PASS Summit 2014 Streaming Keynotes

Hello Dear Reader!   It's that time of the year again, time for the PASS Summit and the streaming Keynote.  Here we go!

11/5/2014 10:05 AM

T.K. takes the stage again.  Announces that Azure ML is available for free today, you just need a live ID.  He's got the slide from the beginning up.  They did a really good job of showing an end to end story here.

11/5/2014 9:53 AM

James Phillips takes the stage to talk about Power BI and Power Pivot, he's showing us the visualizations, and how to take the big data that Joseph showed us and consume it as a user.

We are getting a really nice overview of PowerBI on the web.  When the video posts I'll get a link in there, because this is moving to fast for good descriptions.

11/5/2014 9:38 AM

Demo of Stretch table was really awesome.  Not sure how much I can say about this at this point. 

But this could have huge potential.

Sanji comes out to do a demo in-store analytics using an x-box Kinect.  Showing heat map made in power maps.  They can see where people are hanging out, so they can understand shopping behavior in a store.  How do they consume that data quickly.  Using Azure Data factory to show orchestration, and lineage in the cloud. 

They are walking through Azure ML, showing how to use a work flow to process past data to make predictions on future buying patterns.

We now see how this will work on a mobile app. Cortana is on the mic talking, making product recommendations after Sanji check's in.  She recommends beer mugs.  Then she shows him where to find them on the in store map.  Very very cool.

11/5/2014 9:19 AM

Sneak peak of the technology with Mike Zwillig from the SQL Team takes the stage.  He starts with a demo on Pier 1 imports.  He talks about the issues of getting data reporting from a data mart.

Neat demo he asks the audience to go to a website and click on items to buy them.  He then shows real time reporting of what is being purchased using an *writeable nonclustered Columnstore on an IN-MEMORY OLTP TABLE*.  Awesome.

11/5/2014 9:10 AM

Tracey leaves the stage and we move on to Maximizing performance & availability.  T.K. talks about how running SQL DB across all of Microsoft has forced them to think not just as engineers but as DBA's. 

Not sure if I heard this right but T.K. just said they are working on In-Memory ColumnStore.  That would be HUGE.  We see a list of business that are currently using the cloud and on-prem in very clever and very performant ways ensuring millisecond response times.  He discusses that Samsung has achieved x24 performance with In-Memory OLTP.

We now play a video from Dell on how they are using In-Memory OLTP.  They say they have achieved x4, performance.

T.K. is announcing that SQL DB will have significant improvements in T-SQL Compatibility, larger indexes, Parallel queries, extended events, and In-Memory Columnstore for data marts.  Wow.  There it is.  If it is in SQL DB, does that mean we will see this in the box product?

11/5/2014 9:01 AM

Tracey continues his demo showing how they can use JSON files to change the schema of their search pattern, based on marketing promotions. Using the Shard Utilization heat map that shows how to add processing power, monitor usage, how to scale over different regions.  How you can change the SQL DB scale.  This was very cool.

One more thing.  They GA'ed a new feature last week, they are going to take their Pier 1 main database, they show the load on it.  They want to configure geo-replication.  On the map they show all of their deployments.  Tracey is replicating the main database to Asia.  There were three clicks to do that.  Very impressive.  I would like to see what the bandwidth requirements are for that, this may require a further look.

11/5/2014 8:46 AM

T.K. continues, we are adding 40% data in the world every year.  We need to have and form a Data culture.  Three key tenants:

1. Harness new data types

2. Tackle big data

3. Deliver solutions faster

His vision of the system development lifecycle is to transform & analyze, Visualize & decide, and capture & manage.  He puts up a slide showing how the different Microsoft platform stack relate to these items.  We will focus on capture & manage because that is where the data platform stack fits in.  He's stressing that this is an 'and' world not an 'or' world.  They want their platform to tie together like never before.  More talking points, capture a diverse set of data, achieve elastic scale, maximize performance & availability, and simplify things with the cloud.

Here's a couple of highlights from the past year.  Cloud first, Mobile first.  Get used to hearing that.  He is discussing advances in Azure Document DB, Azure HDInsight, Analytics Platform System, and Azure Search.

The ability to scale for 2014 is very impressive.  640 logical cores. 

A partner, Tracey, from Peir 1 imports comes out to display intelligent search using fuzzy logic.  He is demoing searching for Orange Pumpkins.  They are using Azure search and two lines of code. 

11/5/2014 8:35 AM

Tom introduces the Executive VP's of SQL Server T.K. Rengarajan, James Phillips, and Joseph Sirosh to help share the vision they have for the Data Platform stack.  A video shows of the three talking about their backgrounds and area's of expertise.  It's interesting that they are all relatively new to being the EVP's for SQL Server.  Should be interesting to see how this brings about new features, or what their view on expanding the stack is.

A video is now playing of different vendors and early adopters of the Microsoft stack, discus and how they are currently using the stacks.  T.K. Rengarajan takes the stage.  He talks about his ba

ckground and studying under Dr. Dewitt.  He speaks about his family and two daughters, he is invested in WIT because he hopes they have wonderful career in technology.

He discusses about how he loves MAPs, using maps to navigate family vacations.  He discusses using MapQuest ('remember MapQuest, he says').  Then GPS made trips even easier, and this is a natural way to see how data and technology has changed our lives.

11/5/2014 8:25 AM

PASS President Tom Larock starts off on stage.  He welcomes the first timers and points out that we are currently streaming live to over 50 countries.  Tom ask for a round of applause for Microsoft for making the best data platform on the planet.

Tom is giving us an overview of the road so far.  How PASS was started and founded.  From the first

PASS Summit with 1,200 attendees to today with 5,899 attendees.  Since it's inception PASS has produced 1.3 Million hours of training.

Tom asks us to think about where we were five years ago, and where you are now.  He asks you to look at your future in the same way.  "Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together."- James Cash Penney.

Tom is addressing the changes PASS has made to have a larger umbrella.  He is asking people to get involved in growing PASS.  Meet new people, learn & grow, volunteer, join a chapter, or talk to the Board of directors.

Tom is discussing some of the events available at the Summit.  The SQL Cat Team, 50% off Microsoft Certifications, Birds of a feather luncheon, the Women in Technology Luncheon, and Speaker Idol.  Tom Thanks the exhibitors and vendors.  There is an Exhibitor Reception tonight form 6 pm to 8 pm.

Summary

Okay Dear Reader, this was a great way to kick off the Summit.  I’m off to finish up some prep before my first presentation today.  See you soon!

Thanks,

Brad

Tales from the Query Processor III

https://www.flickr.com/photos/socal_jim/2070088596/

Hello Dear Reader!  It’s that time of year again.  The leaves are turning, temperatures are changing, and Halloween is once again upon us.  Today is Halloween, time to take the kiddos out to Trick-or-Treat!  Today is also my daughter’s 16^th birthday!  It’s hard to believe that it has come so quickly!  Happy 16^th Birthday Chesney!

This is also the time of year when we embrace the suspension of disbelief, and have a tale of terror from the Query Processor.  If you want to see the previous tales, here is Tales from the Query Processor and Tales from the Query Processor II.  I hope you enjoy.

The Plan that Will Not End

Q.P.

If I had known this was the last time that I would ever see Sid I would have given him better advice.  Maybe I would have given him something at all.  Something better than the flashlight and the map.

Let me start over.  I don’t know that he’s dead.  We haven’t seen him in 4 days.  Most trips take seconds, long one’s minutes, very long one’s hours.  No one has ever been gone this long.  No one has stepped up to take his place, a good indication that he might not be dead.  Nobody is looking for him, at least not that I can see.  As we stood there on that dark night, it seemed simple.  So very, very simple.  When I don’t know something I have to guess. Sometimes my perspective is obstructed.  My view isn’t sufficient.  I always guess the same thing.  One.  That’s my number.

 

We’d all done it before.  We’ll I hadn’t.  Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself.  My friends call me Q.P.  I’m the map maker.  I make a map of a place, tell people where to get things.  It may sound simple, but its not.  I don’t do point A to point B.  I estimate proximities, how long something should take, the best route, what to do under specific conditions. I guessed one.  Should I not have guessed one?  There’s load, location, and the gateway that should be used. 

The Gateway.  It’s a special threshold that we have to pass through.  It ensures that we are ready for the load about to be placed on us.  Sid went through the biggest Gateway there was.  It stopped him at first.  Took us a couple hours to get everything calibrated correctly.  The map was a long one.  If my normal plans are a between 2 to 5 in difficulty, this plan was an 800.  We knew that going in.  That’s why he went through the Big Gateway.  Waiting for him to return, I can only imagine what’s going on.  Was there more than one?

SID

Hello my name is Sid.  I don’t know how long I’ve been gone, but here’s what I can tell you.  I’ve been running.  Since I passed through that last gateway and received my grant I ran.  I ran straight into this nightmare.

I turn down one corridor and it leads to five more.  Sometimes a hundred more.  Sometimes thousands more.  Behind every door there is more and more to grab, more to strike, so much more.  This plan is useless at this point.  I don’t know what Q.P. was thinking.  I’ve been hacking and slashing my way through this mess.  I’m exhausted, but I can’t stop now.  I’ve got to keep running.

http://taodao.deviantart.com/art/Running-Zombies-405296478

Last night I stopped for a moment, went serial and just focused on one thing.  Thought I could get a bit of a rest, but I turned a corner.  Where there should have been one there was one.  One million of them.  I’ve never seen a horde of so many Zombie records.  Yes I’m supposed to return with 300.  But nobody told me how many I would have to fight off to get there.  Simple run.  Heh. That wasn’t the first million that I’ve faced either.

I only got 120 with me so far. 120 out of 300.  I’m trying to put together some actual numbers.  If I make it out of this, we need to know what the difference is.  Something went horribly wrong with this plan.  No backup is coming, and if I’m lucky we won’t be swallowed here. 

The first 5 that I got came along easily.  Everything was good.  Three steps out on the plan things started going sideways.  We went to a simple structure.  One record inside, the plan said.  We walked in and looked around.  We heard them before we saw them.  There was a low moan that started traveling like an echo.  This was not an echo.  Echo’s don’t respond to one another.  Before long it was reverberating and echoing.  We could see the first movement in the darkness.  We were not prepared for this, so we ran.

We circled back.  That structure had a basement, a lower level, a parking garage, and a sub structure.  Our only choice was to run them.  They followed us down the loop, into the parking structure.  They are not smart, if there is no match to guide their way they will spill out of the darkness like a thousand scurrying insects in every direction.  We made it to the edge and climbed up.  They spilled over the edge like a dark waterfall.  There were no screams, no help me I’m falling, just that moan and the sound of impact.  We circled back down looking for survivors only to pick up more.  There are no weapons around us.  We have no choice but to keep running as our only offense.  We did the same thing, over and over again.

The only thing the map gives us is a view of the structure.  I think there is a better way to do this, but I don’t know how to edit the plan.  Not when we have to keep running.  It took us hours to find the next 3.  Hours for 3.  We were lucky not to be killed.  We’ve cleared 100 structures at this point, 200 remain.  We’ve got to find the rest and get them out.  Almost halfway done.  Don’t get killed.

I hear them now.  I have to run.

-Sid

Happy Halloween Dear Reader!  As always Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks,

Brad

I'm an MVP

Hello Dear Reader!  Two weeks ago I was very honored to be named a Microsoft SQL Server MVP.  Since then I've been reflecting on what it means to get this award and the massive amount of people that helped me along the way.

Family, co-workers, friends, community members, and other MVP's.  This could turn into an Emmy speech, but I won't put you through that.  In the past I've written about this and saying Thank You to the People That Get Us There, about Why You Should Go to SQL Saturday and the impact it had on me, and how Who You Work With helps push you in the right direction.  Before I move on from thanking people I need to say a big THANK YOU to the people who nominated me.

Mike Walsh (Blog | @Mike_Walsh), Jack Corbett (Blog | @Unclebiguns), Jorge Segarra (Blog | @SQLChicken), Adam Jorgensen (Blog | @AJBigData), and Jason Strate (Blog | @StrateSQL).  Gentlemen I thank you not only for nominating me, but giving me a seat at the table to begin with.  Through advice and conversations you immediately welcomed me.  I've always been humbled by the way in which smart men and women of the SQL Community open their arms not only to greet but assure newcomers that they deserve a voice and a seat at the table.   My friends Thank You.  Thank you for your faith in me.  Thank you for helping me get here, and for all the encouragement.

Jorge once said to me about three years ago, "You deserve a seat at this table, enjoy it and don't ever worry that you belong.".  Great and kind words my friend.

Now Dear Reader, I also want to pass along one incredibly important piece of advice that was given to me.  How to become a SQL Server MVP.


HOW TO BECOME A SQL SERVER MVP


I have no idea.   None.  Not a clue.  In conversations with all of these amazing folks, they had no idea either.  However, I did notice that I heard the same three pieces of advice repeated over and over again.

That feeling you get when you open the box

1.  Love what you do.

2.  Don't treat being an MVP as a goal, but something that happens along the way.

3.  When you get nominated fill out the website details, better start collecting them now.


LOVE WHAT YOU DO


I enjoy this.  I love presenting.  I love learning.  I love talking with people about their issues with SQL Server.  I really love when I know what's wrong with a system and can help fix it.  I've had telephone calls with clients in the past couple years where after hearing about five minutes of their problem I knew what the issue was.  I could start giving advice on the phone call, and by the time we were sharing screens or I was landing on the ground we were able to start working on a fix.  That is pure awesome.


Some people love to blog, some love volunteering, some are leaders that bring us together, some organize, some  troubleshoot on forums, some program amazing applications/scripts/videos to help the community, and some love to speak.  Whatever you are doing if you love doing it, then keep doing it.  You'll never feel like you wasted your time, and you will know you are doing things for the right reason.


IT'S NOT THE GOAL, IT'S THE JOURNEY

San Francisco Sunset with @JasonHorner

I'm paraphrasing Emerson.  It's no less true.  If I only get this one year, if I never would have gotten it, the journey of pursuing what I love to do has taken me places and allowed me to achieve things I had not even thought of.  I've criss crossed the U.S. this year and I'm looking forward to staying busy next year.

Keep in mind this didn't happen in one year.  Every journey begins with a step.  I encourage you to start your journey.  When I present at SQL Saturday's or SSUG's I tell the audience the same thing I hope you now hear Dear Reader.

In each of you there is a story to tell.  There is something you are doing right now at work that I, and other people, would love to know and hear about.  There are ideas you have that would be well received and applauded.  Get involved, volunteer, blog, present, find what it is that you want to do.  We all have a calling and I hope you find yours.  If I can do this so can you.

Remember, you deserve a seat at this table, enjoy it and don't ever worry that you belong.

Now grab your seat, let's have some fun.  As always Thanks for stopping by.


Thanks,

Brad