A SQL Server database is a resource intensive application, and thus requires attention to its implementation on a vSphere platform. Attend this technical session to learn how to properly virtualize SQL Server on a vSphere platform. We will discuss how to migrate existing SQL Server databases onto a vSphere platform, how to properly determine resource requirements for a virtualized SQL Server implementation, and how to manage and monitor those resources. This is an abbreviated version of the presentation. This Presentation is the Joint work of Michael Corey Founder & CEO of Ntirety and Jeff Szastak of VMware.

Note: This Presentation is constanly being updated to refect the most current knowledge concering the Virtualizing SQL Server Database. It has been presented at VMworld 2012 (San Francisco, Barcelona), SQLSaturday #156 - Providence, SQLSaturday #158 - New York City, SQLSaturday #173 - Washington D.C., NEVMUG Winter Warmer Gillette Stadium Foxboro MA (Last Updated 01/16/2013)

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Virtualizing Oracle: Doing It Righ/Virtualizing Oracle Database Instances on VMware/Oracle VM: Best Practices

An Oracle database is a resource intensive application, and thus requires attention to its implementation on a vSphere platform. Attend this technical session to learn how to properly virtualize Oracle on a vSphere platform. We will discuss how to migrate existing Oracle databases onto a vSphere platform, how to properly determine resource requirements for a virtualized Oracle  implementation, and how to manage and monitor those resources.This is an abbreviated version of the presentation.

Note: This Presentation is constanly being updated to refect the most current knowledge concering the Virtualizing Oracle Database. It has been presented at Oracle Open World 2012 (UGF7085), Ney York Oracle Users Group, VMware Oracle Round Table Series (Cambridge MA, Rochester NY, New York City NY, Stamford CT), Virtual Technology Users Group Brunswick Maine, New York VMUG Users Conference Secauscus NJ, Connecticut VMUG Conference Farmington CT), American DBAOnline NJ

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Trends In Database Administration and The Changing Role of The DBA

Databases keep getting bigger and bigger. Business applications that utilize these ever growing databases are expanding at an alarming rate. Businesses to stay competitive require additional functionality and technology. The Technology needed to make that additional functionality possible keeps getting more and more complex. To make matters even worse the DBAs needed to keep it all running are hard to find and retain and good DBA skills take years to acquire. Now the role of the DBA is fundamentally changing in a way it has not changed before. In this keynote, we will review the trends in database administration, how they are affecting the DBA, and what impact Database Virtualization will have on the DBA. This Presentation is the joint work of Michael Corey Founder & CEO of Ntirety and Don Sullivan Database Specialist for VMware. Both Michael & Don have a very long history working with Oracle and bring a unique perspective to this presentation.  This is an abbreviated version of the presentation.

Note: This Presentation is constanly being updated to refect the most current knowledge concering the topic. It has been presented at a number of Oracle Open Worlds,  Ney York Oracle Users Group, Northeast Oracle Users Group, A number of the Independent Oracle Users Group Collaborate Conferences, American DBAOnline Seminar of NJ

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Making IT Manageable - Eliminating Database Sprawl 

Database Virtualization is one of the best approaches available to reduce sprawl and the complexity and cost that goes along with it.  This White Paper highlights the benefits of virtualizing a SQL Server environment.

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A truck hits your only database administrator.  Your only DBA is rushed to the Hospital by ambulance. Your only DBA is going on vacation for 4 weeks in another country.  Your only DBA just gave you his 2 week notice.  Whatever the reason -- is your business prepared for such an event?  What should you think about and do?

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Databases keep getting bigger and bigger. Database Technology keeps getting more and more complex. Many companies struggle with these issues. Many times this requires you to reach outside your organization for extra help. I recently wrote a white paper on choosing a remote DBA instead of a full time consultant.

Organizations that use SQL Server and / or Oracle occasionally need advanced skills to create, support, and adapt their databases. Traditionally, firms would seek consultants or temporary contracts as a means to address these needs. Now, organizations have another choice, Remote Database Administrators - database pros that can remotely work on solving difficult database issues of structure, scale, programming, and security. This white paper from (company) shows why remote database administration may be more cost effective and efficient than traditional methods. The paper also has a checklist for you to determine whether remote database administration is right for you.

IOUG Enterprise Best Practices SIG meeting

This paper, originally delivered as part of the IOUG Enterprise Best Practices SIG meeting at Oracle Open World in San Francisco (November 2007), discusses getting off ANY version of 8 and going up to 10g or 11g. Once the upgrade requirements are satisfied, the move up to the latest release of the Server software need not be an insurmountable hurdle. This paper looks at ways to get off releases of 8 and 9 up to 10/11g by going up to a version that supports a direct upgrade once there. It stresses the importance of the good old-fashioned command-line upgrade interface.

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Oracle User Group Meetings

This has been a keynote presentation at two regional Oracle user group meetings. It pokes fun at where we have been and where we might be going in the 1987-2008 timeframe with respect to IT and database management. It looks at the concept of out-sourcing whole or part of the management as well as care and feeding of your database environment. The paper discusses some of the factors that seem to creep up time and time again, getting in the way of productive and cost-effective information technology solutions.

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This paper is one DBA's roadmap to getting to the bottom of what may be causing a database slowdown. In the trenches, it is not really rocket science and this method of attacking hiccoughs is so simple it's scary...it has been used in the field and, while maybe not applicable in all situations, is one of many ways to start. When a DBA has covered the steps outlined in this paper, in many situations, the cause for the slowdown will jump out at you. It is one of the ways to get to the bottom of that pesky but all too often heard complaint..."there's something wrong with the database!!!"

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Soft skills are often as important, if not more important, than your technical skills. In this keynote, Michael shares some of his experience of his north of 20 years in the industry and highlight some experiences we have all gone through which, when happening, were painful, but in hindsight are nothing but comical. "I don’t care if you played bass guitar for the Quarrymen before Paul McCartney or if you were a ghost writer for Dinkens...if you’re going to sit in your cubicle all day, pound away at your keyboard, and bark at colleagues who stray into your space...you’re not getting the job! Even though you have Oracle skills second to none, it’s not all about the software."

Veritas Architect Network

This white paper examines the top 10 most puzzling performance problems and tools for DBAs to spot and correct problems before they happen. Without sophisticated performance metrics collection and display, the answers to these questions are not only elusive, but impossible. Home–grown toolkits and scripts simply won't cut it anymore – the days of the "script kiddy" DBA are past.

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MSPAlliance Conference, Orlando Florida

March 27, 2006

The road to excellence is not an easy one. In the delivery of Ntirety's managed service we are committed to exceeding the expectations of our clients. In this quest for perfection we have had many successes and some failures. We will take look at what lessons Ntirety has learned along the way. Why being focused on a Specialty we feel is Key to our success. Today Ntirety has a managed service for databases that can boast 100% client retention, with a 5 year track record of near perfect client quality scores.

Utah Oracle Users Group

March 22, 2006

There are a handful of off-the-shelf backup tools that come with the Oracle database. Some are logical backup solutions, some physical. This presentation will present a close-to-bullet proof checklist which avails itself of the suite of Oracle backup technology. The secret to an industrial strength backup routine, (over and above a tested backup routine!!) is to reduce the time-to-market for an operational recovered environment.

This presentation looks at the Oracle backup tools, offering recovery testing solutions and suggestions about frequency with which each should be run.

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Utah Oracle Users Group

March 22, 2006

This presentation will look at what should be done pre-upgrade, planning for an unfortunate need to back out, and development of a bullet-proof checklist to assist the process. It will discuss what tests to perform at the infrastructure level (e.g., constraints and triggers) as well as looming character set issues that can creep up if not attended to. Items as detailed as object counts before and after (outside of the data dictionary) are crucial for ensuring that an upgrade was truly 100% successful. This presentation will cover the bases, and address issues that are all too often neglected during a database upgrade process.

This material is especially timely as installations contemplate the move from 9i to 10g.

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Veritas Vision Conference

April 25, 2005

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Northeast Oracle Users Group

April 13, 2005

This presentation looks at Oracle Data Pump, a new offering with Database 10g. There are a handful of limitations with export/import which are overcome by this new tool. Data Pump is the new-fangled way to copy data and data definitions from one location to another, and perform object-level backups. It leverages the DBMS_METADATA functionality for the propagation of data definitions to a text file, and boasts speed enhancements which can be realized when exporting large schemas or repositories in excess of a few hundred gigabytes.

Virginia Oracle Users Group

August 26, 2005

Recovery Manager (rman) is the flagship tool for backup and recovery for Oracle databases. It offers speed and flexibility boasting true block level incremental backup capabilities. With Database 10g, it plays an intimate role with flashback, and as time marches on plays a bigger and bigger role in the smooth operation of Oracle systems. This presentation looks at setup as well as a number of backup and recovery scenarios. Once DBAs get their arms around this tool, the sky is the limit.

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Ottawa Oracle Users Group

September 30, 2005

This is a discussion of a number of pesky (but powerful) items that rolled together are called referential integrity (RI). It can be the plague of the application developer if not designed and implemented from day one. Often DBAs and developers shy away from RI due to unfamiliarity and cryptic names chosen by the Oracle database kernel. We will look at smart ways to set up RI, naming conventions, and suggested syntax for creation. Definitions of primary and foreign key constraints are hard to find in dictionary tables until given the guidance offered in this presentation.

RI need not be a pest and an enemy ... once one knows where this information is stored in the data dictionary and it has been properly implemented, it helps protect us from our worst enemy--human error.

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