The Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Performance Optimization and Tuning Handbook

by Ken England and Ken England Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and a Microsoft Certified Trainer

Book Overview

Learn from a SQL Server performance authority how to make your database run at lightning speed. Ken England's SQL Server 6.5 Performance Optimization and Tuning Handbook is recognized by SQL Server... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555582419
• ISBN13: 9781555582418
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Digital Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Coverage on Indexes

I read this book online at ACM (by books 24x7) and was impressed with the clarity of Ken England's writing style. Finding a good reference on how SQL Server treats clustered and nonclustered indexes is no easy task, since most of the time a clustered index is described recursively (e.g. a clustered index is an an index that clusters data) and a nonclustered index is also defined based on not being clustered. That's useless. Ken makes it very clear what these differences are in terms of the data structures used, and more importanly helps you understand the ramifications. Reading this book has given me a black belt understanding of the Query Optimizer and Indexes. In fact, my first project after reading this book resulted taking a long running 8 hour query written by someone else and turning it into a 5 minute query. Needless to say I am purchasing a physical copy. Thanks Ken!

Light on Fluff Heavy on Stuff

I would say this this is one of my favorite SQL Server books and I have alot. If you want plain english internals, query optimization, information on locking and the things to think about when you are designing a new system or improving an old one, then Ken England has the book for you. I agree with another reader that this book reads like Ken is in the room talking to you. What is my favorite part...the part on the default data cache which if you are a Sybase DBA or a guy from way back this is something that they teach you right away and you would configure yourself along with the stored procedure cache. In SQL 2000 they are integrated and have been for a while but Ken does a real nice job of explaining them so that you can understand the need for memory how things come in and out of memory etc. I also like how he gets you to ask yourself the same questions that he asks himself, " Is this going to cause a locking problem in the future." I would say that If you want a book that is down and dirty to the point for every DBA to learn about and understand sql server and how to optimize it, look no further all of the essentials that you wished that you had known years ago are here. While there are other good authors out there like, Kalen Delaney, Rob Vieira, Mike Otey, Ken Henderson, etc.. This book is in the catagory of.. You need to have it and know everything in it. Any DBA worth their weight would own this book.

Highly useful for experienced developers

What I really like about this book is that it is cheap compared to its competitors. The author does not waste paper with wordy sentences that is only meant to take up space to create a 1500+ book to justify a price.The author explains three things in depth and better than any books I have ever read (and I have read lot of SQL books): Index optimization, query optimization, and locking. These three topics are usually for advanced SQL developers who must performance tune a complex database. This book is not for the beginners. Having said this, if you want to be a serious database developer, this book will put you ahead of your competition. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be or is a database developer.

If you are a DBA, this is the book

I have been amazed about how much information is in this book. The writing is clear and concise. The long section that details query tuning was an education in itself. I finished the book with a clear understanding of the types of queries and how SQL Server uses them. This book is sitting on my desk now. If you want the information on how to optimize your queries, or the database, this is my recommendation.

Great book. Best if used in pair with inside SQL Server 2000

There is much overlap with the inside sql server 2000 book from microsoft but that book is more a detailed survey with a intuitive technical foucus while this book is a more pratical focus. These two books work together to form the ultimate 'book'. This book covers everything in detail and has many practical expamples, but the examples are not page fillers. It actulaly has many less pages than inside sql server.