Steps to Allow Access

1. Open the SQL Server Configuration Management application, 1) start SQL Services and set to start automatically, 2) start SQL Browser and set to start automatically; these are not started or set to start automatically when a new AMI instance is launched
2. While in the SQL Server Configuration Management application, go to the node, Network Protocols and find the Dynamic TCP port under the IP ALL section. Make note of the port to be used later.
3. Open the same following ports in the Windows Firewall:
   1. TCP <dynamicport> (from step #2)
   2. UDP <1434> (for the SQL Browser Service)
4. In the EC2 AWS Security Group of the server add the following ports:
   1. TCP <dynamicport> (from step #2)
   2. UDP <1434> (for the SQL Browser Service)
5. Turn off EC2 server hostname naming from the EC2 Administration Services application, rename the server according to your own server naming standards in the Computer | Properties panel, restart the box

Accessing the Server through SSMS

It’s important to note that there are four different ways to access the EC2 AWS SQL Server box from your local machine. To connect to a SQL Server Instance it’s necessary to use the name of the server and the port. If a default instance is setup, then the port, by default is TCP 1433, but this is not the case with EC2 AWS AMI servers.

The standard method to attach to the database server from an application or SSMS is “[<servername>][<ip>][\<instance>][,<port>]”

1. In order to use <servername>, you need to have some form of DNS setup, which is done automatically for an EC2, or you have done through Elastic IPs and your own DNS server (like GoDaddy). If you don’t have DNS, use the <ip> or <elasticip>
2. To access the <instance>, the SQL Browser Service must be started and the UDP 1434 port open in AWS Security Group and the Windows Firewall.

Examples

“aws.dns.server.name” comes from the properties of the EC2 instance properties. “ec2sqlexpress” is an example name of the SQL Server Instance. Using the IP must be the IP as provided through a VPC or the Elastic IP (not part of this tutorial). The port is represented as an example 411xx is not a real number, it must be what you find in the SQL Server Configuration Application.

• Example 1 using DNS and SQL Browser Service: “aws.dns.server.name\ec2sqlexpress”
• Example 2 using DNS and port: “aws.dns.server.name,411xx”
• Example 3 using IP (VPC) or Elastic IP and SQL Browser Service: “50.234.x.x\ec2sqlexpress”
• Example 4 using IP (VPC) or Elastic IP and port: “50.234.x.x,411xx”

Other Considerations

There have been some statements that SQL Server can’t run on a micro. Well, that can be true for the big SQL editions like Standard or Enterprise, and my considerations would be 2048 (my recommendation) to start.

As for another topic, I’m always pinning my CPU’s and my RAM at certain values.

For another topic, I’m always pinning my CPU’s and my RAM at certain values, because all too many times do I find problems with keeping the default installation settings. This is to say that the default installation uses all CPUs and all RAM. I will put turn on CPU affinity and take out 10% of the CPUs, if you have 10 cores, I remove 1 or 2 for the OS and Networking services and other support activities to run. The same goes for RAM.

Regarding the name change, people are always up in arms about change and there are two sides of the coin on this; some like the corporate names and some would rather have them stay the name originally given to it. Some like the corporate names because the venue has better exposer, recongnition, and support; however, it can lead the venu to appear to be a big franchise amidst the community and looking more corporate. Taking on a private, neighborhood name makes the venue blend into the neighborhood with a style and ”close to home” ownership of a personal, private, and community owned event center.

Which is better? Promoting and advertising a corporate business entity receiving corporate backing, name, and brand recognition. Or promoting a community, neighborhood, and family event center, with a risk of greater attention.

This also means that I have a new title, as “The Head Photographer of The Maverik Center”.

Why wouldn’t someone read the manual on how to care for a car to know how it works? Because everyone wants to have the satisfaction that they got in the car, ran it, and never had to look at the manual! Yet, you didn’t know you had to do maintenance, where that maintenance should take place and at what intervals. Well, this is where best practices come in. Don’t try and drive your car and let the engine churn without knowing how to best care for it.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb671430.aspx

This is a must see so you get a head on your fast track before time ticks away. Jason Hiner from TechRepublic provides a small clip that reviews these top challenges in this career path.

In recent months, the E Center of West Valley City, Utah has launched a new website using many of our photos in their gallery in addition to the introductory billboard photos cycling on each and every page. Being the Head Photographer of The Maverik Center has been a great pleasure and opportunity to provide my skills to the community and help increase visibility of great concerts and events at the venue.

In the near future, The Maverik Center will be adding new visual capabilities to the seating charts, come back often to see what’s in store. We don’t want to spoil the surprise, but we’re sure it will help provide you with a visually appealing benefit. Hint: how do you know you will like where you’re sitting without actually being in the seats when you purchase the tickets?

See the seating charts here.

It’s to our great pleasure, and that of Mundo Pepe, that we unveil their new company name, logo, design, and theme. We have been commissioned to create the name, logo, colors, scheme, and look of a local startup company in the Salt Lake City area. Pepe Garcia is an entrepreneur seeking to improve his business image, increase his exposure, draw attention to new clients, and improve his pursuits with professional aspects of the business.

Mundo Pepe is a lawn and yard care business for homes and business. Pepe and his employees are striving to make a global impact and impression on the gardening business. Mundo Pepe in English stand for The World of Pepe, in so many words. The concept is that it’s Pepe’s World and he wants to make an impact on beautifying it, and making it a better looking place.

Let Pepe know that you found his information here on our site! If you have any comments or feedback on the logo, we’d love to hear from you.

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Utah Education Consulting

We are excited to announce the launch of the website of our client - Utah Education Consulting. We also designed the new logo for Utah Education Consulting and assisted in tweaking some image elements and provided consulting advice. They are a leading consulting firm providing consulting services to help Utah educational institutions to receive the necessary support, information, and strategies that can help make them be more successful.

Executive Director and Founder: Michael Westover

Visit Utah Education Consulting today.

Opportunity: Creative Design Consultant, Webmaster

Location: West Valley City, UT

Date: March 1, 2009

Assignment: image enhancement, website design + hosting, logo design

EggExpressions.com is a website for the business built by Award Winning artist Caroly Kemp of West Valley City, Utah. Who has for the many years provided hand painted collectible egg shell creations. She visits national conventions for egg enthusiasts and classic design artists and sells to the community there, online, and in her local community.

Her time spent painting eggs has been thoroughly rewarded by the awe-inspring results with which clients, including national dignitaries, have enjoyed and put on display in their homes.

Opportunity: Creative Design Consultant

Location: Headquarters in Kent, WA; WVC, UT office assignment

Date: January 25, 2009

Assignment: Consulting + Marketing Brochures

Labor Ready has a large local presence helping people find jobs. In this day and age, the economy has taken a turn for the more difficult. It’s a blessing to have a company like Labor Ready there to help out the community. 

The brochures and marketing materials will help to increase job opportunities for the community and will strengthen and unite it with it’s kindness, concern, and assistance.