SQL Server 7 Essential Reference

This book helped me when I was moving databases from one machine to another and I had to fix some orphaned users. How many other books would even address this issue? None, I think. Most other SQL Server books seem to be outlines of BOL and little else. This author has obviously taken a different approach, that of a working DBA with problems to solve.

Ms. Dooley is among just a handful of people who can write about SQL Server at such an experience level. She shares her deep expertise and wisdom gained through hands-on use of SQL Server and real-world implementations. I also enjoyed generous warnings and tips which appeared throughout the book. They make the book fun to read and vividly illustrate technical points. As I read the book I kept thinking, "This is so useful and practical!" Ms. Dooley does an excellent job in presenting the information in a way that is best to learn and remember. Obviously, the author's experience as a prominent SQL Server trainer helped her to organize the book in such a great fashion. I recommend this book to a wide range of SQL Server administrators and developers. The book covers SQL Server 7.0, has some mentions of SQL Server 2000, and also refers to older versions that may benefit users who have experience with prior releases. Developers, especially advanced ones, will also benefit from the best coverage of DMO I've seen in any resource.

As a Microsoft Certified Trainer focused on teaching SQL Server, my students are always asking, "What's *one* really good SQL book?" I will definitely recommend SQL Server_Essential Reference to my classes; it offers insight and perspective to both the relative newbie and those farther along.

I believe that this book is to the DBA side of SQL Server what Inside SQL Server by Kalen Delaney is to the developers side, Awesome. I have two copies 1 for work and 1 for home. I often find myself jogging my memory with things in the book. Buy it you won't regret it.

As databases become more and more common, network engineers without prior training are becoming responsible for database administration and they need to become competent quickly. This book touches base with all the important points in database and server administration in a clear, concise format that quickly educates the reader, guides them to important activities, and steers them around obscure obstacles.Sharon Dooley takes a practical, hands-on approach to database administration that reflects a wealth of field experience. Having read my way through more than 5 SQL books already I might have passed on one entitled SQL Server 7.0 Essential Reference, expecting it to be too basic. What I found was a perceptive field guide to managing a SQL Server. This book provides a clear, understandable review of administration topics that is useful to experienced administrators for the richness of knowledge revealed while remaining an excellent book for persons new to database work who need an introduction that is at once accessible, concise, and relevant.I disagreed with the author about the value of defragmenting SQL Servers and believe that if she is going to say that there has been no proof of the value of defrag software she needs to deal with the findings of the National Software Testing Laboratory on Diskeeper. She also says that Microsoft is fuzzy about supporting defragged databases and yet Diskeeper was one of the first products to gain the Certified for Windows logo. I think she is out of date in this area. I also thought her distrust of third-party backup software needed more defense as I personally have not run into problems though she alluded to many. Other than these specific points I found the material to be outstanding and I would acknowledge that there is room for disagreement on these points.For the experienced administrator the book reveals undocumented and falsely documented issues that can improve administration. The book is very realistic about what can and cannot be done on a SQL Server. I liked the point made that server tuning can only account for about 10% of performance while the bulk of what really matters is in database design.Upgrading from 6.X to 7.0 is covered very nicely. The author provides useful suggestions for dealing with what might not convert seamlessly in an upgrade. I have worked with SQLdiag numerous times. Sharon Dooley is the first person that has clarified that this utility must be run directly on the server; it cannot run from a client workstation. I liked the way she touched on many of the places where an administrator could go wrong. The discussion of SQL Mail reviews how to make it work with Lotus Notes as well as POP3 and Exchange. Previously I had thought that if I did not have an Exchange Server available I could not setup email alerts. Books On Line is not as helpful here as is Sharon Dooley.This book is like having an experienced DBA standing right b