All posts by Jon Culp

My First Podcase Talk

2020-03-04 Jon Culp Leave a comment

I gave a short talk about PowerBI for our internal company podcast.

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2020-02-10 Jon Culp Leave a comment

“Interpretation is imposed by others. Paintings are to be admired and contemplated [not named or explained]. If I had something to say I would write it down or say it; I don’t need painting for that.”

-Zdislaw Beksinski

Databases, MS SQL Server 2016, Tech Notes

Check Transactional Replication Status

2019-07-18 Jon Culp Leave a comment

select [distributionHistory].comments [Comments]
     , isnull([Last Error].error_text,'') as [Last Error]
     , convert(datetimeoffset, [distributionHistory].[time]) [Last Synchronized Date]
     , [distributionAgent].publication [Publication Name]
     , [distributionAgent].publisher_db as [Publisher Database]
     , (case
            when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '1' then 'Start'
            when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '2' then 'Succeed'
            when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '3' then 'InProgress'
            when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '4' then 'Idle'
            when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '5' then 'Retry'
            when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '6' then 'Fail'
            else cast([distributionHistory].runstatus as varchar)
        end
       ) [Run Status]
     , sub.name [Subscriber]
     , [distributionAgent].subscriber_db [Subscriber Database]
     , (case
            when [distributionAgent].subscription_type = '0' then 'Push'
            when [distributionAgent].subscription_type = '1' then 'Pull'
            when [distributionAgent].subscription_type = '2' then 'Anonymous'
            else cast([distributionAgent].subscription_type as varchar)
        end
       ) [Subscription Type]
     , und.UndelivCmdsInDistDB [Undelivered Commands]
from
    [distribution].[dbo].[MSdistribution_agents] as [distributionAgent] with (nolock)
    left join [distribution].[dbo].[MSdistribution_history] as [distributionHistory] with (nolock)
        on [distributionHistory].agent_id = [distributionAgent].id
    join
    (
        select s.agent_id
             , MaxAgentValue.[time]
             , sum(case when xact_seqno > MaxAgentValue.maxseq then 1 else 0 end) as UndelivCmdsInDistDB
        from
            [distribution].[dbo].[MSrepl_commands] t with (nolock)
            join [distribution].[dbo].MSsubscriptions as s with (nolock)
                on (
                       t.article_id = s.article_id
                       and t.publisher_database_id = s.publisher_database_id
                   )
            join
            (
                select hist.agent_id
                     , max(hist.[time]) as [time]
                     , h.maxseq
                from
                   [distribution].[dbo].MSdistribution_history hist with (nolock)
                    join
                    (
                        select agent_id
                             , isnull(max(xact_seqno), 0x0) as maxseq
                        from [distribution].[dbo].MSdistribution_history with (nolock)
                        group by agent_id
                    ) as h
                        on (
                               hist.agent_id = h.agent_id
                               and h.maxseq = hist.xact_seqno
                           )
                group by
                    hist.agent_id
                  , h.maxseq
            ) as MaxAgentValue
                on MaxAgentValue.agent_id = s.agent_id
        group by
            s.agent_id
          , MaxAgentValue.[time]
    ) und
        on [distributionAgent].id = und.agent_id
           and und.[time] = [distributionHistory].[time]
    join [master].[sys].[servers] as sub with (nolock)
        on [distributionAgent].subscriber_id = sub.server_id
	outer apply (
           select top 1
                  error_text
           from [distribution].[dbo].MSrepl_errors with (nolock)
           where id = [distributionHistory].error_id
           order by time desc
       ) as  [Last Error];

select [distributionHistory].comments [Comments]

, isnull([Last Error].error_text,'') as [Last Error]

, convert(datetimeoffset, [distributionHistory].[time]) [Last Synchronized Date]

, [distributionAgent].publication [Publication Name]

, [distributionAgent].publisher_db as [Publisher Database]

, (case

when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '1' then 'Start'

when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '2' then 'Succeed'

when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '3' then 'InProgress'

when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '4' then 'Idle'

when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '5' then 'Retry'

when [distributionHistory].runstatus = '6' then 'Fail'

else cast([distributionHistory].runstatus as varchar)

end

) [Run Status]

, sub.name [Subscriber]

, [distributionAgent].subscriber_db [Subscriber Database]

, (case

when [distributionAgent].subscription_type = '0' then 'Push'

when [distributionAgent].subscription_type = '1' then 'Pull'

when [distributionAgent].subscription_type = '2' then 'Anonymous'

else cast([distributionAgent].subscription_type as varchar)

end

) [Subscription Type]

, und.UndelivCmdsInDistDB [Undelivered Commands]

from

[distribution].[dbo].[MSdistribution_agents] as [distributionAgent] with (nolock)

left join [distribution].[dbo].[MSdistribution_history] as [distributionHistory] with (nolock)

on [distributionHistory].agent_id = [distributionAgent].id

join

(

select s.agent_id

, MaxAgentValue.[time]

, sum(case when xact_seqno > MaxAgentValue.maxseq then 1 else 0 end) as UndelivCmdsInDistDB

from

[distribution].[dbo].[MSrepl_commands] t with (nolock)

join [distribution].[dbo].MSsubscriptions as s with (nolock)

on (

t.article_id = s.article_id

and t.publisher_database_id = s.publisher_database_id

)

join

(

select hist.agent_id

, max(hist.[time]) as [time]

, h.maxseq

from

[distribution].[dbo].MSdistribution_history hist with (nolock)

join

(

select agent_id

, isnull(max(xact_seqno), 0x0) as maxseq

from [distribution].[dbo].MSdistribution_history with (nolock)

group by agent_id

) as h

on (

hist.agent_id = h.agent_id

and h.maxseq = hist.xact_seqno

)

group by

hist.agent_id

, h.maxseq

) as MaxAgentValue

on MaxAgentValue.agent_id = s.agent_id

group by

s.agent_id

, MaxAgentValue.[time]

) und

on [distributionAgent].id = und.agent_id

and und.[time] = [distributionHistory].[time]

join [master].[sys].[servers] as sub with (nolock)

on [distributionAgent].subscriber_id = sub.server_id

outer apply (

select top 1

error_text

from [distribution].[dbo].MSrepl_errors with (nolock)

where id = [distributionHistory].error_id

order by time desc

) as [Last Error];

Databases, MS SQL Server 2008 R2, MS SQL Server 2016, Tech Notes

T-SQL Rename Logical and Physical Database Files

2018-08-10 Jon Culp Leave a comment

I used to get really nervous about renaming database files, which I think is an appropriate response. Changing the attributes of the database’s physical objects does sound a bit scary on the surface, but once you’ve done it a few times you’ll realize it’s easy to do, and easy to fix if you make a mistake. This simple script template shows the basic steps of the process.

-- USE [master];
GO
--Change logical file names.
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] 
  MODIFY FILE(NAME = [old_name_data], NEWNAME = [new_name_data]);
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] 
  MODIFY FILE(NAME = [old_name_log], NEWNAME = [new_name_log]);
GO
--Disconnect all existing sessions.
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET SINGLE_-- USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;
GO
--Change database to OFFLINE mode.
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET OFFLINE;
GO

/******************************************
STOP! NOW RENAME THE PHYSICAL FILES ON DISK
******************************************/

--Point databases at new phyisical files.
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] MODIFY FILE(NAME = 'new_name_data', 
  FILENAME = 'D:\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\new_name_data.mdf');
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] MODIFY FILE(NAME = 'new_name_log', 
  FILENAME = 'L:\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\new_name_log.ldf');
GO
--Change database to ONLINE mode.
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET ONLINE;
GO
--Reopen connections to all users
ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET MULTI_-- USER;
GO

-- USE [master];

--Change logical file names.

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database]

MODIFY FILE(NAME = [old_name_data], NEWNAME = [new_name_data]);

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database]

MODIFY FILE(NAME = [old_name_log], NEWNAME = [new_name_log]);

--Disconnect all existing sessions.

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET SINGLE_-- USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;

--Change database to OFFLINE mode.

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET OFFLINE;

/******************************************

STOP! NOW RENAME THE PHYSICAL FILES ON DISK

******************************************/

--Point databases at new phyisical files.

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] MODIFY FILE(NAME = 'new_name_data',

FILENAME = 'D:\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\new_name_data.mdf');

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] MODIFY FILE(NAME = 'new_name_log',

FILENAME = 'L:\MSSQL13.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\new_name_log.ldf');

--Change database to ONLINE mode.

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET ONLINE;

--Reopen connections to all users

ALTER DATABASE [My_Database] SET MULTI_-- USER;

Links & Lists

Machine Learning Explained in Interactive Visualizations

2018-07-02 Jon Culp Leave a comment

I came across this website that has an excellent explanation for introduction to machine learning. The visualizations are very nice and easy to understand.

http://www.r2d3.us/visual-intro-to-machine-learning-part-1/

Business Intelligence, Tech Notes

Example Manufacturing Dashboard in PowerBI

2018-05-23 Jon Culp 4 Comments

Tech Notes, Windows

Can’t RDP to Server after Windows Patch (CredSSP)

2018-05-15 Jon Culp Leave a comment

I was preparing to remote into a virtual machine to do some maintenance when I encountered an error.

“An authentication error has occurred.
The function requested is not supported

Remote computer: [Computer Name]
This could be due to CredSSP encryption oracle remediation.
For more information, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=866660”

Information from the link in the error:

Credential Security Support Provider protocol (CredSSP) is an authentication provider that processes authentication requests for other applications.

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in unpatched versions of CredSSP. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could relay user credentials to execute code on the target system. Any application that depends on CredSSP for authentication may be vulnerable to this type of attack.

This security update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how CredSSP validates requests during the authentication process.

Options:

The bottom line is that in order to RDP into the target server both computers need to have the update installed. In my case, my local machine was updated, but the target machine was not yet updated. This target machine did not have automatic updates turned on and was an Azure VM. I could have contacted support, or turned on automatic updates from the portal, but the reality was I needed to get into the machine quickly to handle an emergency fix. Due to the simple architecture (stand-alone VM) I could not push the patch via SCCM or GPO.

Work-around 1:

Continue reading Can’t RDP to Server after Windows Patch (CredSSP) →

Business Intelligence

Power BI On-Premises Data Gateway Service Failures

2018-05-11 Jon Culp Leave a comment

Power BI On-Premises Data Gateway is a windows service (PBIEgwService) that moves data from on-premises to the cloud, and also is used by Power BI Report Server. The data gateway has been failing nearly daily. I’ve changed the service settings to restart upon failure with a 3 minute buffer. If this does not resolve the issue I might set up a heart-beat process that checks the health of the service and if it’s ever not running it will start it.