What is 2011 US Debt Crisis?

In basic terms, you incur debt when your expenses are greater than your revenues.  To give you a clear picture through numbers:

FY 2010 US Revenues: USD 2.1 Trillion

FY 2010 US Expenditure: USD 3.3 Trillion

What is the difference amount? It is USD 1.2 Trillion and that’s the US government’s annual debt.

US government’s projected expenditure for FY 2011 is USD 3.7 Trillion and an estimated USD 1.6 Trillion debt.

How much does US government spend and what does it spend on?

As mentioned, in FY 2010 US expenditure was USD 3.3 Trillion.  This expenditure can be broken down in to two major categories:

Mandatory Spending (self-explanatory):  USD 2.1 Trillion. (63%)

• Social Security Payments
• Medicare and Medicaid Benefits
• Interest payments on existing debt
• National Highways construction and maintenance
• etc

Discretionary Spending (US government can decide not to spend on this category): USD 1.26 Trillion. (37%)

• Department of Defense
• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Other discretionary spending

FY 2010 Revenue Breakdown:

• $900 Bn - Federal Income Tax revenue.   (This is that amount of money for which you, me, that guy at Mc Donald’s drive-in window, and everyone in USA who earns an income legitimately would pay as income tax to government).
• $860 Bn – Retirement contributions.  (There are several sub-categories here.  Let’s keep this simple and say that this is the amount of tax deferred dollars that people contribute towards retirement).
• $190 Bn – Corporate Income Taxes. (These are the taxes paid by corporations conducting business in USA).
• $140 Bn – Other Revenue Sources. (These sources include Gift Taxes, Custom Duties, and other miscellaneous receipts for government).
• $66 Bn – Excise Taxes. (Excise taxes are taxes that are paid on products that are produced and traded domestically).

So the above items sum up to approximately USD 2.1 Trillion of revenues.

Now the question is where does the deficit USD 1.2 Trillion does come from?

Simple- just like any common man, government seeks “DEBT“!  In return US government offers treasury bonds and IOUs to the Creditors.

[US Treasury bonds are considered as the safest (lowest risk) investment opportunities for both domestic and international investors.  No wonder they are rated AAA. Creditors will be happy too to lend money to USA in return of US treasury bonds which helps their money grow safely and a decent interest rate.  At any time, there are many eager takers for US Treasury bonds.]

You might be wondering if such is the demand for US Treasury bonds, isn’t it easy to find creditors and seek more debt?

Yes, it is easy for US government to raise debt once it decides to raise debt ceiling (debt ceiling is maximum amount proposed by House and authorized by Senate).  The challenge is democratic and republican congressman and senators arriving at consensus on that decision to raise debt ceiling.

For latest updates on this consensus process you can immediately rush to CNN, New York Times, Huffington Post, HotAir.

How does it Impact me as an IT Contractor or Employee

It will impact you directly:

• If you are employed/contracted by a US Federal Government Agency like EPA, VA, etc.
• If you are expecting any of your social security tax refunds or if you are dependent on social security checks.

It will impact you indirectly:

• If your organization/employer cater to US Federal government or its agencies or if majority of revenues come from Federal government.
• If your organization’s services are catered towards beneficiaries of Federal funding like Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare payments.

Feel free to comment and provide feedback.

System databases are auto created when SQL Server is installed and there are 4 major types of system databases:

1. Master DB
2. MSDB
3. Model DB
4. Temp DB

Less known auto generated system databases are:

• Distribution DB
• MS SQL System Resource

Each of the above databases is used for certain purposes.

What is Master DB?

Master DB as says is truly a “master” database.  It keeps the SQL Server running.  Master DB keeps track of information about all the system and user defined databases hosted on that particular instance of Microsoft SQL Server.  Simply put, Master DB is where most of the metadata of that SQL Server Instance is processed.  Good thing is that this metadata in Master DB can be accessed for obtaining useful information especially regarding performance of that particular instance of SQL Server.

It is highly suggested to back up Master DB before and after a major change to the instance.

What is MSDB?

MSDB is the job keeper and runner.  MSDB holds metadata about the SQL Agent Jobs, SSIS jobs, Service Broker, and DB Mail.

What is Model DB?

Model DB serves as a default template for all databases that will be created on SQL Server. If changes are made to this Model DB, all the new databases that are created from then on that instance are also created along with those changes.

What is Temp DB?

Temp DB, on a very high level acts as a connection agent for all the users connecting to the databases on that particular instance.  Temp DB holds temporary objects while a connection is active and these objects are removed when the
connection goes offline.

Take a look at Narayana Vyas’s post on this topic for more information.

In addition, I also recommend to regularly keep track of Brent Ozar’s Blog and Pinal Dave’s SQL Authority for very useful SQL Server related notes.

• Microsoft SQL CAT (Customer Advisory Team)
• Microsoft TechNet
• Microsoft MSDN
• DevX.com
• SQLServerPedia.com
• Quest SQL Server (Q&A)
• Quest Backstage (Give aways, Marketing, Fun)
• SQLMag.com
• SearchSQLServer.com
• SQLTeam.com
• SQL-Server-Performance.com
• SQLServerSecurity.com
• SQLIS.com
• SQLDTS.com

I still recommend to check out Kevin Kline’s video below.

SQL Server 2008 Notes Part-2: SQL Server 2008 Hardware and Software Requirements

What are SQL Server Instances

Instances are seperate sessions of SQL Server running on a machine with different instance names.  Though common libraries and other basic resources are shared across instances,  in most regards instances are pretty much independent of each other.  One of the many instances running on a machine can be brought offline/online without affecting the state of other instances.

Why should I use SQL Server Instances?

In most cases, separate instances are used for DB Engine, Analysis Services and Reporting Services.

Instances are helpful to consolidate multiple physical DB servers into one DB server with multiple instances.

Instances are a highly affective method to separate authentication/security requirements.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Licensing

Server plus device CAL/Server plus user CAL

SQL Server 2008 offers separate server licenses (in SQL Server 2008 Workgroup edition, SQL Server 2008 Standard edition and SQL Server 2008 EE) in conjunction with per device or per user client access licenses (CALs).  Server plus CAL licenses are useful to customers who use SQL Server 2008 in non-web-based scenarios.

What is a Server License?

A server license is required for every OS environment on which SQL Server 2008 or any of its components are running.

What is a Device CAL?

A SQL Server device CAL is required in order for a device to access or use services or functionality of SQL Server 2008.  Useful when multiple users per device.

What is a User CAL?

A SQL Server User CAL is required for a user to access or use the services or functionality of SQL Server 2008.  Useful when multiple devices per user.

Processor License

A processor license is required for each processor installed on each OS environment running SQL Server or any of its components (SSAS/SSIS/SSRS).  This license includes access for an unlimited number of users or devices to connect from either inside or outside the firewall.  Customers do not need to purchase additional CALs when licensed under the per processor model.

What if my environment has quad core/six core processors?

Multicore processors, which consist of multiple processing execution units or cores on one chip, are seen as a promising way to boost computing power.  Microsoft charges same amount per processor regardless of how many cores are in the processor.

During failover setup, a server is designated as the passive server.  A passive server does not need a license, provided that the number of processors in the passive server is equal or less than the active server. The active server should be back up in 30 days else a separate license is required for the second server.

Security Considerations

The Windows account that is specified for the service can be a local computer or a domain account.

The most common choice for the SQL Server service account is a domain user account.

This uses Windows authentication to setup and connect to SQL Server 2008 and maybe the preferred account if the service must interact with network services.

The local service account is a special, built-in account that has the same level of access to resources as members of the Users group.

SQL Server Services that are configured as a local service account can access network services as a null session with no credentials.

Note that the SQL Server Agent does not support the local service account.

Like the local service account, the network service account also has the same level of access to resources as members of the Users group.

However, it will use the credentials of the computer account when accessing network resources.

Microsoft recommends not using the network service account for the SQL Server and SQL Server Agent services.

Network service is a shareable account, and is appropriate for use as a SQL Server service account only if you can ensure that no other service uses the account that is installed on the computer.

It is recommended that a domain user account with minimal rights is used.

What are memory/RAM requirements and recommendations for SQL Server 2008?

Minimum Memory is 512MB of RAM for all versions of SQL Server 2008 with a recommended 2GB of RAM.

Express Edition requires a minimum of 256 MB RAM and a recommendation of 1GB RAM.

32 bit versions of SQL Server 2008 requires a minimum of 1 GHZ and 64 bit requires a minimum of 1.4 GHZ.  Recommended processor speed is 2Ghz or faster.

DB Engine which includes the data files, Replication, and Full-Text search requires a minimum of 280 MB of disk space.  SSAS requires 90 MB.  SSIS and SSRS require a minimum of 120 MB each.  The client components that are used to implement and maintain SQL Server 2008 requires 850 MB of free disk space.

What are all the components that are installed along with SQL Server 2008?

• .NET Framework 3.5
• SQL Server 2008 Native Client
• SQL Server 2008 Setup support files

What are the Pre-requirements for SQL Server 2008 installation?

Requires Microsoft Windows Installer 4.5 or later and Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8 SP1 or a later version.  Microsoft IE 6 SP1 is required for all SQL Server 2008 installation for Microsoft Management Console (MMC), SSMS and BIDS.

Which VM environments are supported for SQL Server 2008?

SQL Server is supported in VM environments that run on the Hyper-V role in MS Windows Server 2008 SE, MS Windows Server 2008 EE and DC Edition.

OS Support notes for SQL Server 2008

Except SQL Server 2008 X64 EE and SQL Server 2008 X64 SE, all editions can be installed on any Windows X64 in a Windows-On Windows (WOW64) configuration- 32 bit subsystem of a 62 bit server- that enables 32 bit applications to execute natively in 32 bit mode.

All Windows 2008 Servers are both with and without Hyper-V installed.

There is a 64 bit edition of SQL Server 2008 Express edition for 64 bit OS.

64 bit Itanium processor systems support SQL Server 2008 Enterprise 64 bit IA64 on Windows Server 2008 Itanium edition, Windows Server 2003 SP2 64 bit Itanium EE and DC Editions.

SQL Server 2008 Notes Part-3: SQL Server 2008 Instances, Licensing and Security Considerations

SQL Server 2008 Express Edition: Free and it is Integrated with Visual Studio. Ideal for non-professional developers and hobbyists.

SQL Server 2008 Web Edition: Low TCO option for web hosters and web sites that provide scalability and manageability capabilities for small to large scale web properties.

SQL Server 2008 Workgroup Edition: Ideal for branch location DB because it provides a reliable data management and reporting platform that includes secure, remote synchronization and management capabilities.

SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition: Includes all functionality of SQL Server 2008 Enterprise edition, but is licensed for use as a development and test system.

SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition: Designed for department-level applications. This is a complete data platform that provides ease of use and manageability.  Consider if you do not require the levels of scalability and performance offered by SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition.  Provides multi-instance support for 16 instances.

SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition: Most comprehensive version of SQL Server 2008 that is designed for high-level scalability and performance. Provides same functionality of SQL Server 2008 Standard edition and in addition

• Partitioning
• Data Compression
• Resource Governor
• 50 instances (25 instances on a failover cluster)
• Database Snapshots
• Hot-add memory and CPUs
• Mirrored Backups
• Backup Compression
• Transparent Data Encryption
• Fine-grained auditing
• Peer-to-Peer replication
• Distributed partition views
• Parallel index operations
• Change data capture
• Star join query optimization
• Data-driven subscriptions

SQL Server 2008 Notes Part-2: SQL Server 2008 Hardware and Software Requirements

Part-1,Part-2,Part-3

Mitch Haile’s Geek Home Office: A photo trip to Mitch Haile’s home office.  Its a dream set-up that can be a source of inspiration to million things.

SQL Server Pedia: SQL Server Pedia is a collaborative wiki about SQL Server.  It is a very useful resource on almost all SQL Server technologies and the wiki is wonderfully put together by prominent SQL Server users.

1. External Protocols (for connectivity and shared memory)
2. Database Engine (Self-explanatory) includes [Storage Engine (Self-explanatory), -Query Processor (Self-explanatory)]
3. SQLOS ( An abstraction layer between the hardware/OS and SQL Server)

The following picture illustrates the generic architecture of SQL Server.

SQL Server Generic Architecture

The following concepts would lay down a strong foundation where one can build upon strong SQL Server skills.

• DBMS Concepts (Wikipedia, Audilab)
• SQL (W3Schools)
• Data Modeling (Agile Data, U of Texas Austin)

Why did you choose to work with Microsoft SQL Server?

My answer:

I sometimes really wonder what made me choose and stick to SQL Server though I came across Oracle much earlier in my life and other DBMS at various points in time.  Its probably that I followed the pattern like many others did.  I took the path of Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 toWindows 98 to Windows XP (not yet to Vista though).  While I did this I was compelled (both out of love and frustration) to use many Microsoft’s applications.  My personal favorites are Windows XP,  Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, IE 5 and later.

Coming straight to the point,  I chose to work with Microsoft SQL Server probably because of the following factors.

• Microsoft (the brand itself is a biggest factor)
• MSDN
• GUI interface
• Awesome and easy to use tools (esp SSMS, BIDS, DTS and SSIS)  &
• Probably the courses I took during school, college and university which compelled me work on projects based on Microsoft technologies,  which I would never regret!

What are the factors for your decision?  I would be glad to know more reasons to love what I (we) do!