SQL Server Performance Tuning training course

Database Performance – What’s ‘Good’ and why?

Relational Database Overview
The Query optimiser, compilation and caching. 
Locking and Logging and how updates happen.
How backups work, how DTS packages work.

Optimal Data Storage

Using File groups to Position Objects 
The affect of normalisation and de-normalisation.
Analysis Services – a reporting solution in waiting?

Diagnostic Tools

Task Manager & Performance Monitor – General counters to look out for, tips and techniques. 
Current Activity Window & SQL Profiler – Zooming in on problem queries
Query Analyser – Decrypting the showplan and trace output. Other set commands.
Transact SQL diagnostic commands. Various DBCC commands, some undocumented.

Index Optimisation

Index selection – How the optimiser decides.
Statistics – Auto and Manual.
Clustered versus Non-Clustered – Pros and Cons
The Fillfactor factor
Index optimiser hints
Index Covering
Index tuning wizard, when to use it.
Index Maintenance. Dangers and pitfalls.
Table defrag with clustered indexes. When and when not to do it.
Indexed Views – Advanced index builds.

Locking Optimisation

The City Analogy & Keeping the traffic flowing
Transaction isolation levels and locking hints
Deadlock resolution
Table restructuring & de-normalisation, replication and data warehousing solutions

Efficient Programming in TSQL

SARGS and the WHERE clause.
Covered indexes from the other side.
Stored procedures: Problems solved and created
Trigger problems and solutions
Cursors and Temporary tables
Tips and tricks.

Efficient Client Programming

Most of this course focuses on the server side application. However there is also a number of potential problems that may occur from the client side too. This section makes no assumption on which client you will be using, except that it will use ActiveX Data objects.

Default recordset options.
Send SQL versus Stored Procedures
Efficient use of recordsets and connections.
Timeout management and giving the user the perception of better performance