Grant Fritchey
Redgate Software Product Advocate, Microsoft MVP & AWS Community Builder
Sapulpa, Oklahoma, United States
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Grant Fritchey is a Data Platform MVP and AWS Community Builder with over 30 years’ experience in IT, including time spent in support and development. Grant works with multiple data platforms including SQL Server and PostgreSQL as well as multiple cloud platforms. He has also developed in VB, VB.NET, C#, and Java. Grant writes books for Apress and Simple-Talk. Grant presents at conferences and user groups, large and small, all over the world. He joined Redgate Software as a product advocate in January 2011.
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Leveraging AI as a DBA
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage these days. You can find all sorts of information about how to build your own AI, consume your personal data and more. However, what if you just want to get a little better at your job? Can AI do anything for those of us who are just trying to muddle through?
The short answer is, yes. The longer answer is what this session is all about. You can take advantage of what AI can do for you in simple tasks such as generating meaningful test data, simple query tuning and more. Come learn how you can put AI to work in your day-to-day tasks, making things just a little bit easier. You can use AI as a way to learn your data platform better and as a way to get some tasks done faster and more accurately. AI is out there, so you may as well make use of it. Come to this session to learn how.
Using Azure Query Store to Understand PostgreSQL Performance
Capturing query metrics in Postgres can be a challenge. This is especially true because when capturing metrics, it's not enough to simply measure a query's performance. You must have multiple data points, a before and after if you will, to ensure that you know if a query is running faster, slower, or the same. Within Azure Database for PostgreSQL, there exists an extension, that measures query behaviors, and does it in a way to provides multiple data points, Query Store. This session will demonstrate why the Query Store will make it easier for you to identify the queries that need attention. Further, the Query Store gives you tools to help you with tuning those PostgreSQL queries on Azure. You no longer need to guess at which queries are the highest priority for your query tuning. Come to this session to find out how.
Fundamentals of Git
Somewhere between 75% and 90% of all code is managed through the source control software Git. Yet, many data specialists are not familiar with how Git works. Since more and more people are getting their databases into source control as part of DevOps initiatives, it's time to learn Git. This session will introduce the fundamentals of Git. We'll take you from the pull, through the commit and back around to the push, all part of the knowledge you need to make Git work. At the end of this 20 minute session, you will have a better understanding of how you can use Git to manage your own code.
SQL Server Query Performance: Common Problems, Possible Solutions
Identifying which queries are running the slowest, or using the most resources is relatively well documented. However, once you identify the query you need to fix, what are you supposed to do next? This session will walk through a bunch of the most common performance problems and how you go about identifying those problems. From there, we'll discuss some possible solutions for those problems as a way to move you more quickly to a more highly performing database.
Learning PostgreSQL as a SQL Server User
More and more organizations are hosting their data on multiple platforms. One of the fastest growing relational platforms is PostgreSQL. While the root behaviors of tables and relationships between them are the same, there remains a very distinct set of differences between PostgreSQL and other platforms.
If you've been a SQL Server user, developer, DBA, and your organization is now adding PostgreSQL to the mix, you may have a somewhat steep learning curve ahead. This session is meant to reduce the size of that hill you're going to climb as you add PostgreSQL skills. We'll cover the common aspects of both platforms, the subtle differences between the two, and, of course, some of the unique behaviors to separates PostgreSQL from SQL Server. You'll get a good introduction to the core behaviors of PostgreSQL and the appropriate language to use when working with that data platform. All of this is designed to flatten out that learning curve and get you started supporting PostgreSQL just as well as you currently support SQL Server.
Hosting PostgreSQL in the Cloud
The decision to place your data into PostgreSQL databases is an easy one when you consider how advanced the technology is and how fast it moves. However, many organizations don't have the knowledge and infrastructure to host their PostgreSQL databases locally. The obvious answer then is to take advantage of the cloud. This session will talk about the different cloud platforms, what they offer in terms of data protection, performance and management and how best to take advantage of their offerings. We'll discuss the strengths and weaknesses of cloud-based data management. We'll also talk about the necessary maintenance you'll still need to perform on your PostgreSQL databases. You'll leave the session with more confidence in your move to cloud-based PostgreSQL hosting.
PostgreSQL in the Cloud
When you make the decision to use one of the many Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings for hosting your PostgreSQL databases, there are a number of things, good and bad, you should be aware of. This session will walk you through what it means to host your PostgreSQL databases on the major cloud vendors. We'll go over the positive things you get like backups and high availability. We'll also talk about the negative things like not being able to install some extensions. Moving to the cloud requires quite a bit of knowledge. You can start your migration with the knowledge you get in this session.
Redgate Presents: DevOps for the DBA (all proceeds donated to charity)
Proceeds from this full-day session will be donated by Redgate to BLACK GIRLS CODE.
I love DevOps. I love DevOps the most because of its focus on automation. The key to understanding DevOps is to grasp that it is your communication and environment that is important, not tooling alone, though tooling plays a factor.
One of the reasons I love DevOps so much is because I’ve done it successfully. I’ve worked on teams that built fully automated deployment mechanisms to get code from Dev to Production. Further, we automated the creation of dev & test servers. We automated the creation of production servers too. We automated the heck out of everything.
Automation frees you from drudgery. Instead of having to do dull work, you automate it. Now, your time frees up to do other things and those other things will absolutely fill your time. You’ll be tuning, designing, troubleshooting, all new and better databases. Automation removes thoughtless, repetitive tasks. It replaces them with tasks that require thought, that aren’t repetitive, that are more challenging and more interesting.
So, please, join me and the team from Redgate Software as we show you how to implement DevOps as a DBA using the fantastic suite of tools available from Redgate.
We will start with understanding how source control works and end with automated deployments across environments. Along the way we’ll talk about how to easily share styles and snippets to create consistency, and get your team working in the same way.
You’ll learn about processes and tools that not only make it easier and faster to move database changes, but add protection to your production information.
We will discuss tools, process and the fundamental changes in culture necessary to take your database development and deployment into a high functioning DevOps team.
So, wanna join our team and learn how to get your databases into a DevOps process?
Understanding Extended Events
Because of a rocky launch back in 2008, combined with bad information, and some hard feelings around the XML, Extended Events has had a difficult path to adoption. Yet, Extended Events is where monitoring for all new functionality is exposed. Further, Extended Events offers a more lightweight, less intrusive way to observe behaviors on your SQL Server instances. Extended Events even offers unique insights into what is happening on your server. With all that in mind, it's time for you to learn Extended Events. This session will take you from the basics of how to use Extended Events, through a number of the unique mechanisms available for collecting and displaying data. We'll also cover tools and mechanisms, such as the Live Data Window and DBATools, which make using Extended Events much easier and more rewarding. From Azure, to your local instances, to AWS RDS, Extended Events is ready for you to use. If you've been holding off on learning Extended Events, this session is what you've been waiting for. Learn how to put Extended Events to work on your systems.
Using Query Store to Understand and Control Query Performance
Understanding which queries are causing the most difficulty in your systems can be a challenge. Then, fixing those problematic queries is yet another challenge. The Query Store, running in SQL Server and Azure SQL Database, can help you identify problematic queries, and it can help you fix their performance. This session will show you the various data points that Query Store collects that will help you identify the queries that are behaving badly. In addition, this session will show you the different mechanisms within Query Store that can help you fix poorly performing queries. We'll cover Query Store functionality from SQL Server 2016 through to the new stuff in SQL Server 2022. Along the way we'll cover various settings that help you control how Query Store behaves. Query Store is something you can put to work immediately in your own environments that will help you improve performance right away.
What I’m telling your developers about DevOps
Your developers are adopting DevOps, if they haven’t already implemented it. They are looking at your databases and wondering when you will adopt DevOps for the database. I’m telling developers that using DevOps methodologies successfully can lead to massive improvements in your ability to deliver more functionality and higher quality software quickly and safely to your business. However, they have an old-school DBA who is cautious about automation and a shift-left mentality, you. This session is specifically designed to inform you, the DBA, about the tools and language I’m giving your developers in order for them to communicate their needs. Let’s short circuit this conversation and instead, I’ll let you know exactly how you can automate your database deployments and testing in order to adopt database DevOps.
feedback link https://sqlb.it/?7265
Using AWS DevOps to Automate Database Deployments
DevOps is all about a cultural change to how you manage your IT resources. However, the biggest challenge when implementing DevOps is learning all the necessary tooling in support of automation. The issue of automation is even more challenging when it comes to automating database deployments. This session will show you the tools and mechanisms needed to get your databases deploying through AWS. We’ll slowly add additional steps and tools within AWS to expand the complexity and functionality of the database deployment process. Understanding how to build out the bare bones of an AWS deployment process will make it easier to automate your database deployments. Integrating your database into the rest of the automation you're already using results in enhanced speed of delivery while also providing added protection to your production systems.
Flyway: An Evolution in Database Deployments
The core behavior of Flyway assures you of a mechanism to run the right scripts in order to safely deploy your databases. While that core behavior is key, you can get even more functionality in support of fast, safe, automated database deployments. Come and see the next steps in the evolution of Flyway. This session will walk you through these new functions, all to help you deploy your databases better.
Feedback link: https://sqlb.it/?7233
Why You Should Be Standing Here: Learning to Present a Session
You should know how to present a session. In fact, you should be standing up on the stage where I will be standing while presenting this session. It's not about becoming an industry expert, an MVP or an AWS Community Builder. No, it's about learning how to take an idea to your management team and convince them that you can help the business. It's about teaching new techniques to your peers. It's about expanding your own knowledge on a topic as you prepare a session, present it, and then answer questions. There are very good, career driven, reasons for you to learn to present.
This session will go over how to put together a session. From choosing meaningful titles to putting together abstracts, you'll get the information you need to get started. We'll discuss how to build the slides, demonstrations, and more. You'll learn about how to rehearse to get ready for your session. Finally, we'll cover actually giving the session, handling questions, hecklers and other points.
You should be standing at the front of the room, giving your own session. Please, come here, learn why, and learn how. It will help you in your career.
Capturing Query Metrics in Azure SQL Database
While under the covers Azure SQL Database is just good old fashioned SQL Server, when it comes to capturing query metrics, it can present unique challenges. This session will demonstrate various methods for capturing query metrics in Azure. We'll explore the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. You'll go back to your own databases with enough knowledge to truly understand how your queries are performing on Azure SQL Database.
Benefits of Using Version Control In Database Development
Sure, fully automated DevOps deployments are great. However, is there any other benefit to using version control when it comes to databases? Yes. If you'd like more detail, come to the session where I lay out a number of benefits for using version control with your database development.
Automating Database Deployments Using Github Actions
Implementing DevOps or DevOps-style automation can be difficult, but when you start to deal with data, that difficulty increases rapidly. This session shows how to implement various techniques that allow you to safely automate database deployments using Github Actions. You'll learn how to successfully deploy to both on-premises and cloud-based databases in support of a complete DevOps approach.
Automating Database Deployments using Azure DevOps
Automation is a fundamental aspect when adopting a DevOps-style deployment process. Learn how you can use Azure DevOps tools to automate your database deployments successfully. Topics include the challenge of supporting more than one database system, deployments in Azure SQL Database, Postgres and Maria DB. We'll also show how you can use Azure DevOps to deploy to an on-premises database. All the databases you have under management can have their deployments automated. Come to this session to learn how.
SQL Server Tools for Query Tuning
Query tuning within SQL Server can be a tough skill to master. The new tooling released with SQL Server 2016 and 2017 changes how you identify poorly performing queries, troubleshoot their behavior and tune the queries, all a little easier.
This workshop teaches new techniques for tuning queries using all the new tools introduced in SQL Server 2016 and 2017. You'll be able to put this knowledge to work immediately, not only in your 2016 or better instances but also in your Azure SQL Database databases. You will be tuning your queries faster and more accurately using the new tools available.
SQL Injection: How it Works, How to Stop It
This session will explain and demonstrate exactly how a SQL Injection attack occurs. While the core vulnerability is easy to understand, exactly how hackers exploit that vulnerability is not. I'll show you how a hacker explores your database through SQL Injection to find vulnerabilities and sensitive data. Better still, I'll show you the errors that this exploration generates as a mechanism for monitoring your systems to find SQL Injection attacks. Finally, I'll show you the steps you should be taking to properly secure your systems in order to completely avoid SQL Injection attacks.
Learn to Effectively Use Extended Events
Too many people have looked at Extended Events, seen what looks like a horrible interface, heard about the XML, and have subsequently run away. This session is here to show you how to effectively use Extended Events to monitor your query performance, and more, in an efficient and useful way. The interface for Extended Events isn't bad, just grossly misunderstood. After you attend this session, you'll be able to easily do things that you've never been able to do with Trace. You need a more efficient query metrics tool, and it's waiting for you in Extended Events.
Exploring Execution Plans
Getting started reading execution plans is very straight forward. The real issue is understanding the plans as they grow in size and complexity. This session will show you how to explore the nooks and crannies of an execution plan in order to more easily find the necessary information needed to make what the plan is telling you crystal clear. The information presented here will better empower you to traverse the execution plans you’ll see on your own servers. That knowledge will make it possible to more efficiently and accurately tune and troubleshoot your queries.
DevOps for the DBA
Far too many people responsible for production data management systems are reluctant to embrace DevOps. The concepts behind DevOps can appear to be contrary to many of the established best practices for securing, maintaining and operating a reliable database. However, there is nothing inherent to a well-designed DevOps process that would preclude ensuring that the information stored within your data management system is completely protected. This session will examine the various methods and approaches available to the data professional to both embrace a DevOps approach to building, deploying, maintaining and managing their databases and protect those databases just as well as they ever have been. We will explore practices and plans that can be pursued using a variety of tooling and processes to provide DevOps methodologies to the systems under your control. You can embrace DevOps and protect your data.
Identify Poorly Performing Queries - Three Tools You Already Own
One of the first challenges you’ll face when you decide to address poor query performance is identifying which query you should focus on. While you can simply wait for the people using your application to complain, a more proactive approach will serve you better. This session will walk you through three different, built-in tools within SQL Server that can be used to identify poorly performing queries. We’ll focus on the ubiquitous Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) since you can use them anywhere. Then, we’ll talk about what’s possible in SQL Server 2012 and greater through the use of Extended Events. Finally, we’ll talk about how you can put Query Store to use if you’re working in SQL Server 2016 or greater. Between these three tools, you can better understand which queries you need to focus on to fix problems in your environment right away.
Answering questions using extended events
Sure, you can use Extended Events within SQL Server to capture query performance metrics. However, is that all you really want?
For most people, they want to know the answers to questions. Which query is using the most CPU? Why did that statement recompile? Is Query Store having problems on my database? These and many other questions can be easily answered through the use of Extended Events.
This session explores how to use Extended Events to do more than simply capture performance metrics, although we'll do that too. You can learn to put Extended Events to work in your own systems to answer your own questions based on the information provided here. We'll go beyond simply capturing events and talk about how to combine them through Causality Tracking. We'll also consume the data in ways beyond simply capturing to a file, such as through histograms.
You will better be able to put Extended Events to work helping you answer your questions.
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