1. Unit testing for your database infrastructure
dbachecks
Unit testing for your database infrastructure

2. About Me 1 Frank Henninger dbachecks 10+ years as a DBA
Oracle on Linux
IBM DB2LUW on AIX
SQL Server on Windows
Contributor for dbatools and dbachecks
Contact info
SQLCommunity
Twitter 1

3. And how does it apply to you?
dbachecks
What is unit testing?
And how does it apply to you? “
At a high-level, unit testing refers to the practice of testing certain functions and areas – or units – of our code. -Tom McFarlin “
How many of you spent time as software developers? What do they mean when they talk about unit tests? How does that apply to a typical dba? 2

4. Where’s your checklist?
dbachecks
Where’s your checklist?
You have one, right?
Why do we need one?
Consistency
Best Practices
Dot the i’s
Cross the t’s
Every dba needs to have a checklist for system install. It’s pretty much a given that without one, every instance will be setup differently. Checklists are a key method of enforcing standards. So a checklist is great, however, we all know that environments change over time. 3 1

5. Checklists aren’t everything
dbachecks
Checklists aren’t everything
All environments change
Backup location
Network setup
Users
Best Practices
Upgrades
A checklist isn’t foolproof. Item’s can and will be skipped. The environment may change. Users need managed. Best practices change. An environment is in constant flux
What is the oldest environment you support? Were you around to set it up? How has the environment changed? 4

6. Yup, I pulled a switcheroo
dbachecks
Environment testing
Yup, I pulled a switcheroo
We need a way to constantly check our environment to make sure common practices stay in place over time.
This is where dbachecks comes to the rescue. 5

7. dbachecks Powershell to the rescue Pester DBATools PSFramework 6
dbachecks is a framework created by and for SQL Server pros who need to validate their environments. Basically, we all share similar checklists and mostly just the server names and RPO/RTO/etc change.
Pester
DBATools
PSFramework
Test and mock framework for PowerShell.
Community driven module to help make dba’s lives easier
Configuration management and logging
DBAChecks sits on top of three other excellent powershell modules.
Pester which is supported by Microsoft itself.
DBATools which has a community of several thousand members behind it.
PSFramework excellent module from Fred Wienmann to manage and persist configurations. 6

8. Prebuilt tests 7 Agent Database Domain HADR Instance Log Shipping
dbachecks
Prebuilt tests
Agent
Database
Agent account set to automatic, Operators exist, Mail profile setup, Standard alerts, etc.
Last Backup Time, Backup location accessible, Suspect Page detection, Future File Growth, Orphaned Users, Recovery Model
Domain
HADR
Host in correct domain and OU
Cluster Health
Instance
Log Shipping
AD-Hoc workload, Supported Build, Valid AD User, Backup Access Path, Linked Server Connectivity, Orphaned Files
Primary and Secondary status
Maintenance Solution
Server
Ola’s Maintenance Solution installed, Jobs setup, Full/Diff/Log backups due
Disk Capacity, Disk Allocation Unit, SPN setup 7

9. dbachecks
How-To Install
find-module dbachecks | install-module -SkipPublisherCheck
Skip publisher check is needed due to Pester dependency1
Powershell 4+ required. 8
1https://github.com/pester/Pester/wiki/Installation-and-Update

10. Demo Time Installation List of Checks Groups & Tags Initial Run
dbachecks
Demo Time
Installation
List of Checks
Groups & Tags
Initial Run
Reporting via PowerBI
Configuration
Stacking configuration
Advanced Reporting 13

11. Usage Find commands via Get-Command -Module dbachecks
See all checks with Get-DbcCheck
Each check has a group and a unique tag
Multiple checks can be run at once
Multiple instances can be tested
Tests proceed linearly.
Documentation available at 9

12. dbachecks
Usage
Tests are run via the Invoke-DbcCheck command. 10

13. Configuration Tests can be configured with Set-DbcConfig
dbachecks
Configuration
Tests can be configured with Set-DbcConfig
Available configuration items can be seen via Get-DbcConfig
Export a configuration to import it later
Configuration persists for the user unless reset or overridden. 11

14. Reporting A PowerBI dashboard is available for basic reporting.
dbachecks
Reporting
A PowerBI dashboard is available for basic reporting.
Data must be exported using Update-DbcPowerBiDataSource 12

15. Databases are your friend...
dbachecks
Advanced Reporting
Databases are your friend... 14

16. Advanced Reporting Table Definition 15 dbachecks
CREATE TABLE checks.Results (
SqlInstance sysname NOT NULL
, CollectionTime DATETIME2(7) NOT NULL
, CollectionTimeUTC DATETIME2(7) NOT NULL
, CheckName sysname NOT NULL
, ParametersJSON NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, TimeMS INT NOT NULL DEFAULT -1
, ErrorRecord NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, ParameterizedSuiteName NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, Passed BIT NOT NULL
, Show NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, FailureMessage NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, Name NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, Result NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, Context NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
, StackTrace NVARCHAR(MAX) NULL
) ON CHECKS TEXTIMAGE_ON CHECKS; GO 15

17. dbachecks
Advanced Reporting
Grafana Dashboards 16

18. Questions? 17

19. CREDITS Shapes & Icons Images & Backgrounds Fonts COLORS
dbachecks
CREDITS
Shapes & Icons
Images & Backgrounds
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COLORS
Fonts
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Download the fonts from the following url:
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20. Title of My Presentation
CREDITS
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Icons made by Kiranshastry from and licensed by CC 3.0 BY
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