SQL Server newsletter for the month of October 2001
Last updated: October 10th '01 | Best viewed with: All popular browsers | Best viewed at: 1024x768 | Links to external sites will open in a new window

• What's new at vyaskn.tripod.com?
  
  
• What's new from Microsoft?
  
  
• Useful information from other SQL Server based websites
  
  
• Tips

New questions added to the Administration FAQ:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/administration_faq.htm

New questions added to the programming FAQ:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/programming_faq.htm

New resources added to the SQL Server resources page:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/sqlserverres.htm

Enhanced version of the Propercase function is now available:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/code.htm

Added a new stored procedure sp_lock2, which is an enhanced version of Microsoft's sp_lock, for monitoring locking information:
http://vyaskn.tripod.com/code.htm

The following new articles were published:

SQL Server Security best practices
This article discusses the security model of SQL Server 7.0, 2000 and the security best practices that a serious DBA must be aware of:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/sql_server_security_best_practices.htm

SQL Server administration best practices
This article discusses the administration best practices for SQL Server 7.0 and 2000, with a special focus on backup/restore and disaster recovery:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/sql_server_administration_best_practices.htm

Third party SQL Server tools, products and solutions
This article has a list of popular third party products that help you manage your databases:
https://vyaskn.tripod.com/thirdparty.htm

Having non-convergence problems with SQL Server 2000 Merge replication? The -ForceConvergenceLevel parameter can help! Learn how to use this undocumented merge agent parameter at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/0/39.ASP

Here is a support webcast, that teaches you everything about the new INSTEAD OF triggers. It also discusses some of the main applications of INSTEAD OF triggers, including implementing cascading referential integrity and inheritance:
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/Webcasts/WC011601/wcblurb011601.asp

Get to know the enhancements and new features of Merge replication in SQL Server 2000 from SQL Server replication product unit manager Thomas Casey:
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/Webcasts/WC042601/wcblurb042601.asp

When, why and how to use Profiler? Here is a support webcast on "How to effectively use SQL Server Profiler":
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/Webcasts/wc051800/wcblurb051800.asp

Have a lot of performance issues to troubleshoot, but don't know how to proceed? Check out this webcast "How to Collect and analyze Performance Data in Microsoft SQL Server":
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/Webcasts/WC082401/wcblurb082401.asp

Excellent article on troubleshooting stored procedure recompilations:
INF: Troubleshooting Stored Procedure Recompilation
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q243/5/86.ASP

Think your Full-Text search is yielding incorrect results? You could be seeing this bug:
FIX: Full-Text Search Queries with CONTAINS Clause Search Across Columns
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q294/8/09.ASP

Too many servers to take care of? Not sure, whether all your servers are running with the latest security patches? Finally, here is a tool, that lets you centrally assess a computer or group of computers for the presence or absence of security patches (Windows as well as SQL Server):
Microsoft Network Security Hotfix Checker (Hfnetchk.exe) Tool Is Available
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q303/2/15.ASP

Here is a collection of all the articles that talk about disaster recovery with SQL Server 6.5, 7.0 and 2000:
INF: Disaster Recovery Articles for Microsoft SQL Server
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q307/7/75.ASP

Download the updates to SQL Server 2000 Books Online. These updates include corrections, clarifications, and new topics:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=31343

Microsoft and MERANT DataDirect announced the release of a beta version of the Microsoft SQL Server 2000 JDBC Driver, to enable users from Java and J2EE platforms to integrate with SQL Server 2000:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/010925/sftu062_1.html

Read the chapter "Using XML" from the book SQL Server 2000 Developer's Guide from Osborne McGraw Hill:
http://www.sql-server-performance.com/Other/CH15.PDF

Read the chapter "Implementing and Managing a Backup Solution" from the book, SQL Server 2000 Administration from Osborne McGraw Hill:
http://www.sql-server-performance.com/Other/CH06.PDF

Read about the new Intel Itanium chip and the upcoming 64-bit Windows and SQL Server software:
Wait on 64-bit Itanium
http://www.sqlmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=21761

Don't have SQL Server 2000, but want to access its documentation? Don't worry; SQL Server 2000 Books Online is a free download. Get it from: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/techinfo/productdoc/2000/books.asp or access it online at: 
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?URL=/library/psdk/sql/portal_7ap1.htm


Did you know, you can get formatted XML output with an undocumented trace flag?

Here is an example:

/* Start of code snippet */
PRINT 'Normal output'

SELECT title_id, title FROM pubs..titles FOR XML AUTO

DBCC TRACEON(257)

PRINT 'Formatted output'

SELECT title_id, title FROM pubs..titles FOR XML AUTO

DBCC TRACEOFF(257)

GO
/* End of code snippet */


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