What's the definitive book on SQL Server DB design?

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What's the definitive book on SQL Server DB design?

info-849042

Ten Centuries

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November 4, 2010 at 6:14 pm

#240906

Hi,
What is the definitive book on database design best practises? E.g. covering things like recommended max number of columns in a table (if any recommended max), when to use sharding, when to consider replication, how best to do it, etc. Some principles may be shared amongst db vendors, some not.
The type of book I am looking for is an A-Z of best practises and the reasons why, useful for reviewing a database server and its db's.
Thanks

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WayneS SSC Guru Points: 95460 More actions · Answer 1

Try any of Louis Davidson's books. He is extremely good (I had the opportunity to work with him over a decade ago - he is very sharp, and has only gotten sharper. You can get links to them at http://drsql.org

Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes

If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!

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PaulB-TheOneAndOnly SSC Guru Points: 66772 More actions · Answer 2

info-849042 (11/4/2010)
What is the definitive book on database design best practises? E.g. covering things like recommended max number of columns in a table (if any recommended max), when to use sharding, when to consider replication, how best to do it, etc. Some principles may be shared amongst db vendors, some not.
The type of book I am looking for is an A-Z of best practises and the reasons why, useful for reviewing a database server and its db's.

I do not think you are going to find everything in a single book.

You may find excelent books about Data Modeling - usually focusing in OLTP systems - which will lead you to look for books on Dimensional Data Modeling when focusing in DWH.

Since you are mentioning database sharding, on a different layer books and whitepapers will be useful for Systems Architecture and then, you will need to gather a lot of information about the technology of choice.

Bottom line, there is no silver bullet to kill this beast 🙂

_____________________________________
Pablo (Paul) Berzukov

Author of Understanding Database Administration available at Amazon and other bookstores.

Disclaimer: Advice is provided to the best of my knowledge but no implicit or explicit warranties are provided. Since the advisor explicitly encourages testing any and all suggestions on a test non-production environment advisor should not held liable or responsible for any actions taken based on the given advice.