All DBAs should have a solid understanding of how SQL Server works internally in order to properly monitor, analyze, and tune their instances. You do not need to become a Microsoft Certified Master to get a tremendous amount of value from this series of weeklong, intensive training classes from SQLskills. You can take any of them to improve your knowledge, or all four and embark upon your journey to become a SQL Server Master.

There are four classes in this series are:

• Internals and Performance
• Performance Tuning
• High Availability and Disaster Recovery
• Security, PowerShell, and Development Support

They will be offered multiple times in 2011. You can get complete course details and registration here: http://www.sqlskills.com/T_SQLskillsMasterImmersionEvents.asp

Everyone Can Attend

These new classes are not just for folks prepping for the MCM and you definitely don't need to be a guru already to attend. While these classes are defined as "deep," you can be really successful if you understand a lot of the basic requirements of data/databases but just don't know all the ins/outs of SQL Server. Attendees in the past have varied from some with little-to-no experience to some who are very advanced SQL Server users, and everyone gets a lot out of the classes.

"A lot of great material! As a newbie, there is a lot of stuff I can use immediately, and also a lot for future consideration. Really gave me a good understanding of some of the internals and a new way to look at our systems." - Tim Magney (see more testimonials)

Some of the more advanced folks walk away with clarification on internals and deeper knowledge of the product - with a lot of gaps being filled. Students that plan to attempt the MCM certification need to work on very thoroughly understanding everything that's presented, and committing a large amount of it to memory. However, people with less experience still need to know this information (or where to find it).

If someone just wants to learn to be a better DBA, they can take a more practical approach in the classes and just focus on what they need to be able to do in their jobs. They don't need to memorize numbers, algorithms, etc. They will learn where to find the answers to the problems that they face on a regular basis.

"Overall, excellent course!! Thank you! I've learned new tips and techniques that will save me time and my company money." - Ed Quick (see more testimonials)

The overwhelming benefit for people with less experience is that they start their building blocks RIGHT by learning internals and design and over time can go back to all of the deeper internals to truly master them. They get ahead of the game by learning what's going on inside SQL Server EARLY. If needed, they can work to make it second nature by studying/re-reading materials.

Given that we convey HOW things work, it makes it so that anyone - with virtually any level of experience - can benefit (especially with realistic goals).

You do need to have used SQL Server: struggled a bit with performance, created a database, written some code, performed the basics. Those basics can even be in another RDBMS. You can succeed here because your experience and general RDBMS history will help you translate concepts to SQL Server and we'll make sure you know how SQL Server works.

The Best Order

The Internals and Performance week should come first. This class covers material that is used in the other weeks, teaching you the core requirements for properly designing and working with a SQL Server. After that, any of the other weeks can follow - in almost any order (Performance Week 2 or HA/DR week or Security/PowerShell/Dev Support week).

The first week, which starts with internals and then moves into database design and then ends with indexing for performance, is the best base that anyone can have that works with SQL Server in any capacity. This courses answers a lot of the "how" and "why" questions in terms of internals/configuration, design and tuning. Week 1 - Internals and Performance - is really a requirement for anyone that works with SQL Server from database architects to database developers to database administrators. Getting things done right - from the start - is the goal.

From there, week 2is more about workload analysis and advanced troubleshooting/tuning (More DBA focused). Week 3 covers Disaster Recovery and High Availability (Mirroring vs. Clustering vs. Replication) so this is more for system architects and DBAs. Week 4 is our in depth Developer and Security week where things like Optimizing Procedural Code are covered as well as async programming methods like Service Broker.

Complete course details and registration: http://www.sqlskills.com/T_SQLskillsMasterImmersionEvents.asp

More information: If you have any questions about these courses - about who should attend or whether or not you think the classes is right for you, email mcm@sqlskills.com and we'd be happy to discuss this with you!