2790 TROUBLESHOOTING AND OPTIMIZING DATABASE SERVERS USING MS-SQL SERVER 2005

Unit 1: Building a Monitoring Solution for SQL Server Performance Issues
This unit provides an opportunity for the student to build a monitoring solution that will help to identify SQL Server performance issues. Students will design a baseline performance monitoring solution.
Lessons
· Narrowing Down a Performance Issue to an Environment Area
· Guidelines for Monitoring Database Servers and Instances by Using Profiler and Sysmon
· Guidelines for Auditing and Comparing Test Results

Unit 2: Troubleshooting Database and Database Server Performance Issues
This unit provides an opportunity for students to troubleshoot SQL Server performance issues. Students analyze the sample monitoring output to determine the issue. This unit includes information on a new feature in SQL Server 2005 which allows students to automatically sync a Sysmon log and Profiler trace. It also allows students to load and perform analysis against a Profiler trace using SQL Server queries. Finally, it allows students to run SQLdiag.exe as an additional troubleshooting tool.
Lessons
· Narrowing Down a Performance Issue to a Database Object
· How Profiler Can Help Narrow a Search to a Specific Issue
· How the SQLdiag Tool Can Be Used to Analyze Outputs

Unit 3: Optimizing the Query Performance Environment
This unit gives students an opportunity to determine the database-level reasons for poor query performance, like bad indexes and outdated index column statistics. Students are provided with samples from a Profiler trace or a listing of poorly performing queries and directed to investigate possible reasons.
Lessons
· The Methodology of Optimizing a Query Environment
· The Query Performance Troubleshooting Process

Unit 4: Troubleshooting SQL Server Connectivity Issues
This unit explains the troubleshooting of common SQL Server problems. Examples include DNS issues, network authentication issues, and SQL Server 2005 endpoint issues.
Lessons
· The Methodology of Troubleshooting SQL Server Connectivity Issues.
· Areas to Troubleshoot for Common Connectivity Issues.
· What Are SQL Server 2005 Endpoints?

Unit 5: Troubleshooting SQL Server Data Issues
This unit lets students troubleshoot issues at a data level. One exercise will be used to identify and recover a torn page. The second exercise is a business unit report which contains invalid data. The goal is for the Database Administrator to track down the reasons for the invalid data.
Lessons
· The Methodology of Troubleshooting SQL Server Data Issues
· The Process of Troubleshooting Data Integrity Issues
· How Torn Pages Can be Resolved Using a Single-Page Restore

Unit 6: Troubleshooting SQL Server Data Concurrency Issues
This module lets the students identify the offending objects that cause concurrency issues. The first exercise shows students how to determine stored procedures involved in a deadlocked situation. The second exercise shows students how to determine the source of a blocking issue. The third exercise shows students how to evaluate wait types and latches.
Lessons
· The Methodology of Troubleshooting Concurrency Issues
· What Are SQL Server Latches?
· Activity: Choosing a Blocking Monitoring Solution