PhD Research Focus Groups Cambridge

Was there ever a time when you thought it would be great to know exactly what best practices and procedures others were using in the field for the management of database systems. Participating in my research focus group will give you insight into the realities, allow you to share your own best practices and procedures and at the same time help me with my research. Help make a difference in the database field and make a contribution to knowledge.

I will be holding 2 focus group meetings at PASS SQLSaturday #228 Cambridge between 27-28 September in Queens College. These interactive sessions are based around 10 questions derived from my earlier research.

My research investigates the current practices and procedures that are used and examines the complexities of managing database systems. Certain practices can be considered best practice. Best practices can be defined as a recommended way of carrying out actions for desirable outcomes as advised by product vendors or senior technical people in the field and this is the definition being used in the research.

PASS SQL Saturday Cambridge has been so kind to assist with providing a venue and forum for my research, see the newsletter snippet. 

SQL Saturday newsletter
Since one of the aims of SQLSaturday Cambridge is to try and give back to the community, we would like to draw your attention to a study group that Victoria Holt is holding in order to gather information and attempt to answer the question "Is the adoption of best practices and procedures affected by the complex interactions that are an integral part of the management of database systems?".

She is looking for two batches of approximately 15 volunteers to each give an hour of their time for a very interesting and useful discussion. More logistical details about this group can be obtained on the day, please head over to http://www.sqltoolkit.co.uk/focusgroup.htm to find out a bit more about her project.

Date	26/09/13 or 27/09/13
Time	Logistical details about this group can be obtained on the day
Place	Erasmus Room, Queens College,  Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9ET

By attending the research focus group meeting you give your consent to the ground rules.

Automation for Testing the Quality of Database Backups

The testing of SQL backup restores is a critical task for the Database Administrator and the backups are only ever as good as the last backup that was tested. A standard process for this could look like

• Recovery of backup files from storage media
• Restoration of the database backup
• Checking the integrity of the backup using DBCC CHECKDB 
• Inspect the output for corruption.

Some useful articles to help automate this process are;

Backup Verification, Statistical Sampling, And You
http://shaunjstuart.com/archive/2011/09/backup-verification-statistical-sampling-and-you/

Statistical Sampling for Verifying Database Backups
https://www.simple-talk.com/content/article.aspx?article=1028

Sample size calculator
http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html

To completely automate a backup testing routine that scales as the database population varies is an excellent addition to your toolbox.

PhD Research Focus Group in Bath

Database management is, at its heart, the administration associated with the storage,  manipulation, modification and retrieval of data held within a database management system (DBMS).  Organizations today require impeccable database management in order to maintain a high quality of data and for that data to be secure and available whenever it is required for the tasks in hand.

Certain practices can be considered best practice. Best practices can be defined as a recommended way of carrying out actions for desirable outcomes as advised by product vendors or senior technical people in the field

The overarching research question to be considered in the focus group is

Is the adoption of best practices and procedures affected by the complex interactions that are an integral part of the management of database systems?

Date	18/09/13
Time	7.30
Place	Murch Room Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN http://www.brlsi.org/about-us/contact-us