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SQL SERVER – 3 Online SQL Courses at Pluralsight and Free Learning Resources

Usain Bolt is an inspiration for all. He broke his own record multiple times because he wanted to do better! Read more about him on wikipedia. He is great and indeed fastest man on the planet.

Usain Bolt - World’s Fastest Man

Usain Bolt – World’s Fastest Man

“Can you teach me SQL Server Performance Tuning?”

This is one of the most popular questions which I receive all the time. The answer is YES.

I would love to do performance tuning training for anyone, anywhere.  It is my favorite thing to do, and it is my favorite thing to train others in.  If possible, I would love to do training 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  To me, it doesn’t feel like a job.

Of course, as much as I would love to do performance tuning 24/7/365, obviously I am just one human being and can only be in one place at one time.  It is also very difficult to train more than one person at a time, and it is difficult to train two or more people at a time, especially when the two people are at different levels.  I am also limited by geography.  I live in India, and adjust to my own time zone.  Trying to teach a live course from India to someone whose time zone is 12 or more hours off of mine is very difficult.  If I am trying to teach at 2 am, I am sure I am not at my best!

There was only one solution to scale – Online Trainings. I have built 3 different courses on SQL Server Performance Tuning with Pluralsight. Now I have no problem – I am 100% scalable and available 24/7 and 365. You can make me say the same things again and again till you find it right. I am in your mobile, PC as well as on XBOX. This is why I am such a big fan of online courses.  I have recorded many performance tuning classes and you can easily access them online, at your own time.  And don’t think that just because these aren’t live classes you won’t be able to get any feedback from me.  I encourage all my viewers to go ahead and ask me questions by e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, or whatever way you can get a hold of me.

Here are details of three of my courses with Pluralsight. I suggest you go over the description of the course. As an author of the course, I have few FREE codes for watching the free courses. Please leave a comment with your valid email address, I will send a few of them to random winners.

SQL Server Performance: Introduction to Query Tuning 

SQL Server performance tuning is an art to master – for developers and DBAs alike. This course takes a systematic approach to planning, analyzing, debugging and troubleshooting common query-related performance problems. This includes an introduction to understanding execution plans inside SQL Server.

In this almost four hour course we cover following important concepts.

  • Introduction 10:22
  • Execution Plan Basics 45:59
  • Essential Indexing Techniques 20:19
  • Query Design for Performance 50:16
  • Performance Tuning Tools 01:15:14
  • Tips and Tricks 25:53
  • Checklist: Performance Tuning 07:13

The duration of each module is mentioned besides the name of the module.

SQL Server Performance: Indexing Basics

This course teaches you how to master the art of performance tuning SQL Server by better understanding indexes.

In this almost two hour course we cover following important concepts.

  • Introduction 02:03
  • Fundamentals of Indexing 22:21
  • Practical Indexing Implementation Techniques 37:25
  • Index Maintenance 16:33
  • Introduction to ColumnstoreIndex 08:06
  • Indexing Practical Performance Tips and Tricks 24:56
  • Checklist : Index and Performance 07:29

The duration of each module is mentioned besides the name of the module.

SQL Server Questions and Answers

This course is designed to help you better understand how to use SQL Server effectively. The course presents many of the common misconceptions about SQL Server, and then carefully debunks those misconceptions with clear explanations and short but compelling demos, showing you how SQL Server really works.

In this almost 2 hours and 15 minutes course we cover following important concepts.

  • Introduction 00:54
  • Retrieving IDENTITY value using @@IDENTITY 08:38
  • Concepts Related to Identity Values 04:15
  • Difference between WHERE and HAVING 05:52
  • Order in WHERE clause 07:29
  • Concepts Around Temporary Tables and Table Variables 09:03
  • Are stored procedures pre-compiled? 05:09
  • UNIQUE INDEX and NULLs problem 06:40
  • DELETE VS TRUNCATE 06:07
  • Locks and Duration of Transactions 15:11
  • Nested Transaction and Rollback 09:16
  • Understanding Date/Time Datatypes 07:40
  • Differences between VARCHAR and NVARCHAR datatypes 06:38
  • Precedence of DENY and GRANT security permissions 05:29
  • Identify Blocking Process 06:37
  • NULLS usage with Dynamic SQL 08:03
  • Appendix Tips and Tricks with Tools 20:44

The duration of each module is mentioned besides the name of the module.

SQL in Sixty Seconds

You will have to login and to get subscribed to the courses to view them. Here are my free video learning resources SQL in Sixty Seconds. These are 60 second video which I have built on various subjects related to SQL Server. Do let me know what you think about them?

Here are three of my latest videos:

You can watch and learn at your own pace.  Then you can easily ask me any questions you have.  E-mail is easiest, but for really tough questions I’m willing to talk on Skype, Gtalk, or even Facebook chat.  Please do watch and then talk with me, I am always available on the internet!

Here is the video of the world’s fastest man.Usain St. Leo Bolt inspires us that we all do better than best. We can go the next level of our own record. We all can improve if we have a will and dedication.  Watch the video from 5:00 mark.



Reference: Pinal Dave (
http://blog.sqlauthority.com
)

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127 thoughts on “SQL SERVER – 3 Online SQL Courses at Pluralsight and Free Learning Resources”

  2. I desperately need that subscription codes for sql server tuning.
    [content removed]

    Thanks for your continuous support Pinal.

    Reply

  7. Hi Pinal, Kindly share a FREE code if possible. My day begins with reading your blog post. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

    Thanks,
    Mani.

    Reply

  13. Hi,

    I want to learn the Interview Questions and Answers. After that, planning to learn SQL Server Performance tuning and Indexing basics. I am eagerly waiting to get a chance for FREE subscription.

    Reply

  14. Pinal.
    Do you really believe in performance tuning training via online generic training?
    You can learn some general truths, some idea. But need to remember that every DB has their own cases, their own BKM and their own requirements…

    I would like to see this courses, but on other side I believe we need to work very careful with some of “best hints” in our DB…

    Reply

    • Migro,

      Just like every system is different – every system is same as well too! There are few things which apply to all the systems and those are few things which can be applied with careful understanding. Well, if you attend the training you will understand this is not generic training. It is a carefully crafted training on various subjects. There are places it shows what are gotchas and what should be the next step one should do. What are the cases where one should try out various tests before applying various suggestions.

      As I said, if you come to me, I will teach the same what I have included in this session. If want me to do performance tuning, I will use my learning and craft it based on your server. Learning performance tuning and doing performance tuning is different but extremely related.

      Hope this explains it.

      Kind Regards,
      Pinal

      Reply

  19. I am feeling that I will not be able to open sqlauthority website in my office after one week or two due to xxx ads

    Reply

    • Hi Friend,

      Please send me a screenshot of the offending content. I will have to reach out to advertiser if that is the case.

      There are a few things where we have to draw lines.

      Kind Regards,
      Pinal

      Reply

          • In morning, I saw some offending images, so I put comments here, but right now I don’t see any such offending images. If i found any , I will definitely send you screenshot.

            @Sanjay : Thanks for sending screenshot instead of me.

          • Here is the note, @sanjay sent me offending image and there was indeed there. I took up this strongly with advertisers and they identified how they had shown up. It was their mistake and they fixed it.

            I must thank you and Sanjay for being vigilant and our well-wishers. Sanjay and my friend – if you are in in India please send me your mailing address, I will send you one of my books.

          • Thanks Pinal,
            Last night, I did not found offending images, but today i have taken two screenshots from yesterday pages(from Offline mode) & one from today’s page , I have sent you screenshot with subject “Ads in SQL Authority”

  21. Excellent Learning Resources,
    whatever you write is very interesting & attractive,
    Once I start to read your blog or email, I cant take break without complete it.

    Even if I am working on oracle, I am always waiting for your new topic, post
    Thanks

    Reply

  28. Hi Pinal

    Great Blog post as usual! Would love to see these videos and put them into practice along with all your tips, my email:

    spleenlessstu [AT] hotmail [DOT] com

    Reply

  30. Like many, I have greatly benefited from the content you provide on this site; I frequent it regularly. I am also interested in receiving the benefit of the code for the tutorials if I might be considered a candidate for one. Regards!

    Reply

  31. I love SQL Server performance tuning. Still want to learn more in-depth from you. Very eager to follow your course. Regards from Belgium.

    Reply

  36. Dear Pinal

    It would be a pleasure to learn from these trainings created by you. Hope to be one of the winners.

    Regards

    Reply

  39. Hi Pinal, huge fan and follower. Been a dba about year now and would love an oppurtunity hear you in action (for longer than sixty seconds anyway). This is the stuff that really gets me excited. Thanks.

    Reply

  47. Hi Pinal,

    I am interested to get free code for pluralsight training codes.
    Thanks.
    Harsh
    [email removed for privacy issues]

    Reply

  49. Hi Pinal,

    I am a rookie DBA and regular visitor of your blog. I am contemplating on performance tuning of SQL server and feel that the it is the most complicated and interesting subject . Request you to help me to kickstart my career in performance tuning by providing the free codes in order to access the valuable information.

    Reply

  50. Hi Pinal, Your training Rocks! I own the entire Joes2Pros collection and have recommended it to the SQL Devs with whom I work (they really need it!) The free codes would be great but between your classes and those from SQLSkills, I am going to have to break down and buy a PluralSight subscription! My biggest challenge is making the time to take the training.

    Reply

  55. Hi Pinal

    I follow your blogs daily. One thing I like about your blogs is it is easy to understand as you explain it with good example.

    Even I follow other plural sight c#, ASP.NET videos although the free ones available in asp.net website :) . As an engineering student of IT I’m greatly inspired by your blogs and I recommend your blogs to my friends also. As a part of fourth year project our 4 members team is going to create a library management system where I play the role of database developer and administrator. It would be great if you can share the code. I’m sure it would be a fantastic experience to learn database tuning in greater detail.

    Thanks
    Mritsa

    Reply

  60. Very nice blog posts, tips, videos, online training courses, social media chatting!! All are beneficial to the SQL Server Community!! Thanks a lot

    Reply

  68. Hi,

    I don’t ask you to give me free pass, but thing I would like to say that, I am regular reader of your blog and always found good and helpful content.

    I hope your courses are also helpful, I would like to watch and learn even I have to pay for that.

    Thanks
    Salman

    Reply

  69. Hi Pinal

    Nice learning videos at both pluralist & YouTube. It’s like a Khan academy for SQL.

    Could you please also add videos about daily responsibilities of a DBA.

    Could you please also add more than 60 sec learning videos at YouTube, because sometimes you’re too fast to finish it in 60 sec.

    I am very happy if you could please send me the Codes for pluralist.

    Reply

  74. Pinal,
    I’ve been accessing SQL Authority for years now and find it to be both educational and insightful. Thanks for this! These courses would certainly help tie up dome loose ends.

    Reply

  76. Hi Pinal , Kindly share a FREE code if possible.

    I am interested in the performance tuning tutorials ,

    I am eagerly waiting to get a chance for FREE subscription.

    Reply

  83. Hi Pinal,

    I am very interested in the performance training as well as any other trainings you have. I have viewed many of your blogs and find them very useful. :)

    Reply

  84. Hi Pinal,

    Thanks for your excellent blog!

    I would love to learn more about performance tuning and optimization!

    Keep up your good work!

    Best regards,
    Patrik

    Reply

  90. Hi Pinal,
    PluralSight has been a great knowledge share and online tutorial for everybody. I had got a monthly subscription card at Microsoft Tech Ed this year. Would love to check out the Performance Tuning videos to better my SQL skills. Thank You.

    Reply

  91. Great to see so many new articles and videos, topics which are so important to understand but hard to master. Keep up the good work and great offers… Thanks.

    Reply

  93. Hi All,

    The code will be sent out very soon – in a day or so. It will be sent with random algorithm and everybody who will be selected will get an email from us.

    Kind Regards,
    Pinal Dave

    Reply

  97. Hi pinal

    Is all the codes sent is completed, can you please send me a code. desprately waiting to watch and learn from these courses, that will be use ful for my work in day to day life.

    Thanks in advance

    Sharing is Learning

    Reply

  99. Hi Pinal,
    It’s always very helpful and always a new learning while go through your blogs! I am working on an application where need to performance tune the database which has lots of database objects with millions of records. Can you share a code to watch these pluralsight videos?

    Thanks,
    Meghraj

    Reply

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