Typical Projects

For those larger SQL projects it just makes sense to get professional help.

  • Consolidation and Migration.

    SQL Servers systems are frequently under utilized from a hardware perspective. Careful consolidation using updated hardware, operating system and SQL versions often results in improved availability and performance, alongside reduced infrastructure, licensing and support costs.
    Recent example: Migration of databases for 40 applications, previously spread over 5 SQL 2000 servers, to a new SQL 2005 64-bit Cluster. The project included building the SQL Cluster, coordination with application vendors and users, application reconfiguration as well as the database moves.

  • New Systems

    Infrastructure design (Hardware, Storage, Operating Systems, SQL Server Architecture)
    Database design and architecture (OLTP and OLAP systems)
    General database development
    Recent examples: Design and build of a 2 node Active-Active SQL 2008 Cluster on Windows 2008 R2 server. Design and coding of a OLAP based reporting system for rapid analysis of stock movements around a mine site.

  • Auditing / System Review

    A full review of SQL Server systems is a common starting point for new clients.
    These reviews generally include configuration, maintenance, monitoring, performance and security. Reviews are conducted against industry and Microsoft best practice, in combination with personal professional experience. Issues are documented and recommendations for improvement provided. Reviews typically progress to planning and implementation of improvements. Standards documentation may be prepared to enable client staff and/or suppliers to maintain quality.

  • Performance Issues

    Where applications or database servers are not performing as required, in-depth diagnosis and tuning can be provided.

    Assistance is commonly provided for the following types of performance problems:
    1. Hardware, operating system or SQL Server configuration issues
    2. Database tuning e.g. index tuning, partitioning, file placement
    3. Application tuning - extensive experience in reviewing and profiling application-database interaction is applied. Results are used to assist the development team to improve performance, avoid problems and scale up smoothly.

    Another common approach is to identify the top ten slow database operations and work with the development team to design improvements, whether these be database changes or just more efficient ways of interacting with the database.

  • Reporting

    Recent example: Development of an industrial plant reporting system, based around SQL 2005 Reporting Services. This provided 'live' performance dashboards and detailed reports for each section of the plant, an overall plant dashboard and monthly reporting. These reports were integrated into a custom built navigation interface. Flexible end user analysis was provided via the Report Designer component.

    The system eliminated numerous manual data manipulation processes and exposed new performance data and metrics to operators in near real time. The result was improved plant productivity with reduced administrative costs.


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