Home > Courses Certifications > Data Management > Course 2784 Synopsis

2784 - Tuning and Optimizing Queries using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Prerequisites: Before attending this course, students must have:

• Have working knowledge of data storage. Specifically, knowledge about row layout, fixed length field placement and varying length field placement
• Be familiar with index structures and index utilization. Specifically, they must understand the interaction between nonclustered indexes, clustered indexes and heaps. They must know why a covering index can improve performance
• Have had handson database developer experience. Specifically, three years of experience as a fulltime database developer in an enterprise environment
• Be familiar with the locking model. Specifically, students should have an understanding of lock modes, lock objects and isolation levels and be familiar with process blocking
• Understand TransactSQL syntax and programming logic. Specifically, students should be completely fluent in advanced queries, aggregate queries, subqueries, userdefined functions, cursors, control of flow statements, CASE expressions, and all types of joins
• Be able to design a database to third normal form (3NF) and know the trade offs when backing out of the fully normalized design (denormalization) and designing for performance and business requirements in addition to being familiar with design models, such as Star and Snowflake schemas
• Have strong monitoring and troubleshooting skills, including using monitoring tools
• Have basic knowledge of the operating system and platform. That is, how the operating system integrates with the database, what the platform or operating system can do, and how interaction between the operating system and the database works
• Have basic knowledge of application architecture. That is, how applications can be designed in three layers, what applications can do, how interaction between the application and the database works, and how the interaction between the database and the platform or operating system works
• Know how to use a data modeling tool
• Be familiar with SQL Server 2005 features, tools, and technologies
• Have a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 credential or equivalent experience

Duration: 3 days

Chapter 1: Generating Measurements for SQL Server Database Performance

• Generating Measurements for SQL Server Database Performance
• What to Consider When Evaluating Performance
• How to Focus on Queries
• Highlights on Performance (and Resource) Monitor
• Highlights on Profiler
• Locks Are a Good Thing … Usually

Chapter 2: Solidify The Database

• Solidify The Database
• Microsoft Performance Optimization Model
• Start with the Foundation
• Model Theory’s Functional Dependencies
• Normalize How?
• You Might Denormalize Now
• Generalization

Chapter 3: Enhance Queries for Better Results

• Enhance Queries for Better Results
• Generate a Good Plan
• Execution Plan Flow No Aggregations
• Execution Plan Flow With Aggregations
• Thoughts on Subqueries
• Recommendations for High Performing Queries

Chapter 4: Cursor Acceptance and Avoidance

• Cursor Acceptance and Avoidance
• Plan for Result Set Benefits
• Cursors Have Their Place….
• …Yet Not Usually in SQL Server
• So, Why Do We Create Them?
• Thoughts on Refactoring
• A Good Use for Pivots
• Common Table Expressions
• CTE’s Make Life Easier

Chapter 5: Find the Right Data Quickly with the Best Indexes

• Find the Right Data Quickly with the Best Indexes
• Find the Right Data Quickly
• Allocation Units are the Internals of SQL Server
• Index Preparation Is Key
• Clustered Index Thoughts
• NonClustered Index Thoughts
• Proactive Planning of Indexes
• If The Cart is In Front…

Chapter 6: Too Many Cooks in the Pot?

• Too Many Cooks in the Pot?
• Dealing With Locks and Blocks
• The Act of Science and Art
• It’s All About Your Attitude
• Exploring Data Phenomenon
• Isolation Levels Options
• Lock Escalation and Snapshot Options
• Lock Conflicts