SQL Server System Administration Fundamentals

Course Overview

This 3 day course is intended for students who need to learn the essential skills necessary to maintain a Microsoft SQL Server 2016 or 2017 system infrastructure. Being concise and hands-on, it is aimed at quickly getting students familiar with the Microsoft SQL Server administration concepts, tools and utilities. The installation of SQL Server, covered in the first module of the course, is optional and can be omitted to free up time for other topics if desired.

The course focuses on managing a single on-premise SQL Server Database instance and does not delve into more advanced enterprise features such as high availability and replication. Neither do we consider cloud-based solutions in this course. That said, for delegates looking to get a strong grounding in SQL Server architecture and administration, perhaps before advancing on to more advanced features, this is an ideal course upon which to build.

Attendees will gain insight into the infrastructure and architecture of SQL Server, enabling individuals to fully understand the product with which they are dealing. Configuration of server instances and databases is given full treatment, as are database transaction logs, and the creation and maintenance of indexes. Concise treatment is given to managing SQL Server security, including both at the server and database level. The focus then shifts to examining how best to move and protect data, such as when importing or exporting it between heterogeneous data sources, backing it up to external media, and restoring data from a backup. Many tasks involved in the day to day administration of a SQL Server instance can be performed automatically, making an administrators life potentially simpler, and such is the subject matter in the module dealing with SQL Server Automation. The final part of the course looks at monitoring and troubleshooting SQL Server performance and related issues.

Prerequisites

• • Delegates should be familiar with working in a Microsoft Windows Server operating system environment. Delegates should also have an understanding of the fundamental design of relational databases including, but not restricted to, the purpose of primary and foreign keys, entity relationships, and data normalization. A good working knowledge of the SQL language will also be assumed.

Course Content

• Install and Configure a SQL Server Instance

  Overview of SQL Server 2016 and 2017
  Installing SQL Server (optional)
  Configuring Instance-Level Settings
  

• Configuring and Managing Databases

  Creating and Managing Database Files and Filegroups
  Configuring Databases
  System Databases
  TempDB Database Considerations
  Managing Log Files
  

• SQL Server Internals

  How SQL Server Stores and Manages Data Internally
  Examining Internal Storage Mechanisms

• Creating and Managing Indexes

  SQL Server Index Architecture
  Clustered v Non-Clustered Indexes
  Creating and Modifying Indexes
  Missing and Unused Indexes
  Understanding and Managing Index Fragmentation
  Understanding and Managing Statistics

• SQL Server Security

  Managing Logins and Server Roles
  Managing Users and Database Roles
  Assigning and Managing Permissions
  Using Schemas
  

• Transferring Data

  Overview of Copying and Exporting Data
  Using BCP to Import and Export Data
  BULK INSERT
  OPENROWSET(BULK)
  SELECT INTO
  Using the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard
  Introducing SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)

• Backups and Recovery

  Understanding Database Recovery Models Indirect Checkpoints
  Understanding Backup Types
  Backup Options
  Encrypted Backups
  Performing Database and Log Backups
  Backing Up System Databases
  Viewing Backup History
  Restoring Database and Log Backups
  Restoring System Databases
  

• SQL Server Automation

  Overview of SQL Server Automation
  The SQL Server Agent Service
  Configuring Credentials and Proxy Accounts
  Implementing Jobs
  Implementing Operators and Notifications
  Implementing Alerts
  Maintenance Plans
  

• Monitoring and Troubleshooting SQL Server

  Introduction to Monitoring SQL Server
  Using DMVs and DMFs
  Activity Monitor
  Performance Monitor
  Introduction to Extended Events
  Diagnosing Common Issues