As Microsoft Certified Trainers we have been given a code to enable students to take Microsoft certification tests at a reduced rate.
You can use the code 'MSAU418D7F5B' to shave 15% off from the cost of a Microsoft certification test when tested with Pearson Vue.
To find out about certification options and get access to further resources to help you pass the exams take a detour to Available Microsoft Certifications
To book the test when you are ready go to PV Exam Booking Service. As well as booking the test here you can also set up an account to manage other test taker services offered by Vue.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Can you get help building XML documents in MS SQL Server Management Studio
During my run of the MS2734 course last week, a question came up which required me to extend my current knowledge about the Visual Studio IDE environment, before I could answer it properly. This led to the identification of a feature that I think a lot of DBA's will find useful that some may not know about. Further information is available here.
Post Course Evaluation
You know what happens, everyone is having so much fun that time ran out and you forgot to fill in the online evaluation before it was time to leave for the train on the last day of the course, or whatever. Well now you can just go to Evaluate your course, here and enter the evaluation there instead. I hope you made a note of the login ID and Password (Also know as the course ID and Pin) The instructor would have put them up on the whiteboard at the beginning of the week for you but if you don't have them then just ring and the super guys in admin will help you out, the details to contact should be on your joining instructions.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Business Intelligence - What of it?
Well it has become big in the eyes of the Microsoft marketing engine.
However, it has been big within the IT industry for a lot of years under various other labels. People have tried Enterprise information Systems, Management Information Systems, Statistical and Forecasting Systems, Data Warehouses, Data Marts, Corporate information Systems ..... etc, etc.
What it all boils down to is that millions have been spent on hardware and software but often the business is still running blind. Helped along by the culling of process management positions by ill defined projects which end up leading to the throwing away of a lot of the knowledge required to grow the business in a managed way.
Well when something is missing then you need someone to fill the gap. There is enough knowledge out there it is just a matter of collating it and presenting it in a useful fashion. Microsoft's' BI team feel that they have a valuable contribution to make in putting some of this knowledge back for our use.
It can be garnered here, where you will find all kinds of helpful information that it would normally take you many years to assimilate, while making common mistakes which later become known as experience.
However, it has been big within the IT industry for a lot of years under various other labels. People have tried Enterprise information Systems, Management Information Systems, Statistical and Forecasting Systems, Data Warehouses, Data Marts, Corporate information Systems ..... etc, etc.
What it all boils down to is that millions have been spent on hardware and software but often the business is still running blind. Helped along by the culling of process management positions by ill defined projects which end up leading to the throwing away of a lot of the knowledge required to grow the business in a managed way.
Well when something is missing then you need someone to fill the gap. There is enough knowledge out there it is just a matter of collating it and presenting it in a useful fashion. Microsoft's' BI team feel that they have a valuable contribution to make in putting some of this knowledge back for our use.
It can be garnered here, where you will find all kinds of helpful information that it would normally take you many years to assimilate, while making common mistakes which later become known as experience.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Write and see what you get
I have started creating links to my MS Space because I wanted to try out the new Live Writer. This is an editor which formats blog entries nicely and then submits them to a blog site without one having to use different tools RE-produce the look and feel of an existing document in blog displayable format.
If you would like to try it also then get it from here, but remember it is Beta software so you may not want to connect it to an existing blog. If you need a safe place to point to from both your blog and the Live Writer then setup a space for yourself at http://spaces.live.com/. I am not going to repeat here what you can find adequately communicated elsewhere so start here to learn more about this product!
If you would like to try it also then get it from here, but remember it is Beta software so you may not want to connect it to an existing blog. If you need a safe place to point to from both your blog and the Live Writer then setup a space for yourself at http://spaces.live.com/. I am not going to repeat here what you can find adequately communicated elsewhere so start here to learn more about this product!
A template towards automation of Event Monitoring
On Further to the Google Blog you will find another template that I created to help students learn about templates and how they can make a DBA's life easier. It is the skeleton of a template that can be extended to enhance ones learning about event monitoring and how the service broker service is used to set it up, along with the relevant supporting objects. I hope you find it of value. If I directed you to it then please extend it as I have described for you in class.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Who am I
I just came across information about http://www.whatismyip.com/default.asp while reading through some newsgroup entries. It does exactly what the site says. It tells me what my IP address is. Useful if you are connecting through an ISP with a temporary leased Ip address amongst other things. The site also has reminders of commonly required prompt commands for dealing with IP addresses and even describes how an address is made up.