Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Introduction to Policy-Based Management in SQL Server 2008

New to SQL Server 2008 is Policy-Based Management. This new technology allows for defining polices to ensure your database guidelines are met. In this article, SQL Server consultant Tim Chapman gives an overview of this new technology.

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Policy-Based Management in SQL Server 2008 allows the database administrator to define policies that tie to database instances and objects. These policies allow the Database Administrator (DBA) to specify rules for which objects and their properties are created, or modified. An example of this would be to create a database-level policy that disallows the AutoShrink property to be enabled for a database. Another example would be a policy that ensures the name of all table triggers created on a database table begins with tr_.



As with any new SQL Server technology (or Microsoft technology in general), there is a new object naming nomenclature associated with Policy-Based Management. Below is a listing of some of the new base objects.

PolicyA Policy is a set of conditions specified on the facets of a target. In other words, a Policy is basically a set of rules specified for properties of database or server objects.

TargetA Target is an object that is managed by Policy-Based Management. Includes objects such as the database instance, a database, table, stored procedure, trigger, or index.

FacetA Facet is a property of an object (target) that can be involved in Policy Based Management. An example of a Facet is the name of a Trigger or the AutoShrink property of a database.