I really enjoyed the opportunity to present to the Central Texas System Management User Group (CTSMUG) on September 8, 2017. You can find their latest meeting information at CTSMUG on EventBrite. My technical focus was on the many Windows Server 2016 storage features that organizations can use to better manage storage in their own environments and in public, private, and hybrid clouds. I also gave several live demonstrations, including the process of creating a Storage Spaces environment in the Microsoft Azure cloud, and the use of various storage-related tools such as Azure Storage Explorer.
The event went was fun, and I really appreciated the audience’s participation. Feel free to contact me if you’d like more information about the content of the presentation. And thanks again to CTSMUG for inviting me to speak!
I had the privilege of serving as Moderator for three great webinar sessions at the 24 Hours of PASS: Summit Preview online event. If you were unable to join the sessions live, they’re all available for your viewing by using the online Schedule.
I moderated the following sessions, all of which I’d highly recommend!
“Writing User Stories and Slicking Epics for DW/BI Teams” (Speaker: Lynn Winterbroer)
“Introduction to Global Data Quality ” (Speaker: Oscar Li)
“Why Did My Clever Index Change Backfire?” (Speaker: Kendra Little)
The Professional Association of SQL Server (PASS) is hosting a free online summit on May 3rd – 4th, 2017. The focus is on two very important topics: Data Security and Data Quality. I had the pleasure of moderating two of the sessions, and learned a lot! You can find more information about PASS at http://www.pass.org/ and about the event at the event web site:
I’ll be presenting topics that are focused on creating a SQL Azure database, and writing a simple web application to enter, update, and display data – all from using cloud resources. Here’s an overview of the event:
HackMISA is a 12 hour hackathon hosted by the Management Information Systems Asscioation as a new initiative to provide more opportunities for students to learn how to code. This is where you can turn your ideas into a reality. You’ll make new friends and learn cool skills w the help of industry professionals!
Come down for a day of free food, workshops, mentorships, & prizes. Whether you have no coding knoledge or are a seasoned hacker, we would love to see you there!
For more information about the event or to sign up, please visit the HackMISA Spring 2017 web page!
Update (04/03/2017): It was a great pleasure to meet so many excited, committed, and technically-capable people at the event. All of the entries were excellent, and I was glad to stay for most of the 12-hour session as a sepaker, mentor and judge. Attached to this post is a copy of the Slides from my Auzre Cloud presentation. Please feel free to download it for your own use: UT HackMISA – Azure Cloud – Anil Desai
I’m looking forward to speaking at the March meeting of the Austin Editors Guild.
Here’s an overview of the topic:
Join us this month to up your tech game! We’ll talk about features in Microsoft Office and Word that will help you improve your workflow, editing process, and document management. Don’t worry if you don’t have the latest versions—we’ll discuss both free and paid options for upgrades.
We’ll show demos on how you can use Microsoft Word and OneNote to manage the editing process. You’ll also see new features in action and practical applications for their use, such as real-time document collaboration, advanced formatting features, Word’s new grammar-checking feature, SmartArt graphics, and more. Anil will share real-world examples of how he’s managed his writing and editing projects for a variety of major publishers, lessons learned, and tips for dealing with poorly organized environments and processes.
Update (04/03/2017): I really enjoyed talking to the group and had some great questions and answers. Attached is a slide presentation for any attendees or anyone that missed the session: The Tech of Editing (Austin Editors Guild).
Virtualization workloads generate many requirements and challenges for IT departments, including high performance, low latency, high-availability and the ability to quickly move and reconfigure workloads based on changing demands. This presentation focuses on best practices for employing a wide array of different storage features in the Windows Server platform. Details range from the SMB 3.x protocol to data-deduplication, clustering, Hyper-V Replica, and many more related features. The presentation will begin with suggestions for determining requirements for different kinds of virtual disks and different business workloads. Based on these requirements, we’ll drill-down in to practical advice on how, when, and why these features can help increase service delivery and reduce costs for virtualized environments of all sizes.
If you can’t make it to the live session, it will also be available for viewing after the conference.
Update: The presentation was originally scheduled for October 18th, and has been moved back by one day. If the new time doesn’t work well for you, remember that the presentation will always be available on-demand, soon after the live recording.
Meeting storage-related requirements has been a long-standing challenge for IT organizations, and added workload requirements from cloud- and software-defined architectures can add quickly to the burden. Common goals are to implement solutions that provide high-availability and high performance, with low capital and operational costs. The Windows Server 2016 platform includes a tremendous list of improved and new features that are available “out-of-the-box”. That makes the biggest barrier understanding how, when and why you can implementing these features.
This presentation will cover a wide array of different features in the Windows Server platform, including Storage Spaces and Storage Spaces Direct; SMB 3.x improvements; storage tiering; Storage QoS; Storage Replica; data de-duplication; and many other features. When compared to the costs and administrative complexity of traditional SANs, these tools can provide ready solutions for environments of all sizes and types. The focus will be on technical details about the features and capabilities of the Windows Server platform, and how organizations can make best use of them.
It would be great if you can make it for the live session, but if not, it will also be available on-demand after the event is complete.
Microsoft is soon hosting a great free event that Microsoft and the MVPs are putting on, May 14th & 15th. Join Microsoft MVPs from the Americas’ region as they share their knowledge and real-world expertise during a free event, the MVP Virtual Conference. As a member of the IT Pro selection committee, I can definitely vouch for the many interesting session topics (I’m planning to attend as many as I can on both says).
The MVP Virtual Conference will showcase 95 sessions of content for IT Pros, Developers and Consumer experts designed to help you navigate life in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Developer Platform, Steve Guggenheimer, will be on hand to deliver the opening Key Note Address.
Why attend MVP V-Conf? The conference will have 5 tracks, IT Pro English, Dev English, Consumer English, Portuguese mixed sessions & Spanish mixed sessions, there is something for everyone!
Come learn from the best and brightest in the tech world today. All of the sessions will all be delivered by the Americas’ Region Microsoft MVPs. These MVPs are experts who present at premiere conferences, independent community events and local user groups all over the globe.
This is a technical conference focused on helping attendees to learn and develop skills for everything from everyday technical work to wackier weekend projects. Whether it is on the IT Pro, Dev or Consumer side of things, you can bet that the content of MVP V-Conf will be cutting edge, exciting and relevant.
Be sure to register quickly to hold your spot and tell your friends & colleagues.
The conference will be widely covered on social media, you can join the conversation by following @MVPAward and using the hashtag #MVPvConf. We hope to see you there!
I’m excited to have been given the opportunity to present at the December meeting of the Central Texas Systems Management User Group (CTSMUG)! I’ll try to post some more details on the topic here within the next week.
The meeting starts at 10:00am and includes lunch. For details (including directions and a full agenda) and to register to attend, see the Event Details. There are lots of other interesting topics on the agenda, so do try to attend if you’re in the Austin area!
IT professionals face many challenges in their struggle to deliver the infrastructure, applications, and services that their organizations need. Common issues include limited budgets, datacenter infrastructure complexity, and technical expertise to support a wide variety of changing goals. The presentation will provide guidance and best practices for data center admins that are looking for cost-effective ways to increase automation, improve hardware resource utilization, and provide HA/DR features without having to make costly investments in third-party products.
This webinar will discuss:
Features that include support for iSCSI-based SANs,
The eight annual edition of Austin Code Camp is almost here, and I’ll again be presenting two SQL Server topics. The event takes place at the New Horizons Learning Center (near Highland Mall). This is a full-day event filled with presentations from expert developer and IT experts from Austin and beyond.
Registration via EventBrite is required, as space is limited. It looks like the tickets are selling out quickly, so be sure to get yours soon if you’re in the Austin area and want to attend!
Here are the details on my updated presentations:
SQL Server Performance Monitoring & Optimization
Developers often overlook the art and science of query optimization, despite the importance of storing and accessing data in all types of applications. Developers can dramatically improve their users’ experience by monitoring and optimizing how they leverage their database. This session will cover practical ways in which attendees can monitor performance at various levels, and how they can use this information to optimize queries. We’ll start with an overview of the many different SQL Server tools that can be used for finding and troubleshooting performance issues. Then, we’ll walk through the process of using SQL Profiler to collect data for supporting real-world questions and goals, including: Generating a "hit list" of worst-performing queries based on execution times and frequency, and finding sources of bottlenecks.
Next, we’ll go through the process of using the Database Tuning Advisor to use captured workloads to optimize physical database structures such as indexes and partitions. Also included will be ways in which developers can use built-in reports and dynamic management views to gain further insight into their production systems. Finally, the presentation will include an overview of analyzing query plans. The overall emphasis will be on solving practical, real-world database performance problems.
SQL Server Reporting Services: Developing and Managing Reports
SQL Server Reporting Services allows developers to author and distribute complex reports that come from a variety of data sources. This session will begin with an architectural overview of Reporting Services and demos of how developers can install and configure the required services. Then, we will walk through the process of creating new reports using Report Builder and Visual Studio. Reporting features including dynamic drill-downs, tablix reports, charts, and sorting will be demonstrated. Also included will be methods by which multiple levels of report parameters can be used to efficiently filter data.
A key goal for reports is to get data to the users who required them, and to manage performance, permissions, and report contents over time. This presentation will cover deployment details, including scheduling report execution, report subscriptions, data caching, creating snapshots, and managing security. Attendees are welcome to bring their reporting-related questions and issues for discussion.
I’m excited to be presenting a free session that’s focused on how IT pros can use Windows Server 2012 R2 to improve their datacenter operations.
The event will take place on the morning of Friday, September 26th, 2014. The scheduled presentation will start at 9:00am and conclude at 1:00pm, including breaks and meals. For more details, and to register, please visit the Transform the Datacenter MVP Roadshow page for this event. Registration is free, and breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Here’s an overview of the topics I’ll be covering:
Session I: Transforming Your Datacenter: Why and How
a. Common barriers to replacing current OS, applications, network, storage, and related infrastructure
b. Addressing datacenter management challenges
c. Understanding the role and benefits of public/private/hybrid cloud approaches
d. Planning for and Migrating from Windows Server 2003
Session II: New Features in Windows Server 2012 R2
a. Microsoft server and cloud platform overview
b. Windows Server 2012 R2 Storage and Networking Improvements
c. Virtualization with Hyper-V 4.0
d. Additional features and tools / Q & A
Session III: Transforming Your Datacenter: Infrastructure and Cloud Benefits of Windows Server 2012 R2
a. Comparing Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud approaches
b. Understanding Microsoft Azure service offerings
c. Integrating cloud and local data-center infrastructure
d. Getting start with moving data, applications, and services to the cloud
One of the many benefits of being a Microsoft MVP is the opportunity to connect with IT professionals that are located in my area (Central Texas). While there’s no shortage of online resources for technical content on this topic, sometimes an in-person, on-site session can help provide the much-needed opportunity to interact with peers outside your organization. If you’re in the Houston or Central Texas area, please do try to attend!
On April 14th, 2014, I’ll be presenting a session titled, “SQL Server Optimization for Developers” to the Austin .NET User Group. The free event will opportunities for networking, food and drinks, and (of course) a presentation.
Here’s a brief overview of the topic and the presentation:
Database optimization is a critical component of overall application performance, and sub-optimal configurations can limit reliability, scalability, and the user experience. Unfortunately, many developers see database monitoring and optimization as a black art – something that’s better left to production and operations specialists. This presentation will focus on practical, real-world methods for monitoring and optimizing performance for SQL Server-based applications. Demonstrations will include understanding index types, capturing query data with SQL Profiler, analyzing indexes and using the Database Engine Tuning Advisor. In addition to live demos the content will focus on managing locking, managing schema changes, and application design best practices for developers.
If you’re in the Austin area, I hope to see you there!
Update: You can download the slides from the presentation from my SQL Server Presentations page. And, coming soon: A full recording of the session, courtesy of UserGroup.tv (thanks, Shawn!). Thanks to everyone for attending!
UserGroup.tv is providing free recordings of my recent SQL Server presentations at the Austin Code Camp 2013 event. While the attendance was excellent, I’m sure some people were unable to attend in-person. Here are the links to the presentation recordings:
If you’re in the Austin area and are interested in a free all-day conference on .NET development-focused topics, be sure to check out the Austin .NET User Group’s annual Austin Code Camp. It takes place on Saturday, August 17th at the St. Edward’s Professional Education Center in Austin. See the site for details on the speakers, sessions, and location.
This year, I’ll be presenting on a couple of topics that were well-receiving in past years. The sessions will be demo-focused, though you can also find the slides from my past presentations on this site. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or comments!
SQL Server Performance Monitoring & Optimization
Developers can dramatically improve performance by understanding how their queries are executing in the "real world". This session will cover ways in which attendees can monitor performance at various levels, and how they can use this information to optimize queries and improve overall application performance. We’ll start with a discussion of developing a performance optimization strategy and how various tools can help. Then, we’ll walk through the process of using SQL Profiler to collect data in a real-world case: Generating a "hit list" of worst-performing queries based on execution times and frequency.
Next we’ll look at using the Database Tuning Advisor to make suggestions related to physical database structures such as indexes and partitions. Also included will be ways in which built-in reports and dynamic management views can be used to monitor performance of production systems. Time permitting, the presentation will include methods for reducing deadlocks and managing long-running transactions. Finally, the presentation will include an overview of analyzing query plans. The overall emphasis will be on solving practical, real-world database performance problems.
SQL Server Reporting Services: Creating and Managing Reports
Using SQL Server Reporting Services, developers can author and distribute complex reports that come from a variety of data sources. The session will begin with an architectural overview of Reporting Services and how developers can install and configure the required services. Then, we will walk through the process of creating new reports by building connections and data sets using Report Builder 3.0 and Visual Studio 2012. Reporting design features including dynamic drill-downs, tablix reports, charts, and sorting will be demonstrated. Also included will be methods by which multiple levels of report parameters can be used to filter data and increase performance.
Next, we’ll look at deployment details, including scheduling report execution, report subscriptions, configuring caching, creating snapshots, and managing security. Time permitting, the presentation will include a demonstration of using Report Viewer controls within ASP.NET and Windows Forms applications.
