SQLUG

Just like the previous four years, the Community Day event will be back this year for its fifth installment and it will be bigger than ever before!  And guess what?!  It’s still free!

Interested in a whole day packed with sessions brought by members of the Belgian Microsoft community, and even abroad?  Then join us on Thursday 23rd of June 2011 at Utopolis Mechelen (Belgium)!

As you’re reading my blog, chances are big that you’re interested in SQL Server?  Well, good because three of the sessions are brought by members of the SQL Server User Group.  Here are the details on those sessions:

More details available on and registration through www.communityday.be.  Register now before all seats are taken!

CU there!

Valentino.

Haven’t got any plans next Thursday evening (May 19th, 2011)?  Then I’ve got an interesting SQL Server User Group event for you!

Session Content

The next version of Analysis Services will offer the BI Semantic Model (BISM) that is based on Vertipaq, the same engine that runs PowerPivot. DAX and PowerPivot have been created as tools for Excel users but in Denali they will be available in Microsoft’s Corporate BI technology stack, as part of Analysis Services.

The impact of this technology is huge, because many assumptions that are made today regarding OLAP cubes (star schema models, surrogate keys and so on) might be no longer applicable in terms of “the optimized way” to design a BI solution.

This session is about this impelling change: after an initial introduction about PowerPivot, DAX and Vertipaq changes that are relevant to this topic and some consideration about design impact on Data Warehouse, Data Mart and ETL pipeline, the session will become an open discussion with all attendees, in order to share experience, needs, technical challenges and understand future directions in the corporate BI world.

The Speakers

Marco Russo

Marco Russo is a Business Intelligence consultant and mentor.

His main activities are related to data warehouse relational and multidimensional design, but he is also involved in the complete development life cycle of BI solutions. He has particular competence and experience in sectors like financial services (such as complex OLAP designs in banking area), manufacturing and commercial distribution.

Marco is also a book author and, apart from his BI-related publications, he even wrote some books about .NET programming. He is also a speaker at international conferences like the European PASS Conference and PASS Summit. He is an MCT and has several certifications (MCPD, MCIP, MCTS, MCAD and MCDBA).

Alberto Ferrari

Alberto Ferrari is a Business Intelligence consultant.

He his interests lie in two main areas: BI development life cycle methodologies and performance tuning of ETL and SQL code. His main activities are with SSIS and SSAS for the banking, manufacturing and statistical sectors.

He is also a speaker in international conferences like the European PASS Conference and PASS Summit.

Registration

More info and registration on the SQLUG website!

PS: although I’m sure I would really have enjoyed this session, unfortunately I can’t make it there, gotta stay with the kids…

Those that are able to go: do so, and have fun!

Valentino.

It’s March, Spring is trying to make a start here in rainy Belgium, the first flowers are in bloom and the birds are tweeting (yes, they have an account).

And the SQL Server User Group is ready to present you the second session of the year!

If you were present at last year’s SQL Server Day, then you may already have seen part of this session by Marc Mertens.  If you felt that the session was too short, here’s the answer!

Session Subject

SQL Server Locking: Take back control of SQL Server

Since the beginning of RDBMS systems locking control has been taken away from the programmer.  SQL Server has however many ways to let you control the locks placed and their duration.

This session discusses how SQL Server does locking and how you can control locking.  If you’ve always wanted to know all the details but never had time to look it up for yourself, join us for this session and let the info stream into your brain.  Can it be even easier??

Presenter

Marc Mertens is a SQL Server and .NET trainer/consultant for Global Knowledge. He has been working with SQL Server from version 4.x up to the current version.  His Microsoft Certifications are MSCA, MSCE, MCDBA, MCAD, MCSD and MCT.  He has been a trainer for every aspect of SQL Server, from building .NET applications using ADO.NET and LINQ to BI solutions.

Date and Agenda

Thursday, March 31, 2011.

1800: Registration

1830: Session Start

2100: Session End (unless Marc will try to break his record, established during his session last year on indexes)

Location

Global Knowledge Belgium

Industriepark Mechelen Noord II

Zandvoortstraat 1

2800 Mechelen

Registration

Click here to register for this free event

See you there!

Valentino.

Do you like watching a good detective series in the evening?

Do you like playing with SQL Server databases?

Well, what are you waiting for?  Here’s you chance to combine both!  It’s a short call, but still on time!  You don’t want that perpetrator to get away with those credit card numbers now do you??  Have a look below and register for this great session!

Join us on February 28th at the Microsoft offices in Zaventem for the exciting, first-of-the-year event organized by the Belgian SQL Server User Group.

Info on the session

You get a call from a colleague who thinks that his financial information system has been hacked.  Of course this system uses a SQL Server Database back-end.  In this session we’ll uncover the basics of digital forensics: how to find out whether the system has been accessed by the intruder?  What data has been accessed?  Was there anything modified?  We’ll learn on how to find evidence of what happened and also on how to create a report that can be served as evidence in a court of law.

Info on the speaker: Tom Van Zele

Tom is a seasoned IT professional with more than 10 years experience, first in large scale Active Directory implementations, later moving on to SQL Server.  His focus lies on infrastructure & security.  You can follow Tom on his blog www.synsol.eu/blog and Twitter @tvanzele.

When

Monday, February 28th, 2011.

Agenda

18:00 Registration
18:30 Session Start
21:00 Session End

Location

Microsoft Belgium
Corporate Village
Leonardo Da Vincilaan 3
1935 Zaventem

Click here to register!

Have fun!

Valentino.