MCP 70-442 Optimise Data SQL Server 2005

MCP Exam 70-442: PRO

Designing and Optimising Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

This certification helps you target specific technologies and distinguish yourself by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in your specialised technologies.

Passing this course will lead to the Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Database Developer (MCITP). The MCITP is the premier certification for database designers and developers. This credential demonstrates that you can design a secure, stable, enterprise database solution by using Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

Database developers design and implement relational database models (logical and physical) and database storage objects. They also program servers by using user-defined functions, triggers, stored procedures, Transact-SQL, or the CLR. They retrieve or modify data using SQL queries or tune and optimise queries. Database developers are typically employed by mid-sized to large-sized organizations.

• Learning / Exam module:  70-442
• Course Duration: 32 Hours

Learning Segments: 

Module 1: Selecting SQL Server Services to Support Business Needs

This module provides an overview of SQL Server 2005 architecture and the various considerations for choosing SQL Server services to include in a solution. The module also describes considerations for using the database enhancements in SQL Server 2005.

• Overview of the Built-in SQL Server Services
• Evaluating When to Use the New SQL Server Services
• Evaluating the Use of Database Engine Enhancements

Module 2: Designing a Security Strategy

This module describes the considerations for designing a security strategy for the various components of a SQL Server 2005 solution. This includes considerations for choosing authentication and authorization strategy for a solution, as well as designing security for the solution components such as Notification Services and Service Broker. The module also teaches students the guidelines for designing objects to manage application access. The module provides students with the required knowledge to create an auditing strategy for a database solution. Finally, the module teaches students how to manage security for multiple development teams.

• Overview of Authentication Modes and Authorization Strategies
• Designing a Security Strategy for Components of a SQL Server 2005 Solution
• Designing Objects to Manage Application Access
• Creating an Auditing Strategy
• Managing Multiple Development Teams Using the SQL Server 2005 Security Features

Module 3: Designing a Data Modelling Strategy

In this module, students learn the various considerations and guidelines to define standards for storing XML data in a solution. The module also provides the knowledge required to design a database schema. The module provides information about the considerations for implementing OLTP and OLAP functionality, considerations for determining normalization levels, and considerations for creating indexes. Finally, the module covers the various considerations for designing a scale-out strategy for a solution.

• Defining Standards for Storing XML Data in a Solution
• Designing a Database Solution Schema
• Designing a Scale-Out Strategy

Module 4: Designing a Transaction Strategy for a SQL Server 2005 Solution

This module describes considerations and guidelines for defining a transaction strategy for a solution. It also shows how to define data behaviour requirements and specify isolation levels for data stores.

• Defining Data Behaviour Requirements
• Defining Isolation Levels
• Designing a Resilient Transaction Strategy

Module 5: Designing a Notification Services Solution

This module describes the guidelines and processes for designing a Notification Services solution as part of an overall SQL Server 2005 solution. It shows how to define event data and how to store this data, how to design a subscription strategy for a Notification Services solution, how to design a notification strategy, and how to design a notification delivery strategy.

• Defining Event Data
• Designing a Subscription Strategy
• Designing a Notification Strategy
• Designing a Notification Delivery Strategy

Module 6: Designing a Service Broker Solution

This module describes the guidelines and processes for designing a Service Broker solution as part of an overall SQL Server 2005 solution. It covers tasks such as designing the Service Broker solution architecture, designing the Service Broker data flow, and designing Service Broker solution availability.

• Designing a Service Broker Solution Architecture
• Designing Service Broker Data Flow
• Designing Service Broker Solution Availability

Module 7: Planning for Source Control, Unit Testing, and Deployment

This module teaches the guidelines and considerations for planning for source control, unit testing, and deployment, during the design of a SQL Server 2005 solution. Design tasks covered include designing a source control strategy, designing a unit testing plan, creating a performance baseline and benchmarking strategy, and designing a deployment strategy.

• Designing a Source Control Strategy
• Designing a Unit Test Plan
• Creating a Performance Baseline and Benchmarking Strategy
• Designing a Deployment Strategy

Module 8: Evaluating Advanced Query and XML Techniques

This module teaches students how to evaluate queries using the advanced query and XML techniques, which students might require when designing a SQL Server 2005 solution. Query tasks include evaluating common table expressions, pivot queries, and ranking techniques. XML tasks include defining standards for storing XML data, evaluating the use of XQuery, and creating a strategy for converting data between XML and relational formats.

• Evaluating Common Table Expressions
• Evaluating Pivot Queries
• Evaluating Ranking Queries
• Overview of XQuery
• Overview of Strategies for Converting Data Between XML and Relational Formats

Designing the Data Tier for a Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Module-1 Choosing Data Access Technologies and an Object Model

This module explains how to choose data access technologies and an object model to support an organization's business needs.

• Introduction to Data Access Technologies
• Choosing Technologies for Accessing Data
• Building a Data Access Layer
• Designing Data Access from SQL Common Language Runtime (CLR) Objects
• Available Data Object Models for Administering SQL Server

Module-2 Designing an Exception Handling Strategy

This module describes the various types of exceptions that can occur in a database system, how to capture them, and how to manage them appropriately.

• Exception Types and Their Purposes
• Detecting Exceptions
• Managing Exceptions

Module 3: Choosing a Cursor Strategy

This session describes when cursors are appropriate and how to use them to optimise the use of system resources.

• Common Scenarios for Row-Based vs. Set-Based Operations
• Selecting Appropriate Server-Side Cursors
• Selecting Appropriate Client-Side Cursors

Module 4: Designing Query Strategies Using Multiple Active Result Sets

This module describes when Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS) can improve application response time and user satisfaction.

• Introduction to MARS
• Designing Query Strategies for Multiple Reads
• Designing Query Strategies for Mixing Reads and Writes in the Same Connection
• Concurrency Considerations When Using MARS

Module 5: Designing Caching Strategies for Database Applications

This module describes how to optimise system resources by caching data and objects in the appropriate layers.

• Why Caching Is Important
• Data and Query Caching in SQL Server 2005
• Using Caching Technologies Outside of SQL Server
• Custom Caching Techniques

Module 6: Designing a Scalable Data Tier for Database Applications

This module describes how to assess scalability needs and design the best architecture to scale the system to meet those needs.

• Identifying the Need to Scale
• Scaling Database Applications to Avoid Concurrency Contention
• Scaling SQL Server Database Systems
• Scaling Database Applications Using a Service-Oriented Architecture
• Improving Availability and Scalability by Scaling Out Front-End Systems

Tuning and Optimising Queries using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Module 1: Measuring Database Performance

This module provides students with an opportunity to measure database performance and identify database performance bottlenecks. Students will use a sample script to identify performance and concurrency problems, capture baseline performance, and prioritize identified problems for Optimisation.

• Importance of Benchmarking
• Key Measures for Query Performance: Sysmon
• Key Measures for Query Performance: Profiler
• Guidelines for Identifying Locking and Blocking

Module 2: Optimising Physical Database Design

In this unit, students work with strategies for Optimising physical database design. Students will optimise a database schema using normalization, generalization, and denormalisation.

• Performance Optimisation Model
• Schema Optimisation Strategy: Keys
• Schema Optimisation Strategy: Responsible Denormalisation
• Schema Optimisation Strategy: Generalisation

Module 3: Optimising Queries for Performance

In this unit students experience Optimising and tuning queries to improve performance.

• Performance Optimisation Model: Queries
• What Is Query Logical Flow?
• Considerations for Using Subqueries

Module 4: Refactoring Cursors into Queries

In this unit, students will work with strategies for refactoring cursors into queries. In the lab, students will work to optimise a database by replacing slow iterative code with faster set-based code.

• Performance Optimisation Model: Query-Set-based solutions
• Five Steps to Building a Cursor
• Strategies for Refactoring Cursors

Module 5: Optimising an Indexing Strategy

In this unit, students will work on Optimising indexing strategies. Students will work with a given database to add and delete indexes, by providing the optimum bridge between the query and the data without any redundancies.

• Performance Optimisation Model: Indexes
• Considerations for Using Indexes
• Best Uses of the Clustered Index
• Best Practices for Non-Clustered Index Design
• How to Document an Indexing Strategy

Module 6: Managing Concurrency

This unit provides students with the opportunity to work with concurrency management. Students will look for concurrency issues and then solve them by Optimising transactions and adjusting the transaction isolation level.

• Performance Optimisation Model: Locking and Blocking
• Multimedia - "How to Use Efficient Queries to Reduce Locking and Blocking"
• Strategies to Reduce Locking and Blocking