Adventures in SQL Server Master Certification Robert L Davis #43 Redmond

Robert L Davis Sr. Production DBA / Operations Engineer at Microsoft Technical lead of PQO Operations SQL V-team Co-author of Pro SQL Server 2008 Mirroring Certified Master SQL Server 2008 MCITP Database Admin SQL 2005 and SQL 2008 MCITP Database Developer SQL 2005 and SQL 2008 Worked as a SQL Server developer/administrator for 10+ years Blog: www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/robert_davis Twitter: www.twitter.com/SQLSoldier

Mission of the Masters Program Provide advanced training that deepens the technical skills of experienced data professionals Build a community of trusted experts who can successfully address the most complicated and challenging customer scenarios Opportunity to recognize and validate experienced candidates with the most advanced technical certification offered by Microsoft

Program History 2002 2006 October 2008 Exchange Customer Experience group formed the “Exchange Rangers” internal Microsoft program. Mission: Identify trusted experts within Microsoft who can help properly design mission critical environments 2006 SQL Rangers Program for SQL Server 2005 Available to internal Microsoft staff only First 4 rotations October 2008 Rebranded to Microsoft Certified Master Program Open to all who qualify Rotation 5+ for SQL Server 2008

Expectations of an MCM Enable others to make the right choices With experience and data to back up your recommendations Be able to establish credibility quickly Take charge of a situation (technical leader) Be responsible for what you know, for what you don’t know and never confuse the two Avoiding the dangers of “expertise”

Core SQL Server Components (Relational Engine, Storage Engine, SQLOS) What should an MCM know? Core SQL Server Components (Relational Engine, Storage Engine, SQLOS) High Availability Disaster Recovery Performance Tuning & Optimization I/O Concepts Security Manageability Data Distribution Technologies

Content Depth of Program Training is meant to deepen existing knowledge and also “level set” gaps.

SQL DBA Professional Levels Database Technician Can perform most tasks assigned via the GUI Understands basically how SQL Server works Jr. Database Administrator Knows most tasks that need to be performed and can perform them, often without the GUI Basic understanding of how the SQL Server engine works Sr. Database Administrator Knows what tasks need to be performed, why they need to be performed, and how to perform them without using the GUI Understands the inner workings of the engine to some level SQL Master Understands and can explain the inner workings in detail Designs comprehensive action plans rather than working with simple tasks

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 1 Database Technician Can back up a database using the GUI Jr. Database Administrator Can back up a database using T-SQL Creates a maintenance plan to backup all databases daily Understands the difference between the different backup types Understands the basic differences in the recovery models Sr. Database Administrator Writes own processes to manage the backup and restore processes Develops and implements a backup strategy Understands when and why to use full, differential, and log backups and the correct restore process for each Understands how to choose an appropriate recovery model SQL Master Writes a comprehensive plan for disaster recovery that dictates the backup strategy to meet business requirements Understands how the inner workings of backup and restore work and the effect each has on the system

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 1 SQL Master Writes a comprehensive plan for disaster recovery that dictates the backup strategy to meet business requirements Understands how the inner workings of backup and restore work and the effect each has on the system Understands the inner workings of the different recovery models and how they affect the system Can perform advanced backup and restore scenarios on the fly such as single page restores to recover from corruption or inspect the Differential Changed Map to determine how big a differential backup would be

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 2 Query: SELECT LastName, FirstName FROM dbo.Customers WHERE LastName = ' Davis‘ Indexes: Clustered index on CustomerID Nonclustered on FirstName Nonclustered on LastName

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 2 Database Technician Knows that the index on LastName may speed up the query if used but doesn’t understand why it is sometimes not used Has heard that fragmentation can affect performance but doesn’t know how to check it or correct it Does not perform index maintenance routines

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 2 Jr. Database Administrator Knows how to check the query plan to determine if it uses the index or not Knows that adding an index on LastName, FirstName will improve performance even more Knows that there are DMV’s to track and report on missing indexes Knows how to check for fragmentation and how to rebuild or reorganize indexes based on pre-defined criteria Creates maintenance plans to perform routine index maintenance

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 2 Sr. Database Administrator With current indexes, knows that SQL will perform either a clustered index scan or nonclustered index seek + key lookups Knows that the decision will be based on the optimizer’s internal cost prediction of the 2 options Knows that a covering index, if added, will always be used for this query and will perform quicker Knows how to test the various indexing options to determine the best index to optimize performance of the given query Knows that adding a covering index will make the index on FirstName redundant and will remove it Knows that the missing index DMV’s should not be automatically implemented and will test indexing scenarios with the Database Engine Tuning Advisor Can make logical decisions on whether to rebuild or reorganize an index Understands that certain designs and activities increase fragmentation and implements better practices

SQL DBA Prof. Levels, example 2 SQL Master Can estimate whether SQL Server will use a clustered index scan or nonclustered index seek for a given value for LastName by inspecting the selectivity of the index statistics and calculating the percentage of rows expected to be returned Able to determine the cost of maintaining additional indexes versus the benefits they provide Uses a variety of tools to test the indexes against a real production-like workload Understands and validates situations where advanced indexing strategies would be effective, such as filtered indexes, filtered statistics, or user created statistics Designs table structures and indexing strategies to maximize performance and minimize maintenance

Path to Master Certification Qual Lab Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3 Must pass all tests 3 attempts allowed per exam\lab. No charge f. Remotely proctored via web cam and Live Meeting.

Three Written Exams 2 hours for each exam Given weekly at the end of each week Monday week 2 and 3, Saturday week 3 Multiple choice If you don’t pass, you’ll be told what areas you need to work on By taking the exam, you agree not to discuss the content of the exam

Six Hour Qualification Lab Virtual hands on lab Tests your ability to design, implement and troubleshoot Open book You can use Books Online or the internet You can use your own scripts But no collaboration with other human beings Like the exams, there should be no discussion of the lab contents or sharing of what is tested Keep it secret for everyone so everyone has an equal challenge 6 Hours in duration Practice may help you to pass Optional exercises provided for practice

Why go through it? Significant market differentiator Program not for the masses. MCITPs intended for tens of thousands. MCMs intended for a few hundred. Today we have 79 SQL MCMS in the world! No shortcuts to earn this certification No brain dumps. No “test out” option. You’ve got to go through the experience to attain this certification Skill building and refining via three weeks of uninterrupted training with some of the best trainers in the world Build valuable contacts, network, peers that you will stay in contact with over the years After certification, ongoing community participation (email DLs, community calls, ongoing education sessions, contact with SQL team) Upgrade paths are defined upon major releases (for example MCM 2005 upgrade to MCM 2008 by passing the 2008 Qualification Lab)

Tips for Success Commit to the program Put all other commitments aside Do not get derailed if you fail an exam ~30% of candidates pass all exams on the first try ~80% pass with follow-up retakes Work together and help each other Study and practice Do the optional exercises Study every night and weekends Study in groups If you have questions, speak up Make yourself comfortable

Resources Masters Certification info: The public Master Blog: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/master.aspx The public Master Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/b/themasterblog My blog entries on the MCM program: http://www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/robert_davis/archive/tags/MCM /default.aspx Brent Ozar’s blog on the MCM program : http://www.brentozar.com/sql-mcm/

Frequently Asked Questions Does it really cost $18,500? Yes, but there are discounts available What discounts? They often run specials for discounts MVP’s get a discount Unused PSS contract hours can be applied to cost See Brent Ozar’s blog for more information http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2010/03/sql-mcm-free/ What documentation did you submit? Certification Transcript 1 page Project Plan – SQL 2000 to 2005 migration, HA implementation, scale-out via merge replication Documentation on Performance Monitoring and Troubleshooting Would you do it again? Absolutely. I plan to do the Certified Architect program next year What would you do differently if you did it over? Schedule time off of work at the end of the program.

? Questions That big question mark is editable – use whatever character you want!

SQL Saturday #43 Redmond Robert L Davis @ SQL Saturday #43 Redmond Robert L Davis Adventures in SQL Server Master Certification Robert L Davis (blog|twitter)