Microsoft SQL Server 7 can provide database services for a large organization, including its Internet presence. But its appearance can be deceiving: behind the friendly user interface lurks a full-featured Structured Query Language (SQL) engine. Getting a grip on its considerable power requires a guide, and Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Administrator's Guide makes an excellent one. The authors provide lots of background wisdom, plus scores of quick-and-dirty solutions to database-administration challenges (both common and somewhat rare). For example, they explain how to use the Transact-SQL statements TRUNCATE_ONLY and NO_LOG to free up disk space for a database that's growing faster than planned--this procedure often will buy enough time to install more disk space.
Mark Linsenbardt and Shane Stigler take a somewhat unusual approach to presenting their information, neglecting illustrations almost entirely in favor of large quantities of text. Sometimes they annotate Transact-SQL commands, explaining when and why you'd use a command string before presenting the string itself. Other times, they document entire portions of the SQL Server architecture, explaining the potential effects of manipulating various settings. They especially deserve commendation for their in-depth coverage of replication, including pedestrian Publication/Subscription setups and more adaptable script-driven arrangements. --David Wall
Topics covered: Installation, academic background on SQL Server architecture, Transact-SQL, distributed data, backups and restorations, replication, monitoring, performance tuning, and general administration tasks.
Product Description
Case studies: boxed text elements providing real scenarios based on the authors' consulting experience--but not containing company names. Each case study describes the type of business, number of databases running, number of users, and the situation that was solved with specific steps. On-line scripts: These are downloadable from Osborne's website and include SQL statements that can be used to build stored proceduers that apply to all databases and script examples of advanced techniques that must be tweaked for specific scenarios.
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