SQL Server 2005 SP3 is out today!

To everyone's surprise, Microsoft DID release the SQL Server 2005 SP3 before end of the year 2008! Now we are waiting for the brave souls to try it out before we adopt it at work

Download.

SQL Server Build version will be 9.00.4035 after SP3 (SP2 was 9.00.3042)

Overview
Service Pack 3 for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 is now available. SQL Server 2005 service packs are cumulative, and this service pack upgrades all service levels of SQL Server 2005 to SP3. You can use these packages to upgrade any of the following SQL Server 2005 editions:

* Enterprise
* Enterprise Evaluation
* Developer
* Standard
* Workgroup

System Requirements
* Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista; Windows XP
* 32-bit systems (x86)
o PC with Intel or compatible Pentium III 600 MHz or higher processor (1 GHz or faster recommended)
* 64-bit systems (x64, ia64)
o 1GHz or faster processor
* Minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 GB or more recommended)
* 675 MB of available hard disk space

Note:
SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 (SP3) is designed to run on Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

Passed 70-431 Exam = I am MCTS: SQL Server 2005

I am now officially Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2005, passed the 70-431 exam today with flying colours

Next are 2 more exams to get my MCITP: Database Administrator certification

PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-443.mspx

PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-444.mspx

70-431 Exam - Here I Come

You snooze, you loose, proven again

I was lazy and waiting patiently to book my 70-431 exam for end of December when everyone is relaxed, vacations around the holidays. Then I looked yesterday, NOTHING is available until late January 2009, and the only spot left is NEXT Monday. Oops

I took it, and what better reason to force myself to study harder and memorize everything before I lose it in couple weeks anyway.

Exam 70-431: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance
After passing, one becomes Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2005

Trigger

Earlier this week I had to disable many triggers just so that we can Restore Databases and Create Databases

The triggers were set to send out alerts on DDL events but 2 issues

1. The DBA db didn't exist on that server but the trigger is relying on that db, so I found the triggers using the below scripts, and disabled them (or a simple SELECT * FROM sys.triggers would work too)

SELECT
             sysobjects.name AS [Trigger Name],
             syscomments.TEXT AS [Trigger Definition],
             --SUBSTRING(syscomments.text, 0, 26) AS [Trigger Definition],
             OBJECT_NAME(sysobjects.parent_obj) AS [Table Name],
             syscomments.encrypted AS [IsEncrpted]
FROM
             sysobjects INNER JOIN syscomments ON sysobjects.id = syscomments.id
WHERE
             (sysobjects.xtype = 'TR')
ORDER BY [Table Name]


2. SharePoint creating database name so long that it broke the XML column used in the DDL trigger for Creating Database, so I disabled the DDL Trigger by

1. Find the trigger name (KEY!)
Server -> Server Objects -> Triggers -> trigger_name

2. DISABLE TRIGGER trigger_name

FREE SQL Server Tools

I am starting to compose a list of SQL Server Tools I personally use

Today starts with xSQL Software, especially their FREE products
http://www.xsqlsoftware.com/Product/Index.aspx

xSQL Object
FREE LITE EDITION
Compare and Synchronize SQL Server Database Schemas
generates SQL scripts too, closest to RedGate SQL Compare IMO

xSQL Script Executor
Free tool that provides for transactional execution of T-SQL scripts

xSQL Object Search
Free tool for SQL Server 2005 that locates database objects the name and/or definition of which meet a search criteria.

xSQL Script Executor
Free tool that provides for transactional execution of T-SQL scripts

RSS Reporter
FREE for 1 server
Generate standard RSS feeds for SQL Server job status, ad-hoc queries, database size and space usage.

xSQL Data Compare
FREE LITE EDITION
Compare and Synchronize SQL Server Database content