Administering Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Databases Training Course

This five-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to maintain a Microsoft SQL Server 2012 database. The course focuses on teaching individuals how to use SQL Server 2012 product features and tools related to maintaining a database. 

All the labs for this course can be performed using the provided virtual machines. However, if you have a Microsoft Windows Azure account and the classroom virtual machines connect to the internet you may be able to connect to your Azure server and database from the classroom. Many of the labs in this course are enabled for you to perform the lab while connected to your own Azure database in the cloud. Your instructor should be able to provide a current list of Azure enabled labs.

Below are the some of the new features of SQL Server that has been discussed in this course

• Discussion around servicing SQL Server (Service Packs, Cumulative Updates, Hotfixes)
  Understanding the relationship between the different levels of updates to the SQL Server product is very important for those working with it. The course now covers details on how hotfixes, cumulative updates and service packs are related and when to apply each type of update.
  
• SQL Server use of automated update
  SQL Server can now utilize Windows Update for servicing. The course shows how to enable automated updates and when the use of these updates should and should not be used.
• Partial database containment
  A significant challenge when migrating databases between servers is the management of objects such as logins that are not contained within the database. The course now discusses the partial containment options that are provided by SQL Server 2012. In particular, authentication-related changes are discussed.
• Users with passwords (contained users)
  The course shows how SQL Server 2012 allows users to be authenticated at the database level, rather than at the server level. This is an important first step in for database containment.
• User-defined server roles
  In earlier versions of SQL Server, user-defined roles could be created at the database level but not at the server level. In SQL Server 2012, user-defined roles can also be defined at the server level. This can help to increase the security of systems. Having the ability to configure more fine-grained permissions lets logins be assigned only the permissions that they need to do their work.
• In-place upgrades of data-tier applications
  In earlier versions of SQL Server, an upgrade of a data-tier application involved migrating all the data within a database to a new database. In SQL Server 2012 this is no longer needed and the course shows how data-tier applications can be upgraded much more quickly, and using less system resources.
• Appendix with intro to AlwaysOn, High Availability and Replication concepts
  Students who will be attempting the certification exam that is relevant to this course require knowledge of high availability and replication. In earlier versions of this course, none of these details were covered. In this version of the course, an appendix that covers the core concepts for high availability (including SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn technologies) and replication is provided.
  

Module 1: Introduction to SQL Server 2012 and its Toolset
This module introduces the entire SQL Server platform and its major tools. It covers editions, versions, basics of network listeners, and concepts of services and service accounts.

Lessons
Lab: Introduction to SQL Server and its Toolset

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the SQL Server Platform.
• Work with SQL Server Tools.
• Configure SQL Server Services.

Module 2: Preparing Systems for SQL Server 2012
This module covers planning for an installation related to SQL Server I/O requirements, 32 bit vs 64 bit, memory configuration options and I/O subsystem pre-installation checks using SQLIOSim and SQLIO.

Lessons
Lab: Preparing Systems for SQL Server

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the SQL Server architecture.
• Plan for server resource requirements.
• Conduct pre-installation stress testing for SQL Server.

Module 3: Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2012
This module details installing and configuring SQL Server.

Lessons
Lab: Installing and Configuring SQL Server

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Prepare to install SQL Server.
• Install SQL Server.
• Upgrade and automate the installation of SQL Server.

Module 4: Working with Databases
This module describes how data is stored in databases, how to create databases, and how to move databases either within a server or between servers.

Lessons
Lab: Working with Databases

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the role and structure of SQL Server databases.
• Work with files and filegroups.
• Move database files within servers and between servers.

Module 5: Understanding SQL Server 2012 Recovery Models
This module describes the concept of the transaction log and SQL Server recovery models. It introduces the different backup strategies available with SQL Server.

Lessons
Lab: Understanding SQL Server Recovery Models

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the critical concepts surrounding backup strategies.
• Explain the transaction logging capabilities within the SQL Server database engine.
• Plan a SQL Server backup strategy.

Module 6: Backup of SQL Server 2012 Databases
This module describes SQL Server Backup and the backup types.

Lessons
Lab: Backup of SQL Server Databases

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Back up databases and transaction logs.
• Manage database backups.
• Work with more advanced backup options.

Module 7: Restoring SQL Server 2012 Databases
This module describes the restoration of databases.

Lessons
Lab: Restoring SQL Server 2012 Databases

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the restore process.
• Restore databases.
• Work with Point-in-time Recovery.
• Restore system databases and individual files.

Module 8: Importing and Exporting Data
This module covers the use of the import/export wizards and explains how they relate to SSIS. Also introduces BCP.

Lessons
Lab: Importing and Exporting Data

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Transfer data to and from SQL Server.
• Import and export table data.
• Insert data in bulk and optimize the bulk insert process.

Module 9: Authenticating and Authorizing Users
This module covers SQL Server security models, logins and users.

Lessons
Lab: Authenticating and Authorizing Users

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe how SQL Server authenticates connections.
• Describe how logins are authorized to access databases.
• Explain the requirements for authorization across servers.

Module 10: Assigning Server and Database Roles
This module covers fixed server roles, user-defined server roles, fixed database roles and user-defined database roles.

Lessons
Lab: Assigning Server and Database Roles

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Work with server roles.
• Work with fixed database roles.
• Create user-defined database roles.

Module 11: Authorizing Users to Access Resources
This module covers permissions and the assignment of permissions.

Lessons
Lab: Authorizing Users to Access Resources

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Authorize user access to objects.
• Authorize users to execute code.
• Configure permissions at the schema level.

Module 12: Auditing SQL Server Environments
This module covers SQL Server Audit.

Lessons
Lab: Auditing SQL Server Environments

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the options for auditing data access in SQL Server.
• Implement SQL Server Audit.
• Manage SQL Server Audit.

Module 13: Automating SQL Server 2012 Management
This module covers SQL Server Agent, jobs and job history.

Lessons
Lab: Automating SQL Server Management

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Automate SQL Server Management.
• Work with SQL Server Agent.
• Manage SQL Server Agent jobs.

Module 14: Configuring Security for SQL Server Agent
This module covers SQL Server agent security, proxy accounts and credentials.

Lessons
Lab: Configuring Security for SQL Server Agent

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Explain SQL Server Agent security.
• Configure credentials.
• Configure Proxy accounts.

Module 15: Monitoring SQL Server 2012 with Alerts and Notifications
This module covers the configuration of database mail, alerts and notifications.

Lessons
Lab: Monitoring SQL Agent Jobs with Alerts and Notifications

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Configure database mail.
• Monitor SQL Server errors.
• Configure operators, alerts and notifications.

Module 16: Performing Ongoing Database Maintenance
This module covers database maintenance plans.

Lessons
Lab: Performing Ongoing Database Maintenance

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Ensure database integrity.
• Maintain indexes.
• Automate routine database maintenance.

Module 17: Tracing Access to SQL Server 2012
This module covers SQL Profiler and SQL Trace stored procedures.

Lessons
Lab: Tracing Access to SQL Server 2012

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Capture activity using SQL Server Profiler and Extended Events Profiler.
• Improve performance with the Database Engine Tuning Advisor.
• Work with tracing options.

Module 18: Monitoring SQL Server 2012
This module introduces DMVs and the configuration of data collection.

Lessons
Lab: Monitoring SQL Server 2012

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Monitor current activity.
• Capture and manage performance data.
• Analyze collected performance data.

Module 19: Managing Multiple Servers
This module covers Central Management Servers and Multi-Server queries, Virtualization of SQL Server and Data-Tier Applications.

Lessons
Lab: Managing Multiple Servers

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Work with multiple servers.
• Describe options for virtualizing SQL Server.
• Deploy and upgrade Data-Tier Applications.

Module 20: Troubleshooting Common SQL Server 2012 Administrative Issues
This module covers common issues that require troubleshooting and gives guidance on where to start looking for solutions.

Lessons
Lab: Troubleshooting Common Issues

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Explain SQL Server troubleshooting methodology.
• Resolve service-related issues.
• Resolve concurrency issues.
• Resolve login and connectivity issues.