SQL Server 2019 Revealed: Including Big Data Clusters and Machine Learning

by Bob Ward

Get up to speed on the game-changing developments in SQL Server 2019. No longer your grandparent's database engine, SQL Server 2019 is cutting edge with support for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), big data performance and analysis, Java, and connections to Azure IOT Edge. This is not a book on traditional database administration and SQL. It focuses on all that is new and cutting edge in one of the best database systems available. This is a book for SQL Server professionals who already know how to create tables and want to up their game by building their skills in some of the hottest new areas in technology.
SQL Server 2019 Revealed begins with a look at Big Data Clusters--a marquee feature of 2019--and their use in creating a unified data hub with connections to disparate data sources such as Oracle, MongoDB, and Hadoop. You will learn to build end-to-end data virtualization solutions involving Spark, SQL, and HDFS.
Also covered in the book is the use of SQL and Spark to build a machine learning platform for artificial intelligence applications. The book also dives into the details of new capabilities in performance, security, and availability such as Intelligent Query Processing, Secure Enclaves, and enhancements for Always On Availability Groups.
The book explores enhancements for SQL Server on Linux, containers, and goes into detail covering deployment and management of SQL Server on Kubernetes clusters. You will learn about a range of new enhancements across the database engine for SQL Server 2019, including how to leverage SQL Server in IOT Edge scenarios.

What You Will Learn
Implement Big Data Clusters with SQL, Spark, and HDFS


Create a Unified Data Hub with connections to MongoDB, Hadoop, Oracle, and other sources


Combine SQL and Spark to build a machine learning platform for AI applications


Increase security through Enclaves, Static Data Masking, and Data Classification


Improve your ability to deploy on Linux using containers and Kubernetes


Take advantage of SQL Graph, Java, and other new developer features


Reap performance gains from persistent memory, query profiling, and Intelligent Query Processing

Who This Book Is For
IT professionals and developers who understand the fundamentals of SQL Server and wish to focus on learning about the new, cutting-edge features in SQL Server 2019. The book is for those who want to learn about SQL Server 2019's new Big Data Clusters and AI feature set, support for IOT Edge and Java, and increased capabilities around performance, security, and high availability.

480 pages, Paperback

Published April 16, 2020

About the author

A former editor-in-chief of The Huntsville Times, Bob Ward covered the von Braun rocket team as a reporter.

Reviews

[John Pyrce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive look at changes introduced in SQL Server 2019. The author has a thorough knowledge of SQL Server and provides copious links to online material with background for what he discusses. (He also name drops quite a bit, which provides an interesting insight into the number of engineers involved in Microsoft SQL Server, but otherwise lends little to the discussions. I suppose it is interesting to see how many people have contributed.)

This is truly just what has changed for this version of SQL Server, however: if you want to understand Microsoft SQL Server as a complete product, don't start here. So, it depends on your goals. The author does provide many links to online material if you want to try to understand some of the context, but this isn't the best book if gaining a general understanding is your goal.

[Mikhail Filatov · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is like release notes peppered with some stories from the author about his meetings with SQL Server team members.
What is more, most of the book (and SQL Server 2019) is about Kubernetes and containers. But SQL Azure is mentioned only several times, do it’s confusing.