April 19, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Small Management
April 20, 2012 at 9:27 am
I'm 95% certain I would use a phone/PDA to administer my servers. More often than not the "after hours crisis" isn't something that would force me to bang out code with my thumbs on a "Barbie Dream Keyboard" <lol> that just came to me... but it would depend on whether it would be used to connect to a remote console or to run a SSMS-type app. I've VNC-ed into a console where the PDA only showed a portion of the screen and I had to scroll around to see other parts of the console. That was a pain in the butt. I'd probably use an app that has some access to a code library like SMSS's template explorer and execute something I'd written to handle the situation.
Maybe something iPad or Android tablet sized would work but then if you're going that far you might as well carry a laptop or notebook.
April 20, 2012 at 10:59 am
My initial reaction is to say I can't imagine a way to avoid the frustration you mentioned. You might be able to hard-code a bunch of specific scenarios of commands to try to fix an issue, but then it would just be like a "troubleshooting dashboard" - not really managing the environment. I mean, think about how easy it is to fat-finger something on a touch screen. Maybe I'm just too clumsy, but I wouldn't want to take that chance on a production server.
April 20, 2012 at 11:23 am
Managing all my myriad of SQL Servers from a handheld? That would be like trying to cut down an oak tree with a Swiss Army Knife. I guess sooner or later you could do it, but it would be a very long and painful process No thanks.:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
April 20, 2012 at 12:21 pm
I can't say that I would use it for extensive work but if I needed to deal with an alert quickly or run a quick query I might use one. Certainly willing to test for anyone working on the technology. 😛
David
@SQLTentmaker“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot
April 21, 2012 at 9:52 pm
I do troubleshoot using an ipad. It's a lot easier than carrying a notebook or netbook. Usually I get an automated or manual alert via email about something (user locked out, NAS running out of space, hung TS session, failed file copy, db restore,etc). Urgent stuff usually has a workaround that can be easily implemented while the permanent fix can be done.
Ipad in had I establish a vpn and then RDP into the offending server, open the tool I need to use and then tap a few clicks or type a few things and the problem gets "managed".
Then when I get to my actual computer I can finish off the work, but in the meantime the users have continued being productive and I have been able to enjoy my meal, time off, movie, family time,etc while spending only a few minutes relieving the urgency of the situation.
I have used this for years now and users and management generally don't even know if i'm on duty or not. drawback is that they usually expect an inmediate answer, benefit is that I manage my off-on time at my convenience without sacrificing service.
April 22, 2012 at 6:53 am
I don't do it today and frankly I dont think I want to do it. Because if I'm not at work I prefer not to work and I don't want to carry around something just to be available for work while I'm not working. However, for trips and such I believe it can be handy as techniques evolves, screens get better and so.
April 23, 2012 at 5:33 pm
I've used the first two smart phone apps in a pinch:
1) PocketCloud -- which allows me to remote into any of my servers. Obviously, the screen size and keyboard are not ideal, but it can be done. There are Mac or Windows desktop with your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch versions. (See: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocketcloud-remote-desktop/id326512817?mt=8 )
2) SQL Wrenches -- which allows me to execute stored procedures & views on any server. It can be used to monitor disk space, backups, etc., anything you can do with a view or stored procedure. However, I have noticed that the more joins in my logic, the more likely the app is to time out before it returns results, even if the result set is small. This app has potential, but it's not quite there yet.
(See: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sql-wrenches/id426888582?mt=8 )
3) SQL Guages -- which provides various PerfMon like measurements. (See: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sql-gauges/id404189907?mt=8 )
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