Saturday, March 8, 2025
Interview with Mphasis
### **SQL Server Database Administration – Advanced Interview Questions**
#### **1. How do you plan a migration for a critical enterprise database with a strict 4-hour outage window?**
**Answer:**
Migrating a critical database within a limited downtime window requires **careful planning and execution**. The following steps ensure a smooth transition:
1. **Define the Migration Strategy:**
- Engage with **business stakeholders** to finalize the migration approach.
- Prepare a **detailed migration plan** with target deadlines and responsibilities for each team.
- Obtain approval from **business teams, support groups, and key stakeholders**.
2. **Minimizing Downtime:**
- Consider efficient migration techniques such as:
- **Log Shipping:** Pre-configure log shipping to sync data before cutover.
- **Disk Snapshot Migration:** Detach and attach disks for faster recovery.
- **Pre-stage Data Restoration:** Perform **FULL, DIFF, and TLOG restores** before the outage window.
3. **Performance Baseline & Validation:**
- Capture **performance statistics** from the source system and compare them with the new environment post-migration.
4. **Post-Migration Best Practices:**
- Upgrade **database compatibility** to leverage the latest SQL Server features.
- Run **DBCC CHECKDB** to verify database integrity.
- Perform **index rebuilds and update statistics** for optimized performance.
- Resolve **orphaned users** to ensure seamless authentication.
---
#### **2. What common issues have you encountered after database migration?**
**Answer:** Post-migration challenges can arise due to compatibility changes, performance shifts, and security constraints. Some common issues include:
- **Compatibility Issues:**
- Legacy applications may require **Legacy Cardinality Estimation** to maintain query performance.
- Orphaned users may need re-mapping.
- **Performance Issues:**
- Execution plans may change, requiring query tuning and statistics updates.
- **SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS):**
- **Encryption key conflicts** after migration.
- **SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS):**
- SSIS Catalog migration challenges may arise, requiring package validation.
---
#### **3. How do you configure MAXDOP and Cost Threshold for Parallelism?**
**Answer:**
- **MAXDOP (Maximum Degree of Parallelism):** Determines the maximum number of CPU cores SQL Server can use for query execution. It is typically set based on **CPU architecture** and **workload patterns**.
- **Cost Threshold for Parallelism:** Defines the **query cost threshold** above which SQL Server will use parallelism. A default of **5** is often too low and needs to be adjusted based on workload analysis.
---
#### **4. How does MAXDOP impact performance, and how do you determine the right value?**
**Answer:**
- Setting **MAXDOP too high** can lead to excessive **context switching and CPU contention**.
- Setting **MAXDOP too low** may limit parallel query execution, increasing query runtime.
- The ideal **MAXDOP value** is determined based on **server core count, NUMA configuration, and workload type** (OLTP vs. OLAP).
---
#### **5. What are some common wait types you have encountered?**
**Answer:**
- **PAGEIOLATCH_SH / PAGEIOLATCH_EX:** Indicates slow disk I/O performance.
- **CXPACKET:** Can signal **parallelism issues**, requiring MAXDOP tuning.
- **LCK_M_S / LCK_M_X:** Lock contention issues due to blocking queries.
- **ASYNC_NETWORK_IO:** Often due to slow application-side processing.
---
#### **6. How do you troubleshoot a query that runs 20x slower on a higher SQL Server version after migration?**
**Answer:**
- Compare **execution plans** between old and new servers.
- Update **statistics and indexes** to optimize performance.
- Verify **query compatibility mode** to ensure it aligns with the new SQL version.
- Enable **Legacy Cardinality Estimation** if necessary.
- Check for **wait types** affecting the query execution.
---
#### **7. Have you worked on SQL Server installations on Linux?**
**Answer:**
Yes, SQL Server is supported on Linux, and installation is done using package managers like **YUM, APT, or Zypper**. Tasks include configuring **mssql-server service, firewall rules, and storage optimizations**.
---
#### **8. What is your expertise in PowerShell for SQL Server administration?**
**Answer:**
- Automating **SQL Server installations** and configurations.
- Managing **backups, restores, and database health checks**.
- Automating **SQL Agent job monitoring and alerting**.
- Using **dbatools PowerShell module** for efficient SQL Server administration.
---
#### **9. How do you efficiently install SQL Server when handling bulk installation requests?**
**Answer:**
- Use **PowerShell automation scripts** to streamline installations.
- Pre-define **configuration.ini files** for unattended installations.
- Deploy using **group policies or Ansible automation** for large environments.
- Automate post-installation steps, such as **sp_configure settings, tempdb optimization, and security configurations**.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis Self-Care
Self-care, or self-management, means taking a proactive role in treatment and maintaining a good quality of life. Here are some ways you can manage RA symptoms (along with recommended medication) and promote overall health.
Anti-inflammatory Diet and Healthy Eating
While there is no specific “diet” for RA, researchers have identified certain foods that are rich in antioxidants and can help control and reduce inflammation. Many of them are part of the so-called Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fish, vegetables, fruits and olive oil, among other healthy foods. It’s also important to eliminate or significantly reduce processed and fast foods that fuel inflammation.
Balancing Activity with Rest
Rest is important when RA is active and joints feel painful, swollen or stiff. Rest helps reduce inflammation and fatigue that can come with a flare. Taking breaks throughout the day conserves energy and protects joints.
Physical Activity
For people with RA, exercise is so beneficial it’s considered a main part of RA treatment. The exercise program should emphasize low-impact aerobics, muscle strengthening and flexibility. The program should be tailored to fitness level and capabilities, and take into account any joint damage that exists. A physical therapist can help to design an exercise program.
Heat and Cold Therapies
Heat treatments, such as heat pads or warm baths, tend to work best for soothing stiff joints and tired muscles. Cold is best for acute pain. It can numb painful areas and reduce inflammation.
Topical Treatments
These treatments are applied directly to the skin over the painful muscle or joint. They may be creams or patches. Depending on the type used, it may contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), salicylates or capsaicin, which help reduce pain.
Natural and Alternative Therapies
Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, guided imagery and visualization can help train painful muscles to relax. Research shows massage can help reduce arthritis pain, improve joint function and ease stress and anxiety. Acupuncture may also be helpful. This involves inserting fine needles into the body along special points called “meridians” to relieve pain. Those who fear needles might consider acupressure, which involves applying pressure, instead of needles, at those points.
Supplements
Studies have shown that turmeric and omega-3 fish oil supplements may help with rheumatoid arthritis pain and morning stiffness. However, talk with a doctor before taking any supplement to discuss side effects and potential interactions.
Positive Attitude and Support System
Many studies have demonstrated that resilience, an ability to “bounce back,“ encourages a positive outlook. Having a network of friends, family members and co-workers can help provide emotional support. It can help a patient with RA cope with life changes and pain.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Child Care n Women Development
http://www.spirulinafoundation.com
India has an alarmingly high level of malnutrition. According to UN report 2 out of every 3 malnourished kids on the earth is an Indian and nearly 50% of Indian kids below 5 years is malnourished. We, at Spirulina foundation, firmly believe that the answer to malnutrition is Spirulina.
Hence, linking the Problem (Malnutrition) and solution (Spirulina) is the key role of this NGO which is trying to Eradicate Malnutrition from this country from the grass root levels, by using highly cost effective, efficient and time proven Spirulina. Spirulina is globally accepted and used as a key tool against malnutrition by UN and WHO.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
5 investment secrets from Warren Buffett you can`t miss
5 investment secrets from Warren Buffett you can`t miss
Buffett is arguably the most successful value investor of all time. Investing principles that he has taught us are powerful if applied to one’s portfolio.
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Amit Kukreja
Born in a small town called Omaha in 1930, Warrant Buffett was fascinated by business from a very young age. He did many pocket-money earning chores such as selling gums, soda, and magazines door to door. He filed his first income-tax return when he was only 14. Not only that, he availed a $35 tax deduction for the use of his bicycle and his watch for his paper delivery ‘business’! Obviously he had astute business instincts. He visited New York stock exchange when he was 11. He invested in stocks that did well. He bought a small farm that he rented to a tenant farmer. And these initiatives grew to almost $100,000 by the time he finished college.
Warren Buffett’s rise was relatively smooth and steady. Not all his bets worked out though. However his investments did not follow the ups and downs of the traditional investment world. By 1962, he had become a millionaire. By 1979, his net worth had crossed $600 million and was a name in Forbes 400 list. And by 1990, he had become a billionaire. He became the world’s richest man in 2008 and has been in the top-10 list of wealthiest people on earth for over a decade. As of March 2015, he is the third richest on the planet with his wealth at $72.7 billion.
Buffett is arguably the most successful value investor of all time. He still holds stocks he bought 30-40 years ago. His principles of value investing have stood the test of times. Whether you are an employee or a business owner? A career beginner or a person close to your retirement phase? A working male or a female? Investing principles that he has taught us are powerful if applied to one’s portfolio, irrespective of the economy you are in. Let’s recap a set of these principles:
Understand your circumstances
You must understand yourself and your circumstances before you invest. In other words your age, investment horizon, investment risks being taken, income & savings, liabilities, economy etc. should all be carefully analyzed before you start investing. These factors require detailed attention before you make your investment strategy. Your investment portfolio will invariably comprise equity, fixed income and cash (or money market) assets. Determining the right combination of all three that suits your circumstances is the key to creating wealth. The market volatility should not be the main criteria to rejig your portfolio.
Compounding is the 8th wonder of the world
Most of us think that small differences in returns are a part of daily life and thus can be ignored. The fact is that these small differences in returns, when compounded over decades, can make a huge difference to your portfolio value. Warren Buffett’s CAGR at Berkshire Hathaway has been about 19.4% for the period 1965 to 2014. In other words if you had invested $100 with Warren Buffett in 1965, today you would have nearly $593,215 after 49 years. If you were not as lucky as Warren and had a CAGR of 17% in your portfolio, you would have nearly $219,335. Owing to the compounding growth, the difference in the annualized return of 2.4% (i.e. 19.4% less 17%) creates a difference in the portfolio value of over $373,000. The difference is massive!
Day trading is an absolute No!
Buffett has reiterated that “Wall street makes its money on activity. You make your money on inactivity.” Active trading leads to brokerage and taxes that erode your returns. An intelligent investor makes good bets and does not trade in and out of them. One must also understand that the trading mindset leads to reactive transactions based on market news and market sentiment. Lot of unsolicited information through TV channels, websites and radio may harm your portfolio. Invest in good businesses and sit tight. It is the time in the market that will grow your wealth once you have done the homework before investing.
Mind your temperament:
You should know your investing strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes before you invest. Do you analyze the products that you are investing in before you actually invest? Or do you invest following some trends? Or are you investing to follow the crowd? Investors can, by their own behavior, make asset ownership highly risky. And many do. Attempts to 'time' the market movements, over or inadequate diversification, and the use of borrowed money can destroy the returns of your portfolio. It goes against wisdom to buy when everyone is selling and to sell everyone is buying. However if you are a value investor, you would look for opportunities in stocks and equity mutual funds. It’s the discipline and investment philosophy that makes all the difference in your portfolio.
Understand what you know Vs what you don’t:
You should be able to distinguish between what you know vs. what you don’t know. There might be tons of opportunities out there however if you can’t understand any of them or obtain a professional unbiased advice on them, you must avoid investing in them at all costs. Warren Buffett sat on tens of billions of dollars of idle cash during the technology boom of the late 1990 but did not play, because he admitted that he did not understand technology, even though Bill Gates was one of his friends.
Amit is a member of The Financial Planners’ Guild , India (FPGI). FPGI is an association of Practicing Certified Financial Planners to create awareness about Financial Planning among the public, promote professional excellence and ensure high quality practice standards
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Career Guidance
learned.in
3 Reasons You're Not Getting Promoted
http://www.msn.com/en-in/money/careersandeducation/3-reasons-youre-not-getting-promoted/ar-AAcvCR7?ocid=iehp#page=3
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