logging and recovery works and how it affects all of the HA/DR solutions available in SQL Server. You’ll be surprised to know that the transaction log is the most important part of your database.

You will learn:

  • How the transaction log works
  • How the transaction log affects all of the SQL Server HA/DR solutions that you choose
  • How to properly take care of the transaction log for performance and HA/DR

Fundamentals of SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups (18-22 Nov 2013)

Almost every SQL Server DBA wants to get their hands on implementing SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups. Sure, it’s easy to setup and configure. But we can’t ignore the basics. In this session, we will look at the underlying concepts behind AlwaysOn Availability Groups – how it works under-the-covers and how you can leverage this information to efficiently design a highly available database.

You will learn:

  • How Windows Server Failover Clustering and Database Mirroring works
  • How these two technologies form the foundation for understanding AlwaysOn Availability Groups
  • How to efficiently design a highly available database using AlwaysOn Availability Groups

Architecting a SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups Topology (18-22 Nov 2013)

So, you’re tasked to implement SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups but don’t know where to start. You have a lot of different topologies to choose from but they’re all the more confusing. Creating effective design architecture is key. In this session, we will look at the different topologies – from simple ones to advance – that you can implement and how to build them. At the end of the session, you will walk away with the knowledge on how to build the right SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Group topology that will address your high availability and disaster recovery requirements.

You will learn:

  • Common design patterns and guidelines that you need to consider when building your architecture
  • Proper selection of quorum configuration
  • Network configuration for local and geographically dispersed replicas
  • Combining SQL Server Failover Clustering with AlwaysOn Availability Groups

Troubleshoot SQL Server Performance Issues using Wait Statistics (18-22 Nov 2013)

Have you ever scratched your head trying to figure out what is causing performance issues in your SQL Server databases? In this session, we will look at uncovering your SQL Server’s performance issues by learning about wait statistics. We will look at SQL Server wait statistics and how we can troubleshoot performance problems using this methodology from finding the root cause to resolving the issues.

You will learn:

  • The importance of SQL Server Wait Statistics in performance tuning and optimization
  • About what wait statistics are
  • To apply performance troubleshooting methodology using wait statistics

PASS Summit 2013 – Charlotte, NC, USA (15-18 Oct-2013)
The Role of Active Directory and DNS in SQL Server HA/DR

Do you think you can handle failover clustering and Availability Groups? Think again. Your job description as a SQL Server DBA has just changed. In this session, you’ll see how Active Directory and DNS play very important roles when implementing a SQL Server high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) solution. At the end of this talk, you’ll be confident enough to have a conversation with your domain administrator to make sure your SQL Server databases meet their recovery objectives and service level agreements.

SharePoint Summit 2013 – Vancouver, BC, CANADA (28-29 Oct-2013)
SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Deep Dive For SharePoint Administrators

SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn provides new enterprise-level high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) solutions that SharePoint 2010/2013 can take advantage of. In this session, learn how you can implement SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Failover Clustering and Availability Groups to provide HA/DR solutions to your SharePoint farm – from planning, design and implementation of very simple solutions to more complex ones.

SharePoint Summit 2013 – Vancouver, BC, CANADA (28-29 Oct-2013)
Windows PowerShell for SharePoint Administrators

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while you can use Central Administration and STSADM for administering SharePoint, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SharePoint Management Shell to administer and manage a SharePoint farm. You can end up having “the power of the shell at the palm of your hands.”

SharePoint Summit 2013 – Vancouver, BC, CANADA (28-29 Oct-2013)
Database Configuration for maximum SharePoint 2010/2013 Performance

Most of the SharePoint 2010/2013 installations I’ve come across with use the standard and default configurations on the database server. However, the health and performance of your SharePoint farms are directly related to how your SQL Server databases perform. If the SQL Server databases are not performing well, that will translate to poor SharePoint performance. So, before you start spending more money into buying faster servers or upgrading your CPU and/or memory, you might want to check out this session first. We will learn how to properly configure a SQL Server instance for maximum SharePoint performance. We will look at understanding the underlying storage, proper database files placement, tuning the tempdb database database and other configuration settings that will help your SharePoint databases achieve optimum performance.

SQLSaturday 235 – New York City, USA (17 Aug-2013)
The Transaction Log and How It Affects HA/DR

When choosing the appropriate SQL Server HA/DR solutions, it is important to understand the SQL Server Transaction Log as it affects any solution you choose. In this session, we will look at transaction log basics, how logging and recovery works and how it affects all of the HA/DR solutions available in SQL Server. You’ll be surprised to know that the transaction log is the most important part of your database.

Fundamentals of SQL Server AlwaysOn Availability Groups (Webcast: 08-Aug 2013)

Almost every SQL Server DBA wants to get their hands on implementing SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups. Sure, it’s easy to setup and configure. But we can’t ignore the basics. In this webcast, we will look at the underlying concepts behind AlwaysOn Availability Groups – how it works under-the-covers and how you can leverage this information to efficiently design a highly available database.

We will cover:

  • How Windows Server Failover Clustering and Database Mirroring works
  • How these two technologies form the foundation for understanding AlwaysOn Availability Groups
  • How to efficiently design a highly available database using AlwaysOn Availability Groups

Don’t miss this session to make AlwaysOn work in your environment.

DevTeach – Toronto, ON, CANADA (27 May-2013)
WORKSHOP: SQL Server 2012 High Availability Group and Disaster Recovery

High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) is an area that every SQL Server DBA needs to be comfortable with. In this full-day workshop, learn what needs to be considered when embarking on a HA/DR project, the different features and technologies available in SQL Server, and implement them accordingly to meet service level agreements of mission-critical databases.

DevTeach – Toronto, ON, CANADA (27-31 May-2013)
Understanding SQL Server Indexes

Indexes allow SQL Server to access your data in the most efficient manner. Understanding how SQL Server indexes work under-the-hood will give you insights on how to design effective indexing strategies. Whether you’re a developer or a DBA, in this session, you will learn what indexes are, how they work, basic indexing strategies and how query performance is affected by indexes.

DevTeach – Toronto, ON, CANADA (27-31 May-2013)
Troubleshoot SQL Server Performance Issues using Wait Statistics

Have you ever scratched your head trying to figure out what is causing performance issues in your SQL Server databases? In this session, we will look at uncovering your SQL Server’s performance issues by learning about wait statistics. We will look at SQL Server wait statistics and how we can troubleshoot performance problems using this methodology – from finding the root cause to resolving the issues.


Ottawa IT Community – Ottawa, ON, CANADA (17 May-2013)
SQL Server Indexes Under-the-Hood

Indexes allow SQL Server to access your data in the most efficient manner. Understanding how SQL Server indexes work under-the-hood will give you insights on how to design effective indexing strategies. In this session, you will learn what indexes are, how they work, basic indexing strategies and how query performance is affected by indexes.


SQLBits 2013 – Nottingham, UK (02-03 May-2013)
Gone Clustering in 60 Minutes

Deploying a SQL Server Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008/2012 has become a lot easier with the availability of online resources. However, making it easy does not mean ignoring the basic principles of the underlying technology. In this session, learn the fundamentals and principles behind how Windows Failover Clustering works and how SQL Server leverages on the technology, allowing you to build highly available database infrastructures.

Top 5 Things Every SQL Server DBA Should Monitor (Webcast: 11-Apr 2013)

There are so many different tools that come with SQL Server and Windows that DBAs can use to monitor database performance. Deciding on which tools to use, how often to collect data and then determining what to do with this data is often not very clear and therefore people either over collect data or don’t do any data collection until a problem arises. The other issue DBAs face is how to interpret this collected data and how to use it to their advantage for a smooth running SQL Server environment.

In this webcast, we will explore the top things that every DBA should be monitoring to ensure a healthy SQL Server database environment. We will look at items such as memory, disk throughput, poor performing queries, wait stats as well as other key areas of SQL Server that should be monitored. We will look at the native tools for both SQL Server and Windows, techniques for capturing this data and key things to investigate based on the collected data.

This will be a high level discussion for each of these components that should be monitored and the best practices to ensuring you have the necessary data to troubleshoot issues when they arise.


SQLSaturday 218 – Manila, PHILIPPINES (09 Mar-2013)
SQL Server Index internals

Indexes allow SQL Server to access your data in the most efficient manner. Understanding how SQL Server indexes work under-the-hood will give you insights on how to design effective indexing strategies. In this session, you will learn what indexes are, how they work, basic indexing strategies and how query performance is affected by indexes.

SQLSaturday 218 – Manila, PHILIPPINES (09 Mar-2013)
The Transaction Log and How It Affects HA/DR

When choosing the appropriate SQL Server HA/DR solutions, it is important to understand the SQL Server Transaction Log as it affects any solution you choose. In this session, we will look at transaction log basics, how logging and recovery works and how it affects all of the HA/DR solutions available in SQL Server. You’ll be surprised to know that the transaction log is the most important part of your database.
SQLSaturday 218 – Manila, PHILIPPINES (09 Mar-2013)
Windows PowerShell for the SQL Server DBA

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while T-SQL is still the scripting language for DBAs to administer and manage SQL Server, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) to administer and manage a SQL Server instance.

SQLSaturday 198 – Vancouver, BC, CANADA (16 Feb-2013)
Optimizing SharePoint 2010 Performance Thru SQL Server

The health and performance of your SharePoint farms are directly related to how your SQL Server databases perform. If the SQL Server databases are not performing well, that will translate to poor SharePoint performance. Check out this session to learn how to properly configure a SQL Server instance for maximum SharePoint performance. We will look at understanding the underlying storage, proper database files placement, tuning the tempdb database database and other configuration settings that will help your SharePoint databases achieve optimum performance.

SharePoint Saturday – Montreal, QC, CANADA (2 Feb-2013)
Database Configuration for Maximum SharePoint 2010 Performance

Most of the SharePoint 2010 installations I’ve come across with use the standard and default configurations on the database server.  However, the health and performance of your SharePoint farms are directly related to how your SQL Server databases perform.  If the SQL Server databases are not performing well, that will translate to poor SharePoint performance. So, before you start spending more money into buying faster servers or upgrading your CPU and/or memory, you might want to check out this session first. We will learn how to properly configure a SQL Server instance for maximum SharePoint performance. We will look at understanding the underlying storage, proper database files placement, tuning the tempdb database database and other configuration settings that will help your SharePoint databases achieve optimum performance.

Windows PowerShell for the SharePoint Administrator

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while you can use Central Administration and STSADM for administering SharePoint, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SharePoint Management Shell to administer and manage a SharePoint farm. You can end up having “the power of the shell at the palm of your hands.”

Charlotte SQL Server User Group Meeting – Charlotte, NC, USA (16 Jan-2013)
Providing Database Availability with SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn

SQL Server 2012 will have quite a few features aimed towards providing High Availability for database architectures. In this session, we will explore the new AlwaysOn Availability Groups feature for high availability and disaster recovery and the increased productivity created by read-only access to secondary database mirror replicas.

OKPASS SQL Server User Group Meeting (24 Jan-2013) (Webcast)
Windows PowerShell for the SQL Server DBA

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while T-SQL is still the scripting language for DBAs to administer and manage SQL Server, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) to administer and manage a SQL Server instance.

SQL Server Society of Las Vegas Monthly Meeting (10 Jan-2013) (Webcast)
Windows PowerShell for the SQL Server DBA

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while T-SQL is still the scripting language for DBAs to administer and manage SQL Server, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) to administer and manage a SQL Server instance.

To join the webcast, use the following information below:

LiveMeeting URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/UserGroups/join
Meeting ID: JRW8JQ
Location: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/UserGroups

Manila, PHILIPPINES (19 Dec-2012)
Understanding SQL Server Failover Clustering

Creating a SQL Server 2008 Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008 has become a lot easier with the availability of online resources such as blog posts and articles. However, making it easy does not mean ignoring the basic principles of the underlying technology. In this session, learn the fundamentals and principles behind how Windows Failover Clustering works and how SQL Server leverages on the technology, allowing you to build highly available database infrastructures

SharePoint Saturday – Ottawa, ON, Canada (1 Dec-2012)
Database Configuration for Maximum SharePoint 2010 Performance

Most of the SharePoint 2010 installations I’ve come across with use the standard and default configurations on the database server.  However, the health and performance of your SharePoint farms are directly related to how your SQL Server databases perform.  If the SQL Server databases are not performing well, that will translate to poor SharePoint performance. So, before you start spending more money into buying faster servers or upgrading your CPU and/or memory, you might want to check out this session first. We will learn how to properly configure a SQL Server instance for maximum SharePoint performance. We will look at understanding the underlying storage, proper database files placement, tuning the tempdb database database and other configuration settings that will help your SharePoint databases achieve optimum performance.

SQL Server Live 2012 – Orlando, FL, USA (10-14 Dec-2012)
Workshop: SQL Server High Availability and Disaster Recovery Deep Dive

High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HA/DR) is an area that every SQL Server DBA needs to be comfortable with. In this full-day workshop, learn what needs to be considered when embarking on a HA/DR project, the different features and technologies available in SQL Server, and implement them accordingly to meet service level agreements of mission-critical databases.

You will learn:

  • What requirements need to be met when implementing an HA/DR project
  • How to identify different SQL Server features and technologies – backup, recovery, database mirroring, log shipping, clustering, AlwaysOn – that can be used in addressing HA/DR requirements
  • How to implement the appropriate technology to meet HA/DR service level agreements

SQL Server Live 2012 – Orlando, FL, USA (10-14 Dec-2012)
Gone Clustering in 60 Minutes

Deploying a SQL Server Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008 has become a lot easier with the availability of online resources. However, making it easy does not mean ignoring the basic principles of the underlying technology. In this session, learn the fundamentals and principles behind how Windows Failover Clustering works and how SQL Server leverages on the technology, allowing you to build highly available database infrastructures.

You will learn:

  • A basic understanding of how Windows Failover Clustering works
  • A basic understanding of how SQL Server leverages on the Windows Failover Clustering feature to provide high availability
  • To implement a multi-node, multi-instance SQL Server Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008/R2

SQL Server Live 2012 – Orlando, FL, USA (10-14 Dec-2012)
Database Recovery Techniques To Keep handy

Nothing is more frightening to a DBA as getting that wake-up phone call that the system is down, especially when it’s a mission critical one. This session will focus on being prepared for, and dealing with, a recovery situation for a SQL Server 2005/2008/2012 database, an instance or an entire server. Topics covered will be backup schemes, partial backups and piecemeal restores, and page-level recovery.

You will learn:

  • The different database recovery techniques available
  • The different database recovery techniques using different scenarios
  • New database recovery techniques in SQL Server 2012

SQL Server Live 2012 – Orlando, FL, USA (10-14 Dec-2012)
Providing Database Availability with SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn

SQL Server 2012 will have quite a few features aimed towards providing High Availability for database architectures. In this session, we will explore the new AlwaysOn Availability Groups feature for high availability and disaster recovery and the increased productivity created by read-only access to secondary database mirror replicas.

You will learn:

  • An understanding of the new SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn feature
  • Provide database availability using SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups
  • How to convert existing log shipping and database mirroring configuration to SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups

PASS Summit 2012 – Seattle, WA, USA (6-9 Nov-2012)
Lightning Talk: Presentation WOW

So you open up PowerPoint, create your slides, and get ready to present. Sure, you know exactly how to do this – you’ve done it lots of times before. But there’s more you could be doing. This session will look at what you need to consider when creating powerful presentations that shine.

MCT Summit 2012 – Seattle, WA, USA (17-20 Oct-2012)
Windows PowerShell for the SQL Server DBA

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while T-SQL is still the scripting language for DBAs to administer and manage SQL Server, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) to administer and manage a SQL Server instance.

MCT Summit 2012 – Seattle, WA, USA (17-20 Oct-2012)
Providing Database Availability With SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn

SQL Server 2012 will have quite a few features aimed towards providing High Availability for database architectures. In this session, we will explore the new AlwaysOn Availability Groups feature for high availability and disaster recovery and the increased productivity created by read-only access to secondary database mirror replicas.

Baltimore SQL Server User Group August 2012 Meeting (Webcast)
Implementing SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core

SQL Server DBAs have relied so much on graphical user interface (GUI) to administer and manage database servers. So, why take away the GUI? If you’re more into using the command-line and PowerShell to manage your servers, come to this session to learn how to implement SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core.

SQLSaturday 158 – New York City, USA (4-Aug-2012)
Deploying SQL Server 2012 Multi-Site Clusters

This is a demo-driven session that will focus on designing and implementing a multi-site, geographically dispersed SQL Server 2012 Failover Cluster instance across multiple data centers. We will cover the considerations on implementing such an architecture to address high availability and disaster recovery requirements for your mission-critical databases.

SQLSaturday 158 – New York City, USA (4-Aug-2012)
Implementing SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core

SQL Server DBAs have relied so much on graphical user interface (GUI) to administer and manage database servers. So, why take away the GUI? If you’re more into using the command-line and PowerShell to manage your servers, come to this session to learn how to implement SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core

NYC SQL Server User Group – New York City, USA (26-July-2012)
Windows PowerShell for the SQL Server DBA

Windows PowerShell is becoming the scripting language of choice for managing Microsoft servers and workstations. And while T-SQL is still the scripting language for DBAs to administer and manage SQL Server, there are tons of stuff that can be easily done with Windows PowerShell. In this session, learn Windows PowerShell from the ground up and how you can use it with SQL Server Management Objects (SMO) to administer and manage a SQL Server instance.

Getting Ready for SQL Server 2012 – Ottawa, Canada (25-May-2012)

With the latest version of Microsoft’s database platform, SQL Server 2012 is packed with enhancements that will benefit SQL Server professionals – whether they’re DBA, developer or BI professional. So, what does SQL Server 2012 have to offer? Attend this session to learn more about:

  • Maximizing database availability with AlwaysOn
  • Developing and providing interactive data exploration and visualization with PowerView
  • Improving data warehouse query processing with Columnstore Indexes
  • Developing faster database applications with SQL Server Data Tools

SQL Server Indexes Under-the-Hood

Indexes allow SQL Server to access your data in the most efficient manner. Understanding how SQL Server indexes work under-the-hood will give you insights on how to design effective indexing strategies. In this session, you will learn what indexes are, how they work, basic indexing strategies and how query performance is affected by indexes.

A Peek At SQL Server Execution Plans

Data-driven applications are mostly created without scalability and performance in mind. As the data grows, performance issues arise. In this session, you will learn how SQL Server execution plans can be used to identify problems with the database design or the TSQL code, and address those problems giving you guidance on how to effectively improve your query performance.

SQLConnections: Spring 2012 – Las Vegas, NV (28-March 2012)
What? No GUI? Implementing SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core 

SQL Server DBAs have relied so much on graphical user interface (GUI) to administer and manage database servers. So, why take away the GUI? If you’re more into using the command-line and PowerShell to manage your servers, come to this session to learn how to implement SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core

24 Hours of PASS: Spring 2012 (Webcast: 21-March 2012)
Implementing SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core

Join SQL Server experts as they take an in-depth look at the hottest SQL Server topics over 24 consecutive (and free!) technical webcasts. The learning starts on March 21, 2012 beginning at 00:00 GMT (that’s a March 20 evening start for the Americas).

Abstract: SQL Server DBAs have relied heavily on the GUI to administer and manage database servers. So why move away from the GUI? If you are more into using the command line and PowerShell to manage your servers, come to this session to learn how to implement SQL Server 2012 on Windows Server Core.

Baltimore SQL Server User Group February 2012 Meeting (Webcast)
A First Look at SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups

SQL Server 2012 will have quite a few features aimed towards providing High Availability for database architectures.  In this session, we will explore the new AlwaysOn Availability Groups feature for high availability and disaster recovery and the increased productivity created by read-only access to secondary database mirror replicas.

SQL Server 2012 High Availability with AlwaysOn – First Look (Webcast: 30-Nov 2011)
SQL Server Denali (SQL Server 2012) will have quite a few features aimed towards providing High Availability for database architectures that leverage localized storage like ioMemory by Fusion-io.  In this webcast, we will explore the new AlwaysOn Availability Groups feature for high availability and disaster recovery and the increased productivity created by read-only access to secondary database mirror replicas.

Take the time to join us to learn more about these new features for improving performance and protecting SQL Server.

TechDays Canada 2011 – Toronto, ON (26-October 2011)
Upgrading to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server Code-Named “Denali”: A Comprehensive Look (NOTE: This session was repeated at DevTeach Ottawa 2011)

This session provides an in-depth look at how to upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2 or how to upgrade to the next major release of SQL Server called SQL Server “Denali”. The session covers the essential phases and steps involved in upgrading from SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2008 R2 or SQL Server “Denali” by using best practices and available resources. We cover the complete upgrade cycle, including the preparation tasks, upgrade tasks and post-upgrade tasks. This session covers upgrading a stand-alone instance, upgrading a clustered instance, upgrading instances involved in mirroring, log shipping, and replication, feature-specific considerations and recommended tools for a successful upgrade. Several demos are given covering the process and the available tools. The new feature of SQL Server “Denali” called “Product Update”, the next version of SQL Server slipstream is also covered showing you how to discover critical updates that you should include when installing or upgrading to SQL Server “Denali”.

DevTeach – Ottawa, Canada (2-4 November 2011)
A Peek At SQL Server Execution Plans

Data-driven applications are mostly created without scalability and performance in mind. As the data grows, performance issues arise. In this session, you will learn how SQL Server execution plans can be used to identify problems with the database design or the TSQL code, and address those problems giving you guidance on how to effectively improve your query performance.

DevTeach – Ottawa, Canada (2-4 November 2011)
Stop Guessing Your SQL Server Performance Bottlenecks

Have you ever scratched your head trying to figure out what is causing performance issues in your SQL Server database? In this session, we will look at uncovering your SQL Server’s bottlenecks by following a performance troubleshooting methodology.

PASS Community Summit 2011 – Seattle, WA (11-14 October 2011)
Disaster Recovery Is Not Just About Technology

If you’ve read my blog series on disaster recovery, you’d definitely want to hear me talk about disaster recovery from a non-technical perspective.

Failover Clustering, Database Mirroring, Backup Strategies, etc. These are just some of the terms that you hear when tasked to work on a disaster recovery project. However, you’re missing a lot on the non-technology aspects. This session will describe the principles that should drive disaster recovery strategies and how they need to become the foundation of the technology solutions that you need to implement. You will certainly look at your disaster recovery strategies differently after learning these concepts.

SQLSaturday 93: Toronto, Canada (17 September 2011)
Database Recovery Techniques To Keep Handy

Nothing is more frightening to a DBA as getting that wake-up phone call that the system is down, especially when it’s a mission critical one.This session will focus on being prepared for and dealing with a recovery situation for a SQL Server 2005/2008 database, an instance or an entire server. Topics covered will be backup schemes, partial backups and piecemeal restores, and page-level recovery

SQLSaturday 93: Toronto, Canada (17 September 2011)
Build a Scale-Out Reporting Services 2008 R2 Farm

Delivering reports is becoming more critical due to the increasing demand for business intelligence solutions. And while there are a lot of guides that walk us through building a highly available database engine, you’ll rarely see one for SQL Server Reporting Services. This session will walk you through building a scale-out SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services farm from the ground up. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to do so that you can start building your own test environment.

SQLSaturday 93: Toronto, Canada (17 September 2011)
Gone Clustering in 60 Minutes

Creating a SQL Server 2008 Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008 has become a lot easier with the availability of online resources such as blog posts and articles. However, making it easy does not mean ignoring the basic principles of the underlying technology. In this session, learn the fundamentals and principles behind how Windows Failover Clustering works and how SQL Server leverages on the technology, allowing you to build highly available database infrastructures

24 Hours of PASS: Fall 2011 (Webcast: 8-September 2011)
Disaster Recovery is Not Just About Technology

Indulge in free online SQL Server training with the upcoming 24 Hours of PASS: Summit Preview event September 7 and 8, 2011. Join knowledgeable SQL Server experts – slated to present in-depth sessions at PASS Summit 2011 – as they preview their SQL Server session topics over these 24 free technical webcasts. If you can’t make it to the PASS Community Summit 2011 this year, this is your next best bet. Sign up as seats for this online event is limited. And, yes, I will be doing my PASS Summit presentation for this online version.

Baltimore SQL Server User Group August 2011 Meeting (Webcast)
Gone Clustering in 60 Minutes

Creating a SQL Server 2008 Failover Cluster on Windows Server 2008 has become a lot easier with the availability of online resources such as MSSQLTips.com. However, making it easy does not mean ignoring the basic principles of the underlying technology. In this session, learn the fundamentals and principles behind how Windows Failover Clustering works and how SQL Server leverages on the technology, allowing you to build highly available database infrastructures.

Publications

I’m a contributing author for these two websites

MSSQLTips.com

MSSharePointTips.com

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are considered as technical community experts who assist and help IT professionals become better at what they do. But when a group of Microsoft MVPs pull their expertise together to make a difference in the world, not just in technical communities but in the lives of little children worldwide, the experience is overwhelming.

In 2012, I was invited to be a part of a team of technical reviewers for the book SQL Server 2012 with PowerShell V3 Cookbook written by a very good friend of mine, SQL Server MVP Donabel Santos (blog | Twitter).

I’ve also been privileged to be a part of a project that supports non-profit organizations that addresses issues affecting kids worldwide – WarChild International and Operation Smile.

This is no ordinary SQL Server book. In SQL Server MVP Deep Dives Volume 1, the world’s leading experts and practitioners offer a masterful collection of techniques and best practices for SQL Server development and administration. 53 MVPs each pick an area of passionate interest to them and then share their insights and practical know-how with you.

SQL Server MVP Deep Dives is organized into five parts: Design and Architecture, Development, Administration, Performance Tuning and Optimization, and Business Intelligence. In each, you’ll find concise, brilliantly clear chapters that take on key topics like mobile data strategies, Dynamic Management Views, or query performance.

The beneficiary of the author royalties for this book goes to WarChild International

Individually, each SQL Server MVP possesses an impressive wealth of knowledge and skill. Collectively, the 63 MVPs who contributed to SQL Server MVP Deep Dives, Volume II represent over 1000 years of daily experience in SQL Server administration, development, training, and design. This incredible book captures this expertise and passion in a collection of sixty concise chapters, each handpicked by lead editor Kalen Delaney and section editors Louis Davidson, Greg Low, Brad McGehee, Paul Nielsen, Paul Randal, and Kimberly Tripp, and written by an active SQL Server MVP.

This second volume picks up where the first SQL Server MVP Deep Dives leaves off, offering completely new content on topics ranging from testing and policy management to integration services, reporting, and performance optimization techniques. The chapters fall into five parts, Architecture and Design, Administration, Database Development, Performance Tuning and Optimization, and Business Intelligence.

The beneficiary of the author royalties for this book goes to Operation Smile

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