Author: Christian Cote

Presented at Montreal SQL Server user group

Tonight, I presented on how SSIS can interact with a SSAS Cube. In short, I talked about the following topics:
– The various way to process a cube from SSIS
– How cube data can be integrated into an SSIS package to be reused in other part of a Datamart or any other system.
I’ll surely blog about these topics pretty soon.
Christian

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SSIS Performance counters link

I always wanted to find a practical explanation on how to use performance counters and, most important, their definition. I am a SQL Server Central subscriber and in one of their articles, I found this link. It explains very clearly the various counters that are available by SSIS pipeline. So, next time I need to investigate on a performance problem while loading data with SSIS, I’ll know where to find performance counters information’s.

Christian

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I created SSIS packages, now what?

While it may be easy to create SSIS packages or project, creating a scalable ETL solution is another story. When I do SSIS presentations or discuss with ETL developers, it seems that there are many ways to build an SSIS application. When we talk about best practices around SSIS architecture, I often get this answer: “We did it like this and it work fine in production”. While I think what I in production work OK, it does not mean that the application being built is made upon best practices and makes it scalable enough. As an example, I always ask these questions:

–   Are you able to tell which packages executed, how many rows have been selected, inserted, updated or deleted?

–   How much time it took to run a specific package?

–    Which task inside a package executed the longest?

–   How do you record errors and warnings?

For me, answers to these questions represent basic ETL Framework function that should be implemented into almost every SSIS applications. How ETL solution should be architected around this kind of framework would require a book on these topics.  Earlier this week, I purchased a book that is specifically written to answer most of the above questions. The authors of the book are what I should call Subject Matters Experts on SSIS. They talk about real life scenarios, performance monitoring, framework design, etc. Here is the link to the book: SQL Server: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Integration Services Problem-Design-Solution – Book Information and Code Download – Wrox.

 So, beyond SSIS packages, we now have a reference on how an application should be structured. Over the years, I found on the web almost all informations that are in this book and I have been fortunate enough to be able to grab and implement almost all best practices in the book. While I have minor questions or arguments on some subtopics, I think that this book should be one of the most useful on your shelve.

 Christian

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Very good new!

I just learned that I am been awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)!
I am very glad of it and hope to keep this status for many years!

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SQL Server evening at Montreal .Net user group

Thursday September 24th will be a SQL Server evening. This week we have Don Kiely, a well known speaker. His session will cover the following topics:

  1. SQL Server Efficiencies: Sparse columns and Filtered indexes
  2. Unleashed SQL Server Management Studio 2.0

The meeting will be held at Microsoft Montreal downtown offices, 2000 McGill College, 4th floor. The meeting starts at 18:15 and finishes at 9:00 PM

Christian

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Vermont Code Camp presentation

I presented yesterday at Vermont code camp on Visual Studio Team System for Database Professional. What I like when I present this product is that the audience is working with databases and attendees have always good questions and pertinent questions.

I think that the session went well, I had good comments from the attendees.

Vermont is very beautiful. I love the landscapes and the atmosphere seems very relaxed. Thanks to the VT code camp organizer for picking my presentation, I took the opportunity to spend the weekend in Burlington area and relax a bit.

My session PowerPoint presentation is available here.

Christian

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Montreal SQL Server user group BI objectives

As new SQL Server co-leader of this user group, here are some of my goals I would like to achieve.

  1. I would like that the BI community better know and understand the Microsoft BI Suite. There are a lot of good BI people out there that doesn't recognize Msft as a major player in the BI field due to the fact that they don't have sufficient knowledge of the various products included in the suite.
  2. Give the Microsoft community a better knowledge or understanding of what is business intelligence and why using it.
  3. Create or promote some kind of synergy around BI and Microsoft developpers communities. Having this will get a lot of enthusiasm that will help promoting the BI suite. This may lead to new business opportunities that could be fulfilled by a combination of people from both communities.

I may be wrong when I say that the BI community and Microsoft SQL Server don't know each other tools very well. I know several SQL or .Net developpers that know and use Microsoft BI tools. I don't know if I will be able to achieve these objectives completely or some part of it but I'll give it a try :-). There are 3 BI meetings this season at Montreal SQL user group, so I will use them at best to make Microsoft BI better known.

Chrisitan

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Montreal .Net User group now include Business Intelligence

I am pleased to announce that I am Montreal .Net/SQL User group co-leader for this year. I will mainly lead the BI chapter of the group.

As a matter of fact, th first BI event will be held October 14th. And I am proud to announce that my old friend Eric Bergeron will be the first speaker of the season. I have worked with Eric in the past and I always appreciated his franchise and its enthusiasm to talk about Business Intelligence and ETL.

Christian

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Now Twitting

For a couple of weeks now I have been on Twitter. My user name is Christian_SQL. I linked my blog entries to it, so everytime I update my blog, it will be notified on Twitter.

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