Course 10153: Planning, Creating, and Optimizing Indexes in Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Introduction This two-hour course provides you with the skills and knowledge required to plan, create and optimise indexes. In this course, you will learn about the different types of indexes that can be implemented in SQL Server 2008 and how each type of index can improve the way you retrieve data. You will learn how to create indexes and how to optimise indexes to get the best performance from them.

Topics covered in this course include:

• Overview of Indexes
• Creating Indexes
• Optimising Indexes
• Managing a SQL Server 2008 Database

Student prerequisites:

To benefit from this course, the learner must be familiar with using Microsoft Windows. They must have knowledge of basic relational database concepts and querying data by using Transact-SQL. They must be familiar with the role of a database administrator.
Objectives At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Describe indexes.
• Create indexes.
• Optimise indexes.
• Maintain indexes.
• Work with spatial indexes.

Modules & Lessons Course Overview Module Overview Navigation Overview Navigation Overview Course Information Course Information Creating and Optimising Indexes in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Module Overview Overview of Indexes Introduction How SQL Server 2008 Retrieves Data What Is a Heap? What Is a Clustered Index? What Is a Nonclustered Index? Traversing Data with Indexes Introduction to Spatial Indexes Self Test Creating Indexes Introduction How to Create Indexes Creating Indexes on Multiple Columns Creating Unique Indexes Creating Partitioned Indexes Creating Indexes to Cover Queries How to Create Indexes on Computed Columns Self Test Optimising Indexes Introduction How SQL Server 2008 Handles Rows in Pages Understanding Page Splits Using the FILLFACTOR Option to Control Page Splits Using PAD_INDEX Option to Control Page Splits Self Test Maintaining Indexes Introduction Understanding Index Statistics Data Fragmentation Managing Indexes Obtaining Information About Indexes The Database Engine Tuning Advisor Tool Self Test Spatial Indexes Introduction How SQL Server 2008 Uses a Spatial Index What Are Tessallation Schemes? Restrictions on Spatial Indexes How to Create, Alter and Drop Spatial Indexes How to Retrieve Spatial Index Information Self Test Best Practices Best Practices Lab: Creating and Optimising Indexes in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Lab Overview Scenario Exercise Information Launch the Lab Lab Review Module Summary Module Summary Glossary Glossary System Requirements To view this course, you need:

• A Pentium II, 256 MB RAM with a processor speed greater than or equal to 400 MHZ
• Microsoft® Windows® 2000 or higher
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
• Adobe Flash 7.0 or higher (1MB disk space needed to install)
• Microsoft Silverlight 4.0 or higher
• Microsoft Windows Media Player 7.0 or higher
• Microsoft XML Core Services 3.0 or higher
• A Super VGA monitor with minimum screen resolution 1024x768, with 16-bit color.
• A sound card, and either speakers or headphones (for multi-media audio).
• Internet bandwidth of 56K or faster. Broadband internet access is recommended.

For courses containing Virtual Server-based labs (courses in the IT Professional and Developer Catalog), you will need:

• Microsoft Virtual Server ActiveX control (1MB disk space needed to install)

Test your computer's capabilities to see if it supports this course. Accessibility Requirements The following software must be running on your computer in order to access this course with Screen Reader Software:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
• Window-Eyes from GW Micro
• JAWS from Freedom Scientific
• MSAA enabled