Implementing SQL Manage – Quick Guide
The purpose of this document is to guide you through the quick process of implementing
SQL Manage
on SQL Server databases. SQL Manage is a total management solution for
Microsoft SQL Server database management, advanced backup, monitoring and alerts,
and the resulting improvement in the performance of SQL Server databases.
Additional available user guides:
•
SQL Manage User Guide – In-depth user Manuel
•
Quick guide for SQL Manage application on SAP Business One
These are available at:
http://www.futureitsoft.com/downloads.aspx?page=Trial
Getting started with SQL Manage
• After downloading SQL Manage (http://www.futureitsoft.com/downloads.aspx?page=Trial), installation consists of:
o SQL Manage Agent Setup - This is the server side component of the SQL Manage Standard
Edition application, to be installed on every SQL server that is controlled by the SQL Manage application. The SQL manage agent is responsible for the sending of notifications, shrinking of databases and expiration of old backup files.
o SQL Manage Setup - This is the client side component (the GUI) of the SQL Manage Edition
application. It is to be installed on every station that is used to control the SQL Manage services. SQL Manage console enables you to manage, maintain and monitor SQL Servers.
• Starting SQL Manage Agent Service
o Proceed to Start/Programs/SQL Manage, and click on "SQL Manage Standard Agent Console" o The SQL Manage Agent icon on the system tray will turn green.
o On the system tray, right click the green SQL Manage Agent icon and from the context menu choose "Show Agent Console".
o On the Agent Console, view that the SQL Manage Agent has started. Afterwards, on the Agent Log menu click View Agent log.
o In the opened log file, make sure that the lines: "SQL Manage Agent Started..." and "Server
(Server Name) added to agent" appears.
o In the Agent Console go to the Settings menu and choose "Manage Instances".
o In the opened log file, make sure that these 6 lines of successful operations appear:
SUCCESSFULLY connected to server [SERVER NAME] SUCCESSFULLY indicated agent started
SUCCESSFULLY initialized notification object SUCCESSFULLY initialized zip request object
SUCCESSFULLY initialized SAP Agent request object SUCCESSFULLY initialized expired backup object
o In the event of an error, connect to the SQL server with "Custom Credentials" through either
o Proceed to select "Save Settings" and afterwards "Check Connection".
• Starting SQL Manage for the first time
o After installing SQL Manage, open the SQL Manage console (The SQL Manage user guide is available at: www.futureitsoft.com/downloads/SQL_Manage_help.pdf ).
o On the system login dialog: click on the "browse" button to choose the server to connect to, or
supply a server name manually.
o On the same dialog, supply your SQL credentials (either through Windows Integrated security or
the SQL Server login (SA). The latter being the recommended option).
• SQL Manage Activation:
o On the "SQL Manage Standard Edition Activation" dialog box that appears, proceed by either
selecting to continue using the " SQL Manage Evaluation Copy" or to execute a full activation of "SQL Manage"
o If you choose to continue utilizing the "SQL Manage Evaluation Copy", then click on "Activate
Later".
o If you should choose to execute a full activation of "SQL Manage Standard Edition", then click on
o The "SQL Manage Activation" dialog box appears
Proceed to enter your company name in the appropriate "Company Name" field. Wait for the "Local Key" to be generated
Click on "Generate Activation Request Email" to request an activation key You will then receive an activation key by e-mail
Enter the received activation key in the allocated space and click on "OK".
Implementing SQL Manage for SQL Server databases
• In this stage, we will associate SQL Server databases with predefined SQL Manage default rules. These predefined settings, specifically designed for SQL Server databases, provide an automatic profile for maintenance, backups, acceleration, restorations, and administration—recommended for running SQL Server databases.
• The following simple "one-click" process will associate the SQL Manage Default Maintenance Rules with the applicable SQL Server databases.
o Proceed to "Manage Databases". On the "Manage Databases" screen, select the relevant
database(s) that you wish to apply the predefined SQL Manage Default Maintenance Rules on (to select multiple databases, use the ctrl button).
o Select "SQL Manage Defaults" from the "Database Properties Rule", "Backup Operations
Rules" and "Maintenance Operations Rules" combo boxes.
o Proceed to click on the "Scheduled Operations" tab to view the attached rules.
This completes the implementation of SQL Manage Default Maintenance Profiles on the selected SQL Server Databases.
Description of the SQL Manage default settings for SQL Server
Applying these rules will deploy the following settings for maintenance, alerts and backup on the SQL Server databases. Any one of the below settings can easily be changed manually according to your
requirements on the "Maintenance Rules" screen.
o Property optimization – Allows you to change the administrative properties of a database. In
the application of the predefined SQL Manage default "property optimization" rule, the database is set to a "full recovery model". This model, combined with SQL Manage performing log backups the way it does, automatically allows for the restoration to a point of time.
o Database backup – Schedules an operation for the backup of selected databases, everyday at 23:30.
o Backup 2/ Archive – This rule is identical to the Database Backup rule and is intended to create a
second set of database backup files in a different schedule or location as the user decides (daily, weekly or monthly).
o Transaction log backup – Schedules an operation for the backup of the transaction log of selected databases, which keeps database modifications. This occurs everyday, at 6 hour intervals, between 7:00-19:00. This enables the user to restore a database to a point of time.
o Index optimization – This operation occurs every Friday at 20:00. MS SQL Server indexes
significantly improve database performance. Yet, with time and when no index maintenance is performed, the structure of the indexes is fragmented. Index optimization enables you to defrag only, or to defrag and rebuild the indexes.
o Shrink database – This operation keeps the transaction log file at an optimal size—ensuring it doesn't get too big (as happens to over 90% of users) and saving on disk data space. It also avoids crashes (occurring due to disk completely used by log file) and keeps the data base moving faster. This operation has to be executed after the last transaction log backup and before the next database backup.It occurs everyday at 21:30.
o Update statistics – SQL Manage improves MS SQL Server performance by keeping
statistics of which tables were accessed when and through which routes. It then enables SQL Server to try and use those same routes and not compute them every time. This operation executes everyday at 04:30.
o Monitoring – SQL Manage monitors your databases and servers in the background, and notifies you via email and/or pop-ups of problems that might lead to failures. This occurs in real-time. It's important to note that the "SQL Manage Monitor" must be activated, in order to receive pop-up notifications.
Please see the following instructions to ensure that the "SQL Manage Monitor" is activated:
o Proceed to Start/Programs/SQL Manage and select "SQL Manage Monitor"
o The "SQL Manage Monitor" will appear on the system tray
• The benefits for SQL Server users
o SQL Manage provides SQL Server users with significant savings, as a result of high data availability and the prevention of crashes and work stoppages.
o Similarly, it provides an easy to use back up, as well as the mechanism which prevent loss of data and enables significant savings in restoration to a specific time.
o Furthermore, SQL Manage provides a self-explanatory notification module which enables the
user to receiving alerts through pop-up messages and e-mail alerts in real-time, as defined by the user.
• About SQL Manage
o SQL Manage offers an affordable easy-to-use solution for database management. Providing customers with a comprehensive maintenance solution from one centralized console, SQL Manage automates and simplifies traditional DBA tasks such as monitoring, re-indexing, backup & restore, compression, and beyond.
own automatic DBA working around the clock to maintain and protect your data, so you can focus on what's really important to your business: your business. SQL Manage is a Microsoft platform test approved solution.
o With SQL Manage you enjoy enhanced performance, work continuity, higher availability, a dramatic decline in overhead and fewer failures, all of which will reduce your overall IT costs and guarantee you a speedy ROI and peace of mind.
