Speaking
A place to collect abstracts & links to presentations I’ve given. Please be sure to check out my Sessionize profile as well.
Backup Basics with PowerShell and dbatools
Abstract
As DBAs, one of our top priorities is keeping the organization’s data backed up and ready to be restored when needed. We also need to be prepared to answer questions about those backups. Do you have a standard backup process? Can you meet your recovery time requirements? Do you know the backups are good? Do you have documentation of your backup history and verification? Are you backing up your instance configuration as well as the databases themselves?
dbatools has a suite of versatile PowerShell functions designed to help you answer those questions confidently and quickly. In this presentation filled with practical examples, we’ll take a tour of the core dbatools functions for creating, restoring, and monitoring your backups, whether you’re manging one instance or dozens of them.
Presented At
- Ohio North Database Training 2021-01-05
- Kansas City SQL Server User Group 2021-02-18
- PASS Data Community Summit 2021
The Social Network in SQL Server
Abstract
You’ve been told for years that it’s important to have a professional network. The community that has grown around SQL Server is one of the strongest and most supportive networks around for technical professionals. We’re more than acquaintances who see each other at meetups - we’re SQLFamily. This introduction to SQLFamily will help you learn where to find folks, how to get involved, and how it can positively change your life and career.
Presented At
- Internal company session
- Edmonton PASS 2020-09-17
Keys to a Healthy Relationship with SQL Server
Abstract
Developers and DBAs have had a long, sometimes strained relationship. Some developers see DBAs as roadblocks standing in the way of getting their work shipped; some DBAs see developers as agents of chaos bent on ruining their perfect database environments.
In this talk designed for application and database developers, we’ll talk about why SQL Server behaves the way it does, common database and query design pain points, and how we look for them. With real-world examples and tales of troublesome T-SQL, past and present, you’ll start to get a picture of what to do and not to do in your applications. Along the way, you’ll learn how to build a better relationship with both SQL Server and the DBAs responsible for it.
Presented At
- Rochester SQL Server User Group, March 2019
- SQL Saturday #877 Boston, September 2019
- SQL Saturday #930 Cleveland, February 2020
Materials
The slides presented are available at the event links above.
dbatools for the Unintiated
Abstract
The department just decided to reorganize and consolidate databases ahead of an upgrade to the next release of SQL Server. How are you going to manage all this?
It’s time to automate with the dbatools PowerShell module. We’ll briefly talk about the project itself, then take a tour of functions commonly used to manage SQL Server environments and data. When you leave, you’ll be ready to level up your administration toolkit and start reducing your daily workload.
Presented At
Materials
Speaker Bio
Andy is a SQL Server DBA, PowerShell fan, former developer, SQL Saturday organizer and user group leader. He’s been in IT full-time since 1999, doing web development, system integration, and presently database administration. When he isn’t picking queries apart and wrangling an unruly herd of databases, he can be found helping out with his son’s Boy Scout troop, making BBQ ribs for his daughter, or planning the next family vacation with his wife.
