[dba-SQLServer] Using task manager to close SQL Server

Michael Maddison michael at ddisolutions.com.au
Wed Aug 18 23:22:09 CDT 2004


John,

The db wont be hurt if you stop the transaction.

What I would do...  YMMV...
	Change Recovery mode to simple (cuts logging down)
	Drop all indexes inc PK before attempting to add the identity
column.  Script them using QA so you can put them back after.
	Turn off all unnecessary services.
	Have nothing else running.

	Buy or upgrade to a bigger box ;-)))  You need multiple drives
and processes.

regards

Michael M

Francisco,

This was until recently my desktop machine for Access dev.  No need for
more memory really.  I "retired" it when I got my laptop which is a P64
with 512m ram (desktop replacement laptop).  I will now be pulling it
back into service as a (temporary) SQL Server machine.  The db will hold
a 60+ million record flat file of name/address/ demographics with 14+
million more to come immediately, and possibly merging in a couple of
other dbs that are currently hosted elsewhere.

My intention is to build a server since I am "bootstrapping" this
operation (little cash).  The current machine is an AMD 2.5g Barton with
512 mb ram running Windows2K Pro and SQL Server 2K.  Awhile back I
bought a RAID card and a couple of 120gb hard disks for the main c:
drive (Raid1) which is where the current db resides.  I purchased a
couple of 200gb Maxtors with 8m cache which I intended to mirror, then
throw the db out there.  We'll just have to wait and see how big this
mutha gets.  I can see however that an immediate memory upgrade would be
good if I intend to use this thing for long.

Long term I'm looking at building a dual Opteron.  I have been looking
at how to get lots of memory and processing power though reading the web
page you provided brings to doubt my ability to use said memory.  8-(

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-sqlserver-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of
Francisco Tapia
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 5:32 PM
To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com
Subject: Re: [dba-SQLServer] Using task manager to close SQL Server


On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 16:56:21 -0400, John W. Colby
<jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com> wrote:
> I am trying to add a "PK" autoincrement to this huge db I'm working
> with. There are around 6 million records at the moment.  I went in 
> design view and added the field, then "saved" the table and it took 
> off adding the new field and putting values in the table.  The problem

> is it is taking FOREVER (running for many hours so far) and is not 
> giving any status indicator to say when it will be done.  I absolutely

> must "get back to work doing some stuff in the db.
> 
> If I "close" enterprise manager in the middle, will it damage my db?
> I am assuming not but don't want to take any chances.
> 
> It appears that the reason it is taking so long is extensive use of
> the swap file.  Enterprise manager is currently using 421 mbytes on a 
> 512m machine. I would go somewhere and buy some 512mb sticks if it 
> will help (and it appears it will).

You know what, I also forgot to mention that you ought ot look into how
you arrange the new hdds for your pc as well, Since you are DOING some
Sql Server development, it is to your advantage to have your 2ndary data
hdd on a seperate I/O card, this is important in a production
environment, but also in a development one as well.  What you'll find is
that the system may become busy doing it's updates, but your PC will
continue running like a champ, because all the heavy I/O process are
offloaded to a seperate card/ channel.

So if you don't have a second ATA or SATA card go out and look for one
when you are out shopping for your 1gb of ram.  You'll notice that the
performance of the database increases like nuts, IIRC you just recently
bought a 200 or 250gb drive w/ 8mb of cache did you not? 
Adding the I/O card will enhance the performance on that drive (or your
2ndary drives you have)


-- 
-Francisco
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