Customer Reviews

Microsoft SQL Server(TM) 2005 Administrator's Pocket Consultant (Pro-Administrator's Pocket Consultant)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I picked up Stanek's SQL Server 2005 Administrator's Pocket Consultant and Windows Server 2003 Inside Out at the same time, and have found them both to be excellent. If there's one SQL Server book every developer, programmer and administrator should have, it's this one--I haven't found a better one and I've read half a dozen so far. Stanek has a gift for getting to the point, explaining the most complex concepts in ways that are easy to understand. He seems to pack a 1,000 pages of info into 550 pages. SQL Server 2005 Administrator's Pocket Consultant has a strong focus on security, configuration, optimization, and troubleshooting. Throughout the book, there's excellent coverage of T-SQL and I prefer the way T-SQL is covered in context in this book to the way it's covered in the separate T-SQL book I bought (and no longer use). Beyond core database administration, which this book covers better than any other book, it also covers full-text search, indexes, integration services (creating packages), linked servers, distributed transactions, replication, publications, etc. The maintenance chapters are some of the strongest with complete coverage of profiling, monitoring, optimizing, backup, recovery, log shipping, database mirroring, automation, etc. Thank you Mr. Stanek for an excellent book.

With a new set of tools, Administering SQL 2005 is quite different to previous versions this book provides a very useful overview of the new graphical administration programs, as well as detailing many of the commonly used administration stored procedures.

The book is very readable and I especially like the side notes, which come in Note, Tip, Caution, Real World and Best Practice forms. These give very useful practical information, which will help you avoid some the common problems that get posted to online newsgroups.

The book covers all aspects of administering SQL Server 2005 and will provide a handy reference to anyone whose function it is to maintain a SQL 2005 system.


Martin Bell (SQL Server MVP)
1/28/2006

I only recently got involved with SQL Server, when work required that I shift gears after our department downsized. Therefore I was not familiar with all of the nuances of SQL Server. In true William Stanek fashion, however, this book smoothly got this newbie very familiar with the features of SQL Server, which I am finding to be a lot more than I ever thought there would be, quite truthfully, I was not expecting it to be so complicated. The book starts out explaining the SQL Server administrations, and teaches some special characteristics for selecting hardware, choosing editions, and using the GUI and CLI tools. There is a lengthy explanation on SQL Server roles and integrating roles, planning for deploying, and setting up SQL Server. I really liked how the author drew the distinction between all the nuances of security, access and configuration. The massive chapter on tuning and optimizing goes into great depth. I never really appreciated the power of SQL Server until I read this chapters on data transformation, replications, transactions. I never knew before I read this book that SQL Server had features for log shipping and mirroring. Part Three and Part Four are where I've spent so much time reading lately. Since this book is 550 information packed pages, I can't review all of it for you. However, I find it an INDISPENSIBLE SQL Server tool. I always find the answers I need in Stanek's books!

After reading this book, I felt like I had to stand up or at least applaud. It was really a masterpiece: extremely concise yet pretty comprehensive, easy to understand, and expertly organized. The pocket consultant series by Microsoft claims to be "The practical, portable guide that delivers immediate answers" and it absolutely is. This book is to computer manuals what iPods are to digital music. Compact, powerful, and easy to use.

The book is designed for both new and experienced professionals. Someone who has never used SQL Server before and will get as much out of it as someone who's been using it for a long while. Unlike some books, he doesn't talk down to you and respects the fact that you can learn things if shown how to use them.

This book doesn't just cover SQL Server, but also covers SQL itself. In fact, I really don't consider this just a SQL Server manual. It's really a SQL Server/SQL Command Guide, covering pretty much every aspect of daily administration, configuration, and tuning of SQL Server through the GUI and commands.

The index and table of contents is well organized so you can focus on the sections you want to learn more about.

The ideal book for anyone who works with or wants to work with SQL Server whether admin or not.

Ever since I picked up Stanek's Windows 2000 admin pocket consultant, I've relied on his books and they've never let me down. When I needed to learn about SQL Server 2005, I checked to see if there was a pocket consultant and I'm thankful there was. This book has been a constant resource in getting up and running with sql server. As usuall Stanek packs in more detail than other books twice as big, making this a powerful and to the point resource. All 549 pages are top notch!

I bought this book for over a year and didn't give a instant rating because I wanted to read through the book before I rate it.

Now it is the time to give it a 5 stars. This book goes hand to hand with another book written by Stanek -- "Windows Server 2003 Administrator's Pocket Consultant".

I don't understand why people give him 2 stars because "Encryption" is not mentioned. He briefly mentioned "Encryption" but didn't write detail information about it(See Page 335 on your SQL Server 2005 Administrator's Pocket Consultant).

This book will save you from time to time if you are an admin! Highly recommanded!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pound for pound, this book packs in more details than any other I've found. No book on a subject can cover everything you need to know, but this one comes close for administrators. The best I've found out of them all. Stanek is clear and concise and just as the book promises, he zeroes in on what matters most. My copy has dogears and highlights everywhere. For the price you can't beat it.

Our MSDBA had this book on his desk the whole time he was setting up and tuning our new SQL test boxes. I decided to get a copy too, and it has been an excellent resource.

This handy pocket consultant is a must have for administrators and developers. It delivers exactly what is promised: a handy guide for daily administration. Out of all my sql server books this is the one I refer to the most.

The pocket size and wealth of info is great to have around as a DBA. Great product.