Expert Performance Indexing for SQL Server 2012

Expert Performance Indexing for SQL Server 2012 is a deep dive into perhaps the single-most important facet of good performance: indexes, and how to best use them. The book begins in the shallow waters with explanations of the types of indexes and how they are stored in databases. Moving deeper into the topic, and further into the book, you will look at the statistics that are accumulated both by indexes and on indexes. All of this will help you progress towards properly achieving your database performance goals. What you’ll learn from Expert Performance Indexing for SQL Server 2012 will help you understand what indexes are doing in the database and what can be done to mitigate and improve their effects on performance. The final destination is a guided tour through a number of real-world scenarios and approaches that can be taken to investigate, mitigate, and improve the performance of your database.

• Defines indexes and provides an understanding of their role * Uncovers and explains the statistics that are kept in indexes * Teaches strategies and approaches for indexing databases What you’ll learn * Fully understand the index types at your disposal * Recognize and remove unnecessary indexes * Review statistics to understand indexing choices made by the optimizer * Properly apply strategies such as covering indexes, included columns, index intersections, and more * Write queries to make good use of the indexes already in place * Design effective indexes for full-text, spatial, and XML data types * Manage the big picture: Encompassing all indexes in a database, and all database instances on a server Who this book is for Expert Performance Indexing for SQL Server 2012 is intended for database administrators and developers who are ready to boost the performance of their environments without the need to go in blindly building indexes.

Author Biography

Jason Strate is a database architect and administrator with more than 15 years of experience. He has been a recipient of Microsoft’s “Most Valuable Professional” designation for SQL Server since July 2009. His experience includes design and implementation of both OLTP and OLAP solutions, as well as assessment and implementation of SQL Server environments for best practices, performance, and high availability solutions. Jason is a SQL Server MCITP and participated in the development of Microsoft Certification exams for SQL Server 2008. Jason is actively involved with his local PASS chapter (SQL Server User Group) and serves as its director of program development. Jason worked with the board to organize the PASSMN SQL Summit 2009 for the local community. Jason enjoys helping others in the SQL Server community and does this by presenting at technical conferences and user group meetings. Most recently, Jason has presented at the SSWUG Virtual Conferences, TechFuse, numerous SQL Saturdays, and at PASSMN user group meetings. Jason is a contributing author for the Microsoft whitepaper Empowering Enterprise Solutions with SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition. Jason is an active blogger with a focus on SQL Server and related technologies.