Dan's Blog
I am Principal Program Manager at Microsoft leading the Business Platform Division's (BPD) community team. BPD includes SQL Server, SQL Azure, BizTalk, AppFabric, and other technologies and services.
Oracle Unbreakable == Oxymoron
And I ask once again… why do people run Oracle?...
Date: 01/18/2012
Designing for Security
I just finished reading this article on NoSQL security. It raised a couple of concerns: 1. Systems...
Date: 01/16/2012
SQL PASS PowerShell Session Materials
The presentation and scripts can be found here. Two questions came up which I couldn’t answer...
Date: 10/13/2011
Be a Virtual SQL Server Team Member
I’ve been blogging here and here about testing Denali CTP3. Here is a recent picture of the SQL...
Date: 09/28/2011
Have you Downloaded SQL Server Denali CTP3?
At the end of August we released CTP3 (Community Technology Preview) of the next release of SQL...
Date: 09/20/2011
Help Make SQL Server “Denali” The Best Release Yet!
Bugs reported by the community have played a huge role in the amazing quality of past releases of...
Date: 08/21/2011
SQL Server codename “Denali”–“Product Update”
There’s a great new feature in the next release of SQL Server (codename “Denali”) which integrates...
Date: 07/19/2011
Day 13 on the Job
Today is my 13th day in the new job as the community lead for the Business Platform Division. It has...
Date: 07/06/2011
MVPs: Evangelists in Sheep’s Clothing?
I was recently talking to a co-worker and I characterized MVPs as evangelists, among other things. I...
Date: 06/27/2011
Pilot Projects
I spent the first eight years of my career in enterprise IT for a Fortune 15 company. Back then IT...
Date: 06/15/2011
SQL Server Code Name “Denali” – Supported OSes and Upgrade Paths
We are looking for feedback on three items for SQL Server Code Name “Denali”. First, are the...
Date: 06/10/2011
Forgot Your Password?
I’ve seen three basic patterns for handling forgotten web site passwords: Send a change password...
Date: 06/06/2011
Best Practice Policies for Policy-Based Management
Policy-Based Management (PBM) was introduced with SQL Server 2008 – it’s a declarative system for...
Date: 05/27/2011
Loading SQL Server Snapins into your PowerShell Session
Caveat: I don’t write code for a living. But I do know how to get things done, usually using brute...
Date: 03/31/2011
Oy vey – Poor Security Habits Highlighted Again
The March 2011 issues of Database Trends and Application has an article that highlights the results...
Date: 03/28/2011
Changing Service Account & Service Account Password
I recently botched an answer about why one should use SQL Configuration Manager (SQLCM) over Service...
Date: 12/15/2010
SQL Server Express: Dev or Prod?
Most people I’ve spoken to have at least heard of the Express edition. The next question I ask is...
Date: 12/12/2010
Vendor Lock In or Ignorant Design?
I often hear people say '”I’m not going to use Microsoft stuff because the don’t want to become...
Date: 12/06/2010
Database Schema Help
I’m testing out some new stuff and I need your help.Do you have a schema that has a bunch of complex...
Date: 11/21/2010
SQL PASS Summit Focus Groups
This year during the PASS Summit we (Microsoft) will be conducting a bunch of focus groups. This is...
Date: 11/02/2010
Project “Houston” Grows up to become Database manager for SQL Azure
I’ve blogged before on Project “Houston” (here and here). at PDC this past week we announced that as...
Date: 10/31/2010
What Does Failure Mean to You?
We recently announced some changes to a set of technologies that were linked together via the...
Date: 09/25/2010
New SCOM Management Pack for SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2008 R2
Last week we released an updated, almost completely revamped, System Center Operations Manager...
Date: 08/08/2010
Houston we don’t have a problem
Phil Factor recently wrote an editorial about Project Houston. I agree with his meta point that...
Date: 08/01/2010
New UI Design Blog
The UX PM on my team recently started a blog on design: designquirk.blogspot.com/. If you’re...
Date: 06/27/2010
SQL Server Project “Houston” & SQL Azure
In this video from TechEd 2010, Group Program Manager Patric McElroy demos some new and future SQL...
Date: 06/12/2010
NEW! SQL Server Setup Portal
I know I shouldn’t be but when I talk to DBAs I’m amazed how much time is spent...
Date: 05/15/2010
SQL Azure Now Supports Data-tier Applications
As announced today on the SQL Azure blog, SQL Azure now supports Data-tier Applications which are...
Date: 04/21/2010
Not Everyone is an Expert
In my day to day work I interact mostly with experts in the field of database technology and...
Date: 04/08/2010
Automating DBA Processes – the White Paper
A while back I participated in a round table on automating DBA tasks. From that event a few folks...
Date: 04/01/2010
The DB Taste Challenge
This is hilarious! www.martinidesign.com/sql/landing/index_pres.html
Date: 02/20/2010
Calling All Web Developers
Are you a web developer? Regardless if you use the MS stack, an open source stack, or a combination...
Date: 02/08/2010
SQL Server 2008 R2 Release Date is Set for May 2010
Well folks it’s official we’re going to release SQL Server 2008 R2! The release date is set for May...
Date: 01/20/2010
What Makes a Strong Community?
I often hear people characterize the MySQL community as strong and vibrant. In fact I’ve heard...
Date: 01/06/2010
Best Practice: Naming Constraints
Within SQL Server there are a number of different types of constraints: CHECK DEFAULT FOREIGN KEY...
Date: 10/29/2009
Developing Data-tier Applications Using Visual Studio 2010
Check out this rocking video of Sanjay Nagamangalam demoing the Data-tier Application functionality...
Date: 10/27/2009
PDC Session on the Data-tier Application Component
Are you going to this year’s PDC? Are you still on the fence? There’s a very cool session @ PDC on...
Date: 10/21/2009
Perfect Conference Storm
November is shaping up to be the perfect storm of conferences. In a time when budgets are extremely...
Date: 09/19/2009
PBM – it’s like liquid awesome!
Brent Ozar and Thomas LaRock do a 3 part video series on the power of Policy-based Management (PBM)....
Date: 08/30/2009
SQL Server 2008 R2 August CTP: Utility Bug
The August CTP of SQL Server 2008 R2 contains a bug in Management Studio when connected to a Control...
Date: 08/22/2009
SQL Server Web Developer Survey
The Microsoft SQL Server product team is undertaking a short survey to help guide potential new...
Date: 06/10/2009
PCI Compliance and SQL Server 2008
Today compliance is a huge focus area for IT. Since compliance is written by lawyers for lawyers it...
Date: 04/19/2009
Using PowerShell to Get Data & Log File Sizes
I was playing around with PowerShell today (yes I’m was geeking out on Saturday afternoon) to learn...
Date: 03/21/2009
Up & Running on Win7
Rock and Roll! Yesterday I did a clean install of Win7 x64 Beta on my Lenovo x301. Setup was fast...
Date: 01/13/2009
What Has 2 Thumbs & Is Excited About Windows 7?
Answer: This guy! I’ve been following very closely the press and reviews on the early peaks of...
Date: 01/10/2009