Trinidad and Tobago SQL Server User Group (TTSSUG) Launch Event

We, the Trinidad and Tobago SQL Server User Group (TTSSUG) are having our first official event at the ending of this month. You are invited to come and learn more about the goals of our group and see how you can make history by becoming the first members in Trinidad. The event will also introduce you to the world of a SQL Server DBA and a Database Developer.


This event is sponsored by Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago. See the invite below for more details.

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24 Hours of PASS : Celebrating SQL Server 2008 R2

24 Hours of PASS is a virtual event organised by the Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS). This year it was held on May 19th to celebrate the launch of SQL Server 2008 R2 which was released worldwide on May 12th 2010. The 24 back-to-back webcasts were presented by the most knowledgeable and top-rated SQL Server speakers from around the world.

This year I was able to attend all 24 sessions thanks to a few cold showers and two Red Bulls. The event was totally worth the lack of sleep; all the sessions were quite enjoyable and informative. I am now posting about the event because I was waiting for the recorded sessions to become available. While I recommend that you watch all of the sessions, the following are what I consider as 'must watch' sessions:

Session 01: Introduction to PowerPivot (Brian Knight)
Brian sells PowerPivot to you. Great presentation to get you excited about the next 23 sessions.

Session 03: What Exactly is in SQL Server 2008 R2 (Kevin Cox)
Want to know about the features available in R2 and too lazy to read my previous blog post? Then this session is for you!

Session 05:  Data Tier Applications (Jacob Sebastien)
This session shows benefits for both Developers and Database Administrators. A presentation for everyone.

Session 06:  What's Really Happening on Your Server? 15 Powerful SQL Server Dynamic Management Objects (Adam Machanic)
Adam delivers a well balanced presentation - great introduction and important information.

Session 11: Easier than Ever Report Authoring in SSRS 2008 R2 (Jessica M. Moss)
R2 features makes it easy to create Reports but Jessica makes it easier.

Session 13:  Manage Your DBA Career, Don’t Let it Manage You (Brad McGehee)
The one and only PD session that reminds you of things that you take for granted.

Session 14:  Top 10 Mistakes on SQL Server (Kevin Kline)
If you want to remain a DBA then you should learn how to avoid the mistakes shown in this session.

Session 17:  SQL Tuning - Get it Right the First Time (Dean Richards)
Should Developers or Database Administrators do SQL Tuning? View this session if you want the answer.

Session 20:  Advanced T-SQL Query Tuning Techniques (Rob Farley)
This was not one of the original 24 sessions but I was glad that it became one. Rob Farley came out of moderating session 19 and jumped into this session to show his approach to taming a 'wild' query.

Session 24:  BLITZ! 60 Minute Server Takeovers (Brent Ozar)
Perfect Session and great presenter to end the event. Brent not only shows DBA what to do when taking over a server but his session also reminds them what should be done to all their existing servers.

Thanks to all of the presenters for sharing their knowledge with us and thanks to the PASS members for all the hard work and long hours they spent to make this event a huge success.  Special thanks to PASS Board Member and 24 Hours of PASS organizer, Thomas LaRock (aka SQLRockstar).

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Trinidad and Tobago SQL Server User Group (TTSSUG)

I will like to thank everyone that attended the Pre-Launch event on the 12th May 2010. Special thanks as well to Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago for sponsoring this event. Since I know it was difficult for some people to attend, I decided to highlight some of the information that was presented.

The Trinidad and Tobago SQL Server User Group is a volunteer and independent organization providing a community for Microsoft SQL Server professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts.

Mission and goals:
1. To develop a network of professionals with a common interest in Microsoft SQL Server.
2. To promote free and open communication among users of Microsoft SQL Server and related software products.
3. To establish channels for the education of TTSSUG members and the communication of Microsoft SQL Server related information to and from the members.

The group is an official local Chapter of the Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS).

What is PASS:
The Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) is an independent, not-for-profit association, dedicated to supporting, educating, and promoting the Microsoft SQL Server community. From local user groups and special interest groups (Virtual Chapters) to webcasts and the annual PASS Community Summit – the largest gathering of SQL Server professionals in the world – PASS is dedicated to helping its members Connect, Share, and Learn.

PASS Mission:
Empower the global Microsoft SQL Server and Business Intelligence community to connect, share, learn and be inspired through networking, knowledge sharing, peer-based learning, and the ability to influence the direction of Microsoft SQL Server data platform.

PASS chapters exist to help facilitate education and a knowledge exchange among developers, architects, DBAs, users and managers with an interest in Microsoft SQL Server technologies.

For more information please view this PDF.

Even though this group is an official PASS chapter it is still very new and there are many things that need to be completed before it our first event. We are currently working on bylaws so that we can begin registering members and a mailing list will be available soon to communicate with people interested in future events.

If you have any questions or who are interested in information of future events, please email me: nigelpsammy@live.com.

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Pre-Launch of Trinidad and Tobago SQL Server User Group

Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago is hosting an After Work Lime to pre-launch the Trinidad and Tobago SQL Server User Group. You are invited to come and learn more about the goals of the chapter and see how you can make history by becoming the first members in Trinidad. There will be light snacks and refreshments available. I look forward to your participation.


Date: Wednesday 12th May, 2010
Time: 4pm – 6:30pm
Target Audience: DBA, Database Developers, SQL Server Hobbyists and Enthusiasts
Location: Microsoft, West Moorings
Cost: Free*

* Limited seats are available so please register early.


To register for this event contact:
Mr. Nigel Sammy
Email: nigelpsammy@live.com

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Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

In a few days Microsoft will be releasing the latest iteration of its data platform, SQL Server 2008 R2. R2 will provide customers with a trusted and scalable platform that can increase IT and developer efficiency and deliver expanded reporting and analytics through self-service business intelligence. SQL Server 2008 R2 also introduces two new premium editions; Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Datacenter and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse (formerly codenamed “Madison”).

Some of the new features of R2 are:
· PowerPivot (formerly codenamed "Gemini")
    PowerPivot gives the users the power to create and manage self-service business intelligence solutions.
        - PowerPivot for SharePoint adds shared services and infrastructure for loading, querying, and managing PowerPivot workbooks that you publish to a SharePoint 2010 server or farm.
        - PowerPivot for Excel can be used to assemble and create relationships with data from various sources, and then use that data as the basis for PivotTables and other data visualization objects that           support data analysis in Excel.
· Data -Tier Applications
    A data-tier application (DAC) forms a single unit which contains the database schema and some server level objects required by the database in order to support an application. This simplifies the     development, deployment, and management of the data-tier objects that support a multi-tier or client-server application
· Application and Multi-Server Administration
    SQL Server 2008 R2 introduces the SQL Server Utility, which forms a central repository for centralized management and consolidation of data-tier applications and instances of SQL Server that have     been enrolled in the utility.
· StreamInsight
    This technology deals with complex high-scale event processing. It allows the monitoring and analyzing of data in motion that may be difficult to store for analysis due to its size and frequency.
· Master Data Services
    This allows organizations to securely manage master data and maintain an auditable record of the data as it changes over time thus ensuring the integrity of the data.


SQL Server 2008 R2 also has some Database Engine and Reporting Services enhancements that increase the power and productivity of architects, developers, and administrators. It is important to remember that R2 is a minor version upgrade of SQL Server 2008, so new and enhanced features in SQL Server 2008 will still be available in R2. Customers with Software Assurance (SA) for their SQL Server 2008 license can upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2 for free. People without SA will have to decide if the features in R2 will be worth the cost of upgrading.

For more information on R2 see the following links:
MSDN: SQL Server 2008 R2
SQL Server 2008 R2

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Microsoft Boot Camp 2010: Business Intelligence Summary

I was given the opportunity to be the speaker for the Business Intelligence (BI) presentation at the Microsoft Boot Camp 2010 which occurred on February 25th 2010. Just like in Microsoft Boot Camp 2009, the number of attendees was larger than I expected but presenting for the event was still fun and exciting.

I began the presentation with some information about myself and my employer Teleios Systems and then proceeded with an introduction to SQL Server 2008. This was then followed by a brief discussion about 'What is Business Intelligence' and a video of A.C. Milan: Milan Lab. The discussion highlighted where SQL Server 2008 lives in Microsoft's BI world and introduced the SQL Server BI stack: Integration Services (SSIS), Analysis Services (SSAS) and Reporting Services (SSRS). I briefly described each product (SSIS, SSRS and SSAS) and also highlighted SQL Server 2008 Data Warehousing enhancements before performing a SSIS demonstration. With the upcoming release of SQL Server 2008 R2, I decided to explained 'Managed Self Service BI' and ended the presentation with a PowerPivot demonstration using SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP and Excel 2010. Due to some time constraints I was unable to highlight some of the local BI work done by Reeza Ali, a Solutions Architect with Microsoft Consulting Services West Indies. He has recently published a series of videos on Designing and Planning a BI Project in the internationally recognized and very popular Architect journal.

The feedback that I received from a few people at the end of the event were very positive. They found the presentations very informative and were impressed with the products that was shown in the sessions.

For more information about Microsoft Business Intelligence please visit www.microsoft.com/BI.

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SQL Server 2008: R2 and Business Intelligence Presentations

Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago is having another Tech Boot Camp on February 25th 2010. The two SQL Server 2008 sessions are: What's Coming with SQL Server 2008 R2 (Track 3) and Business Intelligence for Trinidad and Tobago (Track 4). The Boot Camp offers information for ITpros and Developers so anyone interested can use the information from the invite below in order to register. Missing from the invite is Track 6 : Cloud Computing with Microsoft.

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