Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Unleashed

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Unleashed
by Ray Rankins, Paul Jensen, Paul Bertucci, et al.
Copyright 2002
Sams Publishing

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If you can only afford one book on SQL Server 2000, this is the book to own. I have been a fan of the previous two editions (for 6.5 and 7.0), and the editions keep getting better. The best way to describe this book is as an encyclopedia of SQL Server 2000. Virtually every topic is covered, and most every topic is covered in more than enough depth for the typical DBA or developer. Sure, no book covers everything there is to know about SQL Server 2000, but this books comes closer than any others. With 1,472 pages, it had better.

Unlike many other SQL Server books, that either focus on the needs of DBAs or developers, this books provides for the needs of both. This is important as most people who work with SQL Server 2000 aren't exclusively DBAs or developers, but instead, have overlapping duties.

Another great feature of this book is that it is easy to understand. It is clearly written and the concepts are generally well explained.

Here's what the book covers (this list is really long):

• The SQL Server Environment

• SQL Server 2000 Editions

• What's New in SQL Server 2000

• Installing a New SQL Server Instance

• Client Installation and Configuration

• SQL Server System and Database Administration

• SQL Server Enterprise Manager

• SQL Server Command-Line Utilities

• Creating and Managing Databases

• Creating and Managing Tables in SQL Server

• Creating and Managing Indexes

• Data Integrity

• Creating and Managing Views in SQL Server

• Creating and Managing Stored Procedures

• Creating and Managing Triggers

• User-Defined Functions

• Security and User Administration

• Database Backup and Recovery

• Database Maintenance

• SQL Server Scheduling and Notification

• Managing Linked and Remote Servers

• Importing and Exploring SQL Server Data Using BCP

• Importing and Exporting SQL Server Data Using DTS

• Administrating Very Large SQL Server Databases

• Data Replication

• Defining SQL Server Environment and Naming Standards

• Using Transact-SQL

• Transaction Management and the Transaction Log

• Distributed Transaction Processing

• SQL Server Internals

• Indexes and Performance

• Understanding Query Optimization

• Query Analysis

• Using the SQL Server Profiler

• Using the SQL Debugger in Query Analyzer

• Monitoring SQL Server Performance

• Locking and Performance

• Database Design and Performance

• Configuring, Tuning, and Optimizing SQL Server Options

• SQL Mail

• Using XML in SQL Server 2000

• Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services

• Microsoft Transaction Server

• SQL Server Clustering

• Full Text Search

Besides offering comprehensive coverage of SQL Server, one of the best features of this book is its heavy coverage of SQL Server performance. It includes nine full chapters on this topic. In fact, I believe it is one of the best and easiest-to-understand coverage of SQL Server performance in any books available today.

The book even includes a chapter on SQL Server clustering, although it is not as strong as it could be. But it does provide the foundation you need before you begin to implementing SQL Server clustering on your own.

This book is just packed with useful information. I highly recommend this book for anyone involved with SQL Server 2000, whether you are a beginner, or even an advanced user. As I read through this book, I was amazed at how much I learned. I am sure you will too.