Customer Reviews
Decent book on SQL Server 7 Administration 
2003-07-12
I used this book when I was a SQL 7 Admin. It did a fair job but I'd be suprised if there weren't better book on this subject available.
Best Reference Book for DBAs 
2000-10-05
This is a very comprehensive DBA reference manual that is clearly written and packaged to easily locate information. Other references (and I have many for SQL Server) give general information, this book goes beyond that - hows and whys and especially lessons learned. When I incorporate the fix it suggests, it stays fixed. This book has more bent pages and coffee stains than any other in my collection. Originally a Sybase DBA and being relatively new to SQL Server, this book filled in the gaps and make the transition very painless, especially in urgent troubleshooting scenerios. Recommend this to any SQL DBA especially if new to SQL Server.
Also recommend Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Adminstrator Companion as an additional reference.
A Great Reference With a Focus on How To Do Things 2000-08-14
I was thrown into SQL Server work with no training and no mentors. This book was a great help. When you have to make something happen and there is no one around to ask you can generally find what you need here. I was pleased that the writing is clear and easy to follow even when dealing with obscure subjects.
I have used this book to solve problems and to research configuration settings when troubleshooting performance issues. At over 1000 pages I am not sure I could have survived reading it as a study guide and it is really not suited for that. But if you want a resource that goes into pretty good depth on subjects, this is an excellent book to consult.
Must Have 2000-05-09
The BEST! I recommend this book as a must have for all my clients that run SQL Svr 7.
little useful information beyond the SQL Books on Line 
2000-04-25
Unlike some other SQL Survival books, which can save your neck (such as the SQL 6.5 Unleashed) this book is not very helpful in real world situations. It regurgitates the Books on Line (with the occasional "real-world" tidbit) and offers little new or relevant information. It might be helpful for studying for an exam, but if you are trying to perform a real task, it's not very useful. It feels as if it were written before it was actually used, which is probably correct, given its publishing date.
Delivers the goods - the best SQL server book - buy it 2000-04-20
Microsoft SQL Server 7 DBA Survival Guide is organized into several parts that compromise the various jobs and tasks the DBA performs. Learn client/server computing and the role of the database administrator, how to plan and install/upgrading SQL Server, database operation, performance and tuning, and maintaining the shop. This book provides the knowledge and know-how to administer a SQL Server database. Through real-world insight and experience, you'll learn the tips, tricks, and suggestions you need to succeed as a DBA. Checklists and examples for SQL Server DBA tasks are provided, as well as conventions and naming standards. Also included is a section that looks into the tasks that make up a DBA's job description.
Quickly put together 2000-04-12
I don't share the same 4 or 5 starts the others claim. There are several instances that the text refers to a figure and the reference made isn't found in the figure. Seems to me as MicroSoft (Bill Gates) said get this book out to market fast not caring to recheck the work.
This book is great 2000-03-23
This book is a must have...It is packed full of information yet easy enough to read.
If you really want to stay alive, don't count on it 
2000-02-21
I realy don't know what to say , but if you want to stay alive while you mamaging the sql ,and this is the only book you got, you better send help to somebody who really know SQL. This is not the book you thought.
I have found this book to be indispensible 1999-12-02
I love this book. My background is a little unusual -- I've been running Linux for 7 years, and I know very little about running MS servers. I had worked with MySQL, but never with a fully featured commercial SQL engine. When I started running MS-SQL, the confusing part was the administration, not the actual SQL database operations. And this book told me everything I needed to know. It's easy to look up practical "HOWTO" style advice. If you need to setup security, they tell you how. If you need to backup your db (and who doesn't?) they tell you how. If you need to set up replication (which is cooler and more complicated than you'd think) they tell you how. It's easy to find what you need and make it happen with a minimum of hassles and floundering. The discussion of indexes alone is probably worth buying the book. If you run MS-SQL, you should buy this book.
