SQL Server DBA Course Content

Duration:-5 weeks (Mon –Sat)

Schedule: - 9:30 to 10:30AM IST

Module I: - MSSQL Server & T-SQL Basics (10-days)

Chapter 1: SQL Server 2012 Architecture

SQL Server Evolution

1) Role of a DBA
a) Production DBA
b) Development DBA
c) Hybrid DBA
d) Business Intelligence DBA
2) SQL Server Architecture
a) SQL Components
b) Database and Data files
c) Data storage
d) Memory Management
e) SQL Server Data Types
3) Editions of SQL Server
a) Editions
b) Operating Systems
c) Database Features by Edition
d) Server and DB Licensing

Chapter 2: SQL Server 2012 installation

1) Pre installation Steps

a) hardware choice
b) software and installation Choices
2) Installing SQL Server
a) SQL Server 2012 Installation
b) Service Accounts, Purpose and Usage
c) Authentication Modes & Logins
d) Instance Configuration Options
e) Testing Multiple Installations
f) Management Studio (SSMS) Tool Usage
3) Post –installation Steps
a) Configuration Tool
 b) SSMS
c) Tempdb
d) Back it up
4) Troubleshooting Installation failures
5) Uninstalling SQL Server(SQL Database Engine, RS and AS)

Chapter 3: Database Design Concepts

a) SQL Server Database Architecture

b) Database Catalog and Storage Options
c) Data Files : Purpose and Storage
d) Filegroups : Purpose and Usage
e) Log files : Purpose and Audits
f) Use of Transaction Log Files
g) Sizing and Placement - Data Files
h) Sizing and Placement - Log Files
i) Locations and Sizing Recommendations
j) Filegrowth and MAXSIZE Options
k) Scripting Database Structures
l) Database ALTERs and Considerations
m) Placement of Files and Filegroups

Chapter 4: Table Design and Queries

a) Tables Design Concepts & Normal Forms

b) Table Creation Process and Options
c) File Groups and Table Design
d) Role of Schemas and Table Design
e) DML, DDL and SELECT Operations
f) Single Row and Multi-Row Inserts
g) Table Aliases, Column Aliases & Usage
h) INSERT & SELECT Variants in T-SQL
i) Data Types and Column Usage
j) Row size Computation & NULLs
k) Basic INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE
l) Multi-Row Inserts and SELECT Statements
m) SELECT Queries with Schema References
n) Basic Data Types & NULL Value Compares
o) Design Limitations & UPDATES
 p) Role of Log Files for DML Operations
q) DELETE versus TRUNCATE Statements

Chapter 5: Indexes and Joins

a) Indexes : Need, Types and Usage

b) Index : Architecture & Placement
c) Index Pages : Design and References
d) Query Optimizer and Query Executions
e) Index SCAN and Index SEEK Plans
f) Clustered & Non Clustered Indexes
g) SORT_IN_TEMPDB Options for Indexes
h) FILLFACTOR and PAD_INDEX Options
i) INCLUDED Column Indexes & Types
j) Using Indexes with Table Constraints
k) Unique Indexes and Tuning Options
l) Indexed Views, Query Plans and Tuning

Chapter 7: Stored Procedures and Joins

a) Stored Procedures – Benefits

b) types of Stored Procedures
c) Use of Variables and Parameters
d) Using SPs for SQL Data Validations
e) Using SPs for Data Reporting Operations
f) Using SPs for Joined Data Sets
g) System Stored Procedures and Usage
h) Dynamic SQL Queries & Usage
i) RECOMPILE Options and Advantages
j) Using SPs with Cursors – Querying
k) Procedures with Temporary Tables

Module II: - Basic MSSQL DBA (15-days)

Chapter 8: Lock Issues & Deadlocks

a) Understanding Locks & their Usage

b) SP_WHO2 and SP_LOCK Outputs
c) Lock Types, Lock Hints and Lock Escalations
d) Avoiding WAITS on PAGE and TABLE
e) Isolation Levels - Types and Usage
f) READ COMMITED and SERIALIZABLE
 g) READ UNCOMMITED and REAPEATABLE
h) SNAPSHOT & READCOMITTED SNAPSHOT
i) Choosing Isolation Levels For OLTP
j) Statement Locks & Transaction Locks
k) TempDB Issues with Isolation Options
l) Locking Hints to Avoid Blockings
m) A DEADLOCK Scenario and DML Audits
n) Deadlock Detection and Avoidance

Chapter 09: Logins, Users & Roles

a) Understanding Security Architecture

b) SQL Server Security Authentication
c) Server Level Security and Logins
d) Database Level Security Users
e) Schemas and User Mappings - Usage
f) Server Level Roles and Usage
g) Database Level Roles and Usage
h) Testing Security Operations in SQL
i) Simulating SQL Server Security Logins
j) Login Errors and Password Resets
k) GRANT, DENY & REVOKE Permissions
l) Common Security Functions & Queries
m) Scripting Procedures For Securables

Chapter 10: Object Level Security & Proxies

a) A Realtime Security Scenario

b) Object Level Security & Levels
c) Database Level Roles, Securables and Usage
d) Schema Level Security and Ownership
e) DB Certificates and Master Keys
f) Data Level Security and Encryptions
g) Testing Database Encryption Levels
h) Basic Job Level Security & Options
i) SQL Server Credentials & Scripting
j) Proxies - Purpose, Usage and Options
k) Using Server Credentials for Proxies
l) Using Proxies for Job Level Sub Systems
m) DMVs for Server Security Audits
n) DMVs for Database Security Audits
 o) Useful Security Audit Queries (DMVs)

Chapter 11: Backups with T-SQL Scripts

a) Backups Concept and Mechanism

b) Backups Usage and Limitations
c) Data Backups - Syntax and Types
d) Log Backup Mechanism and Use
e) CHECKPOINT and TRUNCATE Options
f) Tuning Database Backup Operations
g) File Backups and Filegroup Backups
h) COMPRESSION, CHECKSUM and STATS
i) Partial Backups with Filegroups
j) Remote Backups and Security Options
k) Backup Jobs and SQL Agent Service
l) Scheduling Backups & Strategies
m) MSDB History Tables and Audits
n) Important Queries for Backup Audits

Chapter 12: Backups and Restores

a) Backup Verification Procedures

b) Recovery Paths and FILELIST Options
c) Database Restores & RECOVERY Options
d) File Restores and Filegroup Restores
e) FILELISTONLY and VERIFYONLY Options
f) MOVE and REPLACE Options For Restores
g) PARTIAL and Piecemeal Restores
h) Tail Log Backups and REDO Phase Options
i) Compressed Tail Log Restores and REPLACE
j) Restores for Partial Online Databases
k) Choosing Right Backups for Restores

Chapter 13: Backups, Restores and Recovery

a) Backup Mirrors and Restore Options

b) Backup Splits and Restore Options
c) Media Set, Media Family and Options
d) FORMAT, NOFORMAT, INIT and NOINIT
e) SQL 2008R2 Backups to SQL 2012 Restores
f) Partial Backups and STATS Options
g) CHECKSUM and CONTINUE_ON_ERROR
 h) Compatibility, Recovery Model Options
i) Working with Recovery Models & Backups
j) Backups using UI and SSMS Tool
k) COPY_ONLY Backups and Importance
l) Point-In-Time Restores & Recovery
m) Overwrite Options for DB Restores
n) Backup Devices Creation & Usage
o) Backup Devices Uses and Limitations

Chapter 14: Replication For HA/DR

a) Replication Use & Importance

b) Replication Architecture & Entities
c) Articles, Publications, Subscriptions
d) Deciding Distribution Components
e) Distributor & Snapshot Paths
f) Distribution DB Configurations
g) Articles, Filters and Publications
h) Article Dependencies & Encryption
i) Working of Snapshot Replication
j) Working of Transactional Replication
k) PUSH and PULL Subscription Options
l) Replication Monitor - Usage & Options
m) Testing Replication Components
n) Replication Jobs and Verification

Chapter 15: Replication Tuning & Issues

a) Working of Merge Replication & Agents

b) Replication Conflicts and ROWGUIDCOL
c) Tuning Merge Agent and Security
d) Domain Accounts For Replication
e) Limitations with Merge Replication
f) Peer-Peer Replication with Pull Distributors
g) Peer-Peer Replication and Conflicts
h) Adding New Peer Nodes in P2P Replication
i) Replication Initialization with Backups
j) Replication Errors, Conflicts and Solutions
k) Replication Event Watchers and Data Audits
l) Article and Filter Management Options
m) Replication for HA & DR Procedures
Chapter 16: Log Shipping for DR

a) Log Shipping Architecture and Jobs

b) Choosing Primary, Standby Servers
c) Log Shipping Monitor Configuration
d) NORECOVERY Configuration and Usage
e) STANDBY Mode Configuration and Usage
f) Log Shipping Jobs and Schedules
g) Backup Jobs and Possible Failures
h) Copy & Restore Jobs with Secondary
i) Log Shipping Monitor and Status Reports
j) Manual Fail-over Process - Options
k) Log Shipping Topology - Limitations
l) Versioning Issues and Data Traffic
m) Log Shipping for DR Procedures

Chapter 17: DB Mirroring for Disaster Recovery

a) DB Mirroring Architecture & Use

b) Mirroring Configuration Scenarios
c) Backups & Restores for Mirrors
d) TCP Endpoints & Network Security
e) Heartbeat and Polling Concepts in DM
f) Working with Service Accounts & Use
g) Automatic Fail-Over Procedures
h) Manual Fail-over Options & Scenarios
i) PARTNER OFFLINE Conditions & Options
j) DB Mirror Monitors and Commit Loads
k) Real-World Considerations & DR Options
l) DR & HA with DB Mirroring Advantages

Chapter 18: Database Audits and Queries

a) Query Resources - CPU, IO and Memory

b) Audits - Activity Monitor Usage
c) Audits - SQL Server Profiler Tool Usage
d) Database Health Check & DBCC
e) Log Space Usage Audits with DMVs/DMFs
f) Tempdb Usage Audits with DMVs/DMFs
g) Memory Usage and Disk Usage Audits
h) Considerations Using SQL Profiler
 i) Locking Templates and Deadlock XDL Files
j) Deadlock Graphs with SQL Profiler
k) Audit Long Running Queries with DMV/DMF
l) Audit Frequent Running Queries
m) Query Audits and DMVs / DMFs, Joins
n) Audits for Storage Allocation Issues

Chapter 19: Data Exports (SSIS) and DB Mail

a) Import & Export Operations

b) OLE-DB, SQLNCLI and Jet Drivers
c) Choosing correct Data Providers
d) Scheduling SSIS Packages using Jobs
e) Proxies and Reading Job History
f) Database Scripting and DB Encryption
g) Database Cloning Process and Options
h) Configuring Linked Servers - Custom
i) SQL Server Agent - Alert Properties
j) Database (DB) Mail Configurations
k) Securing DB Profiles : SMTP Accounts
l) DB Mail Profiles and Public Tokens
m) Alert System Configurations in SQL Agent
n) Creating Operators and Emails
o) Warnings and Emails with DB Mail
p) Testing Job Failures and Notifications
q) Job Activity Monitor and History Deletes

Module III – Advanced SQL DBA (15-days)

Chapter 20: Understanding Real-time Scenario

a) An Online Book Sales Project

b) DBA Challenges in Real-time
c) SLA and OLA Process in Real-time
d) Need for Documentations & References
e) Downtime & Maintenance Notifications
f) Using SQL Browser Service for TCP/IP
g) Configuration Manager Tool - Usage
h) SQL Server Log-On Accounts and Usage
i) Resource Governor & Performance
j) Workload Groups and Tuning Policies
 k) RECONFIGURE Options and Performance
l) Routine DBA Activities - Checklist
m) Database Maintenance Activities

Chapter 21: Partitions & Query Tuning

a) Big Data - Performance Considerations

b) Table Partitions and Tuning Options
c) Partition Functions and Usage
d) Partition Schemes and Reusability
e) Deciding Partition Ranges & Functions
f) Partitioned Data For Complex Queries
g) Partitioning Un-partitioned Structures
h) Aligned Partitions and Performance
i) Fill Factor Options and Index Tuning
j) Partitions for Query Tuning Operations
k) Statistics with Table & Index Partitions
l) Data Compression Types and Options
m) Managing Partitions and Tuning Options
n) Statistics Role in Query Tuning Process

Chapter 22: Full Text Indexes & Tuning

a) LIKE Operator - Limitations & Wild-cards

b) Full Text Search Configuration
c) Full Text Search Service and Options
d) Database Catalogs (FTC) and Storage
e) Full Text Indexes for Tuning Options
f) Full Text Columns and Primary Index
g) Full Text Index and Searching Queries
h) CONTAINS() and FREETEXT() Functions
i) Manual Data Populations and Index Loads
j) CHANGE_TRACKING options & Limitations
k) Securing FT Catalogs and FT Indexes
l) Performance Advantages with FT Indexes

Chapter 23: Index Management & Tuning

a) Index Internals and Execution Plans

b) Index Fragmentation - Issues & Solutions
c) SAMPLED & DETAILED Query Scans
d) Index Rebuilds & Tuning Options
 e) Table Rebuild Options with Indexes
f) Index Reorganization Process and Uses
g) Page and Row Compressions with Indexes
h) FILLFACTOR and PADINDEX Index Options
i) Filtered Indexes, Online Indexes, Views
j) Understanding Workload Files in Profiler
k) Understanding Workload Tables in Profiler
l) understanding Tuning and Lock Templates
m) Index Selectivity Options and Statistics
n) Database Tuning Advisor (DTA) - Usage
o) Understanding PDS Options with Indexes
p) Choosing Correct Option (PDS) for Tuning
q) Filtered Indexes and Sizing Options
r) Analyzing Work Load Tables and Scans
s) Statistics Role in Query Tuning Process
t) Understanding Statistics and Query Tuning

Chapter 24: Database Maintenance Plans

a) Database Maintenance Plans (SSIS)

b) DB Maintenance Strategies & Schedules
c) MSDB History Management Options
d) Backup Files and Space Management
e) Reorganizing Indexes with DB Maint. Plans
f) Modifying SSIS DB Maintenance Plans
g) Scheduling and Maintaining SSIS Plans
h) Log File Issues and Shrinking Operations
i) SQL DB Engine Properties & Guidelines
j) Service Configuration Properties
k) Distributed Transactions & Connections
l) Query Governor Usage and DOP Options
m) Policy Based Management (PBM) & Facets
n) Database Properties & Conditions
o) Scheduling Policies & Event Management
p) Considerations for Policy Management
q) Query Facet Conditions for Scheduled Policies

Chapter 25: Alerts, Issues & Troubleshooting

a) LOG File Space Issues and Solutions

b) TEMPDB Space Issues with Solutions
 c) MEMORY Management Issues - Solutions
d) OS Level Memory Clerks and Monitoring
e) Memory Leaks, Hits and Solutions
f) Logical and Physical Memory Architecture
g) Procedure Cache Issues and Solutions
h) DB State Events, Issues and Solutions
i) Network Usage, Monitoring & Optimization
j) Performance Monitor (PERFMON) Counters
k) Replication Threshold Values & Agents
l) Database Options and Downtime
m) Database States Alerts and DB Events
n) DBCC Commands and Database Repairs
o) Rebuild Operations and Considerations
p) Important DMVs and DMFs for Audits

Chapter 26: SP & Server Upgrades

a) Establishing Downtime For Maintenance

b) Precautions for Maintenance Activities
c) Service Packs and Patch/hotfix Activities
d) Verifications, SmokeTest and Rollbacks
e) Upgrade Advisor Tool - Analysis Reports
f) Upgrade Advisor Issues and Warnings
g) Server Upgrades and Precautions
h) Planning for Maintenance Activities
i) Rebuilding System Databases & Objects
j) Pre Database Maintenance Activities
k) Post Database Maintenance Activities
l) Real-world Management Considerations

Chapter 27: Introduction to SQL Clusters

a) Understanding SQL Clustering Need

b) SQL Server Clustering Architecture
c) Understanding Ping Tests and Heartbeat
d) Windows and SQL Server Licensing
e) Windows Server Installation Options
f) SP Installation and Quorum Options
g) Installing Windows MSCS Service
h) Verifying SQL Cluster Installation
i) SQL Server Cluster PING and RAID Tests
 j) Verifying Cluster Configurations
k) Software RAID Configuration and Issues

Chapter 28: Active Directory and DTC

a) Need for Centralized Authentication

b) Domain Controller (DC) Configuration
c) Active Directory Settings and Usage
d) DCPROMO Settings for Active Directory
e) Working with Active Directory (AD) Edits
f) Network Configurations and Usage
g) PING Configurations and DTC Options
h) QUORUM settings and SAN Options

Chapter 29: SQL Cluster Configuration

a) SQL Server Cluster Installation (VM)

b) Add Nodes to SQL Server Cluster
c) SQL Group and AD Syncup Operations
d) SAN System for Shared Data Storage
e) MS DTC Configurations (Local/Remote)
f) Smoke Test Procedures in Real-time
g) Fail-Over Disk & RAID Implementation

Chapter 30: HA / DR in Clusters and AAG Solutions

a) Connection Issues and Drains

b) Security Issues with Solutions
c) Storage Issues with Solutions
d) Installing Updates in SQL Clusters
e) QUORUM Checks, Storage Issues
f) SQL Server Cluster Utilities & Usage
g) Always-On Availability Groups (AAG)
h) Practical Challenges For HA and AAG

Chapter 31: SQL Server Cluster Management

a) Real-World Considerations For AAG

b) SQL Server Cluster and AAG Limitations
c) SQL Clusters For High Availability
d) Active-Active Cluster Configurations
e) Active-Passive Cluster Configurations
f) Cluster Working and Operative Modes
g) Configuration Settings - Monitors
h) SQL Server Cluster Node Updates
i) Cluster Configurations and Planning
j) AAG Issues and Real-world Challenges