Ken Simmons is a database administrator and developer specializing in Microsoft SQL Server and .NET. He is currently working with a global electronic payment service provider in Columbus, Georgia. He has been working in the IT industry since 2000 and holds certifications for MCP, MCAD, MCSD, MCDBA, and MCTS for SQL 2005. Ken is highly active in the online community and often participates in the SQL forums on MSDN and SQLServerCentral. He enjoys sharing tips that he discovers by writing articles for SQLServerCentral and MSSQLTips.com. He has also formed an SQL Server Users Group in Columbus, Georgia, for SQL Server professionals to come together to share knowledge and resources. When he is not working, Ken enjoys traveling with his wife, Susan, and son, Nathan, and can often be found on a cruise ship, at a Disney resort, or at the beach in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida.

• Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008.- New Feature Overview.- Pre-Installation Considerations.- Choosing a High-Availability Solution.- Getting Started.- Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2008.- Upgrading to Microsoft SQL Server 2008.- Post-Installation.- Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2008.- Multi-Server Administration.- Managing Security Within the Database Engine.- Administering Database Objects.- Indexing for Performance.- Managing Backups.- Restore and Recovery Strategies.- Automating Routine Maintenance.- Troubleshooting and Tuning.- Monitoring Your Server.- Auditing SQL Server.- Managing Query Performance.- Conclusion.- Secrets to Excelling As a Professional DBA.- What’s Next?.