SQLPASS Day 1: Keynote Live Blog

I’m live blogging the PASS keynote…it’s 9:56 local time.

You wouldn’t guess by the PASS website description of the day 1 keynote the tone set right off the bat…

Senior Vice President, Business Platform Division
Microsoft Corp.

Ted Kummert will open Day 1 of PASS Summit 2010 by highlighting continued innovation across Microsoft’s business and information platform. Kummert will explore Microsoft’s key technical investments that help solve the toughest issues for various roles across an organization, from IT Professionals to developers. Kummert will explore Mission Critical applications, getting the most out of your datacenter, and the accessibility of Business Intelligence in an effort to deliver on Microsoft’s vision of enabling data platform customers to be more efficient through integrated tools. Some exciting product announcements will also be shared exclusively with PASS attendees so you won’t want to miss out!

We began with a Tina Turner impersonator (I have pix…it DID happen) with a jazzy song, “Simply the Best”. Wow. We’re stunned, yet somehow geekily pleased and amsued. Good job, PASS.

Speaking: Rushabh Mehta PASS Board of Directors President – We’re the best. Yay us. He introduced the PASS BoD and Exec Committee, and talked about us all making PASS something good – “the best PASS Summit ever” were his exact words. This is remeniscent of the talk I had yesterday with Adam Machanic, when we were comparing conferences. PASS (he opined, and I’m paraphrasing) is much more we-the-people, less abotu it being a SHOW. TechEd (for example) is much more polished. Now me, I like PASS better…I don’t mind a couple of rough edges, for the benefit of feeling IN, feeling like I’m a part of it. I won’t gush too much, I should pay attention a little bit.

Over 3k attendees today: 3,807 registrations in 48 countries. For the live streaming keynotes, 4,500 registraions in 49 countries.

By the way, if you’re not following the #sqlpass hashtag on Twitter, you’re missing out on some huge hilarity…

@SQLChicken: SQL Clinic: you got a problem, yo I’ll solve it, show me your execution plan while my green shirts resolve it #sqlpass
@BrentO: “EVERYBODY GETS A CAR!” #sqlpass #oprah

Next up Mark Souza @mark_sqlcat ! We’re interviewing him this week 🙂 #sqlpass Oh dear, he’s dressed as a mad scientist.

Broken notes: Make sure to visit the SQL clinic – the guys are wearing green shirts. Ask the Experts (Sean will be manning that booth some this week!) Contest: Wheel of SQL

They just gave away a Dell laptop to an audience member 2 rows in front of me. “I’ve got a golden ticket!!” Funny thing, all the bloggers at the table checked for the prize envelope under our seats. We couldn’t help it.

Me: They just gave away a Dell laptop to an audience member 2 rows in front of me. “I’ve got a golden ticket!!” #sqlpass
Me: Funny thing, all the bloggers at the table checked for the prize envelope under our seats. We couldn’t help it. #sqlpass
@AndyLeonard: Hoping against all hope @MidnightDBA #sqlpass :{>
@BrentO: Tomorrow morning when people go into the #sqlpass keynote, everybody’s going to be checking under their chairs.
@sqljackal: i looked under my chair for dell laptop and came up empty, oh i forgot i’m not actually at my pass 🙁 #sqlpass

Other Summit features: SQL Clinic, exhibit hall, Community Learning Center, Birds of a Feather Lunch, meet the regional mentors at lunch, author book signing, exhibitor reception – “Don’t miss it!”. Grant says, “I AM going to miss it!” (We have the Inappropriate PASS event at the same time, muah-ah-ahh…)

@SQLChicken: Book signing: Remember, every time you download an illegal pdf of a book, God kills a kitten #sqlpass #thinkofthekittens

keynote1_02 — BLOG OR DIE! Buck Woody, Rob Farley, Sean McCown

The Actual Keynote

…watching a video, sort of a cheerful history of SQL Server, from the product devs’ point of view. Now…SQL Server 2008 R2. Bonus points for using “unfathomable” without stuttering.

@SQLAndy: Nice video intro about the history of SQL Server, better than you’d think just reading this #sqlpass
@SQLChicken: SQL Server 2011: Beard Edition #sqlpass

Ted Kumert, Sr VP Microsoft.

Me: Ted Kumert: “The largest PASS community summit EVAR!” We clap. #sqlpass
@sql_R: Ted Kummert is not wearing a wig or a short dress #sqlpass

What’s next for SQL Server?

First edition for parallel data warehouse for SQL Server – Available now. SQL Server 2008 R2, Parallel Data Warehouse. Let’s see it in action…

@sqlfool: PDW will be an appliance solution available from both Dell & HP. Comes preconfigured & ready to go right out of the box #sqlpass
@venzann: #sqlpass hopefully the racks stay put this year, and dont dance across the stage like they did last year. or maybe they should dance…
PDW comes with a native loader. #SSIS has a #PDW destination adapter – I’m all giggly! #sqlpass
@GFritchey: OH: Nice Rack! #sqlpass [Editor’s note: Yeah, that was me that said that. ]
@SQLChicken: 800 Billion rows…in 19 seconds #sqlpass #holycrap
@AndyLeonard: “Increase efficiency and reduce costs.” Glad we’re not doing marketing in the keynote #sqlpass :{|

Jessee Fountain, Principal Program Manager, SQL Server CAT: Demo showing how PDW works. You’re watching this live stream, right?

[Demo]

Now a customers from B0A and Yahoo! to tell about their experiences. Tell the truth, many (some? most) bloggers groan inwardly at this point of the presentation.

@kendra_little: Bank of America is talking about agility and ease of use. #sqlpass <i have no further comment>
@mrdenny: The guest speaker from BofA has already hit all the buzz words within his first minute on stage. #sqlpass
@mrdenny: Yahoo has to process 120TB of new data a day which is now being done through PDW. #sqlpass
@PinalDave: Next time Oracle guy will be here talking how they use #SQLServer to improve performance of #Oracle at #SQLPASS
Yes, I’m phoning it in at this point. I told you, we’re not as fond of listening to the customers’ testimonials.

New support ans service offerings: Permier MIssion Critical; Microsoft Critical Advantage Program.

Existing products: New service code named “Atlanta” for “issue avoidance”. I’m gonna say a big part of that should be user education. Assessing configuration against best practice configurations, etc…okay, rather like a consultant service. I can support that.

Atlanta captures config information, so if you do have a support history ‘the confersation with support starts in a different place.” This also sounds pretty good…can’t wait to read the editorials about this from more critical minds than mine.

And now, Bob Ward, Principal Engineer CSS to demo Atlanta.

@GFritchey: This is pretty slick use of the cloud. Code Name Atlanta. It will validate your configuration in 2008 & 2008 R2. #sqlpass
@sqlfool: Bob Ward – “Atlanta changes the game. It’s all about being proactive and minimizing down-time.” #sqlpass
@erinstellato: Oooohhhh, Bob Ward from Microsoft. I love his blog. #sqlpass
Me: Link to MS “What is Microsoft Codename Atlanta?” on TechNet http://bit.ly/aBwUFy #sqlpass
Me: Microsoft Atlanta home: https://www.microsoftatlanta.com/ #sqlpass
@BrentO: Why I don’t like Microsoft Atlanta: http://bit.ly/c7vR6e #sqlpass [Wow, that was fast. And contrarian, as usual.]

Cannot generate SSPI context error. Guides you through support yourself so you don’t actually have to call support.

SQL Azure – I’m tired of talking about Azure, truly. Read Grant Fritchey’s blog, Scary DBA PASS SUmmit Day 1 Keynote Part 2 for more on this…I’m gonna read Twitter for a while… (It’s not you, Azure, it’s me.)

@angryPets: My beef with Azure. Cloud = SCALABILITY. 10GB ‘shards’ != ‘scalable’. #sqlpass
Me: OH, BTW @sqlpass, good job on the level of demos in this keynote. That’s how to keep our attention. #sqlpass

What’s next for SQL Server: Code named “Denali”. First CTP for Denali is available now, theyr’e handing it out tomorrow after the keynote. *Applause* Quick overview now. Now, we’re excited. BRING ON THE DEMOS…no, really, bring on the demos. Please? (Still waiting…)

@AndyLeonard: I’m willing to bet the people sitting in front of the #bloggerstable at #sqlpass will sit elsewhere tomorrow. #JustSayin :{>
@aaronbertrand: Download the CTP for SQL Server v.next (#denali) today! http://bit.ly/9ogVOV #sqlpass
@merv: #SQLPASS Kummert: “Denali will be the largest release of SS integration services ever. “
@SQLDBA: Largest release of SSIS services EVER…and with that @AndyLeonard just wet his pants. #sqlpass

New web-based reporting too, called Crescent. “Your data has a story to tell about your business.”

Amir Netz, Distringuished Engineer , SQL Server BI team. Demos FTW!

@BrentO: “Your data has stories to tell. Unfortunately, most of them are romantic fiction.” #sqlpass
@GlennAlanBerry: Project Crescent, web based reporting tool announced #sqlpass
@SQLAndy: #sqlpass Keynote is PACKED, standing room only all along back wall and some outside the doors too

We apparently like PowerPivot because it’s like Excel mashed up with SQL. I can’t argue with that. “Working with 100,000,000 rows is as easy as working with 1,000 rows.”

@Tim_Mitchell: “This is beyond wicked fast. This is the engine of the devil” #sqlpass
@billinkc: MS Marketing folks, please let the official product name of SQL Server V.next be “Engine of the Devil” #sqlpass
Me: Microsoft finally admitted they’re in league with the devil. You heard it here first, kids. #sqlpass
@unclebiguns: #sqlpass This guy is really excited about his product.
@sqlrockstar: i’m watching @rob_farley struggle with his strap on adapter thingy #sqlpass [Yeah, and I had to help.]

And now we have to leave early, interviews to do..thanks for coming with me, and see you later!

-Jen

The Actual Keynote

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