Kubernetes

In this blog post, we will walk through a few examples of how to configure SQL Server in Docker Containers. First, we will configure a container at runtime by overriding the default docker command for the container and setting Database Engine Service Startup Options. Second, we’re going to inject a configuration file into our container to configure SQL Server. Let’s go!

Starting a Container with a Trace Flag

First up, let’s configure a container at runtime using Database Engine Service Startup Options. In Docker you can override the command of a container at the command line so we can start up a container with the correct executable and parameters. I’m configuring a trace flag by setting the correct parameters for the sqlservr executable. So when this container starts up it will start the sqlservr executable with the -T 3226 parameter. Let’s check out the code for this…

I’m super proud to announce that Ben E. Weissman and I have published SQL Server on Kubernetes – Designing and Building a Modern Data Platform available now at Apress and your favorite online book sellers! Buy the book now…or keep reading below if you need to be more convinced :)

A couple of notes about the book, I saw Kubernetes showcased at a Microsoft event a few years back. I immediately saw the value and dedicated time to learning how Kubernetes and SQL Server on Kubernetes works. (Literally on the flight home I started watching training videos and researching books to read :) Since then, I have been sharing those learnings with the data and Kubernetes communities. This book is the intersection of all of that content. I genuinely believe that this will be how you will be building systems in the near future (or right now)! SQL Server on Kubernetes is the foundation for Big Data Clusters and now Azure Arc-enabled Data Services. I also want to call out my co-author and friend, Ben; you are an incredible writer and thank you for driving this book to completion!

Limits in Containers

Docker gives you the ability to control a container’s access to CPU, Memory, and network and disk IO using resource constraints, sometimes called Limits. You define limits as parameters when creating containers. In its default configuration, a container will have no resource constraints for accessing resources of the host operating system. This post will look at how to configure resource constraints in Docker and look at how SQL Server sees the resources when CPU and Memory resource constraints are in place.

My updated course “Managing the Kubernetes API Server and Pods” is now available on Pluralsight here! If you want to learn about the course, check out the trailer here or if you want to dive right in check it out here! 

This course targets IT professionals that design and maintain Kubernetes and container based solutions. The course can be used by both the IT pro learning new skills and the system administrator or developer preparing for using Kubernetes both on premises and in the Cloud.

My updated course “Kubernetes Installation and Configuration Fundamentals” is now available on Pluralsight here! If you want to learn about the course, check out the trailer here or if you want to dive right in check it out here! 

This course targets IT professionals that design and maintain Kubernetes and container based solutions. The course can be used by both the IT pro learning new skills and the system administrator or developer preparing for using Kubernetes both on premises and in the Cloud.

I’m super proud to announce that Ben E. Weissman and I have published Azure Arc-Enabled Data Services Revealed available now at Apress and your favorite online booksellers! Buy the book now; or keep reading below if you need to be more convinced :)

A couple of notes about the book first, I enjoyed working with this bleeding-edge tech and collaborating with the SQL Server Engineering Team at Microsoft on this. I want to call out the support from our tech reviewer, and Program Managed for Azure Arc Enabled Data Services, Travis Wright. Thanks for your help and support. Be sure to read the forward from Travis; it tells the story of why and how. From getting SQL Server on Linux, into containers, into Kubernetes, Big Data Clusters, and now Arc Enabled Data Services. Awesome stuff. I also want to call out my co-author and friend, Ben. You are an excellent writer. Thank you for including me in this adventure!

Pre-conference Workshop at Data Platform Virtual Summit 2020

I’m proud to announce that I will be be presenting pre-conference workshop at Data Platform Virtual Summit 2020 split into Two four hour sessions on 30 November and 1 December! This one won’t let you down!

Here is the start and stop times in various time zones:

The workshop is “Kubernetes Zero to Hero – Installation, Configuration, and Application Deployment”

In this post, we will explore how a Pod name is generated, Pod Name lifecycle, how it’s used inside a Pod to set the system hostname, and how the system hostname is used by SQL Server to set its server name metadata.

Pod Naming in Deployments

When deploying SQL Server in Kubernetes using a Deployment, the Pod created by the Deployment Controller will have a name with a structure of <DeploymentName>-<PodTemplateHash>-<PodID> for example, mssql-deployment-8cbdc8ddd-9n7jh.

I’m pleased to announce that I will be presenting at PASS Summit. This year I have a pre-conference workshop and a regular session. Let’s dive into each.

Pre-Conference Workshop: The Future of Deployment for Modern Data Platform Applications

Ben Weissman and I teach a pre-conference workshop called “The Future of Deployment for Modern Data Platform Applications” in this workshop. We’re going to cover how you will be deploying data platform applications in the near future. Here’s a listing of the topics we’re going to cover.

This course targets IT professionals that design and maintain Kubernetes and container-based solutions. The course can be used by both the IT pro learning new skills and the system administrator or developer preparing for using Kubernetes both on-premises and in the Cloud.