SSIS warning message about SSAS Cube processing: "Operation completed with XXX problems logged"

If you process SSAS cubes via SSIS packages you might notice a weird message like "Full Processing:Warning: Server: Operation completed with XXX problems logged."

How you can get that message (if you have that problem):

1. You can do a report, from your package's execution and get something like this:

2. You can run a T-SQL script against your SSIS server:

SELECT TOP 100 message_time, message
FROM [SSISDB].[internal].[operation_messages]
WHERE message_type = 110 AND message_source_type = 40
   AND message LIKE '%Warning: Server: Operation completed with%problems logged.'
ORDER BY message_time DESC;

If you have that problem you might have something like this:

The Problem.

1. SSIS Server does not provide you any details on that warning nor any associated problem.

2. SSAS Server also does not report any problems associated with that Cube processing.

Solution.

You can use "Extended Events" to capture these problems:

1. For that, you have to create an Extended Event Session using following script on your SSAS Server

<Create xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine">
  <ObjectDefinition>
    <Trace>
      <ID>SSAS_CubeProcessing_Stream</ID>
      <Name>SSAS_CubeProcessing_Stream</Name>
      <XEvent xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2011/engine/300/300">
        <event_session name="SSAS_CubeProcessing_Stream" dispatchLatency="0" maxEventSize="0" maxMemory="4096" memoryPartition="none" eventRetentionMode="AllowSingleEventLoss" trackCausality="true" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine">
          <event package="AS" name="ProgressReportError" />
          <target package="package0" name="event_stream" />
        </event_session>
      </XEvent>
    </Trace>
  </ObjectDefinition>
</Create>

2. Then you run "Watch Live Data" for that session

3. Run your SSIS Cube processing package and monitor the events.

As the result you'll get something like this:

A Problem description you can find in an Event's details under "TextData" name:

At the end, do not forget to delete your Extended Events monitoring Session.

PASS Summit 2019. Tips for the first-timers.

It is just one month before PASS Summit 2019.

This year I volunteered to help with "Buddy Program" for first timers. To help myself to help the first timers I've started making notes on the most important points of the event to share them with new attendees and newbies in #SQLFamily.
If you already been at PASS Summit, please read carefully and make a comment on what I've missed. If you already have links to sponsored learning events or parties, please let me know and I'll also post it here.
Thanks.

PASS Summit 2019 TIPS:

PASS Summit registration

• Register as early as possible, it can dramatically reduce your cost. If you do it early enough, there can be extra savings for returning attendees;
• Register for Pre-Con sessions if your budget allows. That is only $500 for the whole day session, but you are already paying for flight tickets and adjusting to the timing zone. So, it is not big money to learn from the World’s Best professionals. Also, do it as early as possible, some pre-con sessions were sold-out 2-3 months before the event.
• Wisely choose food options.

Before you go

• Visit “Activities” section: https://www.pass.org/summit/2019/Attend/Activities.aspx
• Register for sponsored breakfasts – Eat breakfast, get some exclusive vendors’ information and possible obtain cool swags;
• Register for different “Luncheons” – Eat, socialize, gain some knowledge;
• Review PASS Summit schedule for sessions you’d like to attend. Read descriptions. Make an attendance plan;
• Talk to your co-workers, ask them what they would like to know from those PASS Summit sessions, it might help you to decide which session to attend;
• Also, collect any SQL Server related question from the team, write them down. You might have those questions answered or addressed by Microsoft’s CAT team at the event;
• Load “PASS Events” application on your phone. Mark sessions you want to attend, it will remind you where you are supposed to go;
• SQL community lives in Twitter. Download the app on your phone and start follow SQL gurus. Look for hash tags #SQLFamily #PASSsummit #sqlpass #SQLServer #SQLSaturday. Follow @sqlpass.
• Review list of sponsors (https://www.pass.org/summit/2019/Sponsors/SponsorsExhibitors.aspx) Look for their twitter tags and also follow them. Some sponsors do cool parties during the event, give prizes and sometimes even give away free tickets to PASS Summit!!!
• Book your flight and hotel. The best time to arrive is Sunday before the event, flights are cheaper then and you do not spend your work time for travel, you can attend Pre-Cons on Monday –Tuesday or attend other SQL related activities or just get familiar with Seattle and visit local attractions;
• Before PASS Summit, you might decide to go to SQL Saturday in Portland, OR. Another free event in the area if you are flying from another side of the country or the Globe. You can adjust your timing there and take a #SQLTrain to Seattle on Sunday. #SQLTrain – are 2 carts of SQL professionals from around the world stack together for 4-5 hours eating famous Portland’s donuts and drinking beer and wine:  https://www.sqlsaturday.com/920/eventhome.aspx;

Flight & Hotel

• Arriving Sunday is the best. Returning flight is late Friday night or Saturday Morning, unless you want to stay longer, but from my experience better to come earlier. That time winter comes to Seattle and one week earlier is one week wormer;
• Book hotel in 10-15-20 minutes walking distance from the convention center. It gives a flexibility to attend multiple early and late events not be tired and have just enough of sleep;

Coming to Seattle, WA

• If you decided to go to SQL Saturday in Portland and get a #SQLTrain from there it will be easy for you to arrange with new friends an Uber to your hotel. You also can just walk to your hotel, the train station is almost in Seattle’s downtown area.
• If you fly in Tacoma airport, the cheapest and very easy option would be to get a “Link Light rail” to the downtown area. It costs jus around $3-$4. Travel time might be the same as with Uber, but much cheaper. The same way you can get back, but be aware that on Sunday Light rail start operating only at about 6 A.M. 

Monday before the PASS Summit

• If you missed Pre-Con session look for Free-Con or SQL-in-the-City sponsored events on Monday-Tuesday before the PASS Summit. Do not miss it, it is free, you’ll learn a lot, meet new people and get cool swags;
• If you are here for pleasure, look for the “Seattle’s Attractions” section of that list;
• The PASS Summit Networking Dinner will be on Monday Nov. 4th, meeting at Tap House Grill (1506 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA) (5:30 pm - 8:30 pm). – Must go!

Tuesday before the PASS Summit

• If you missed Pre-Con session and there is on Free-Con around you can do #sqlphotowalk (another thing to look in twitter). People who likes photography starts from convention center fountain area usually at 9 A.M. You can join them even if you do not have a camera, you’ll see Seattle’s deepest hidden secrets. However, this year, unfortunately for first timers it is scheduled for later time 4:45 pm - 6:00 pm. But check the twitter, there might be people who’ll walk at the morning;
• Also, look for the “Seattle’s Attractions” section;
• If you want to meet grass roots of SQL Community attend special sessions for SQL Saturday organizers, Local group leaders and virtual group leaders. Meet there your local SQL leader, join and support them, become a local leader yourself;
• Register for the PASS Summit at the reception. You can do it as early as Sunday, but do not wait until Wednesday, when there will be long lines!!!
• Attend “First-Timer Event” (4:45 PM - 6:00 PM) – Must go!
• Welcome Reception (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM) – Must go!

Wednesday – First day of PASS Summit ("Community Appreciation Day")

• "Community Appreciation Day" - wear your t-shirt, polo or a Hat with SQL Saturday logo;
• Breakfast with a Sponsor;
• Community zone – you can always hookup there with some cool people from #SQLFamily and meet some world famous speakers. Every time you pass by, stop there and say “Hi”;
• Summit Keynote session;
• Sponsors’ exhibitions – Learn new products, meet new people get cool swags. Some sponsors might distribute free tickets to different sponsored events and presentations. Do not miss it;
• PASS Summit sessions;
• Luncheon session;
• If you have not submit for a luncheon, grab few friends or speakers and go to a nearest restaurant;
• Do not miss “Speaker Idol” session. You might want to do it next year too!
• Microsoft CAT team – attend that section of the Summit, they are supposed to know everything about SQL Server and Azure;
• Exhibitor Reception (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM) – Must go!

Thursday – the Second day of PASS Summit ("Kilt Day")

• "Kilt Day" - if you brave enough, wear a kilt or a silly costume;
• Same as the previous day: Sponsor’s Breakfast, Keynote, sponsors’ boots, sessions, “Speaker Idol”, Etc.
• If you did not get a free ticket to a sponsor’s event you can grab new friends and explore local restaurants. Do not neglect the opportunity to extend your network. You’ll see these people’s tweets and read their blogs since the event. You also might become a friends or/and do a business together.

Friday – the Last day of PASS Summit

• Tips are the same as for previous days;
• Attend the final round of “Speaker Idol” – that is where all cool people are!
• Attend reception and order discounted USB drive with all session recordings for your co-workers and for you to watch missed sessions;
• Possibly purchase PASS swags to have greatest memory from the Summit;
• Get an agreement from speakers you met, to speak remotely for your local SQL user group about most interesting topic you like;
• Get the last chance to have a dinner with other attendees or maybe go to any Seattle’s Attractions;
• Say final “good bye” to new friends and contacts, exchange emails and twitter accounts;

After the Event

• Review you PASS Summit notes and implement the best ideas at your workplace ASAP, before you forgot how cool they are!
• Share your knowledge to your co-workers and local user groups;
• Attend local SQL user group meetings and nearest SQL Saturday event. If do not have one – organize it!
• Continue to follow your friends, speakers and #SQLFamily in twitter;
• Register to the Next year’s PASS Summit in Huston, TX as soon as registration will be available to get the lowest price;

Seattle’s Attractions

• Seattle’s Monorail – will get you right to a “Space Needle”, museum of Pop Culture and “Chihuly Garden and Glass”;
• On the Bay side you can walk by peers, visit famous “Pike Market” and walk up to “Olympic Sculpture Park”;
• Couple of historical tours: “Klondike Gold Rush National Park” and “Seattle Underground”;
• For “Office Space” folks: you can visit offices of Starbucks, Amazon and Microsoft;
• Easy getaway: Very inexpensive ferry  to another side of the bay or take a sunset cruise;
• Also, you can visit real nearby attractions and get tours to “Boing Factory”, “Olympic national park”, “Mt. Rainier” or “St. Helens Volcano”;

General tips (just repeating):

• Learn SQL. Have a notepad or tablet to make quick notes at sessions; Having little notebook would allow you to immediately try newly announced features or show a live problem to the Microsoft CAT team;
• Make more friends;
• Get engaged in SQL community;
• Follow friends, sponsors and organizers in twitter;
• Attend events;
• Have fun;
• Continue to learn SQL!

Photos from the Prior PASS Summit events:

PASS Summit 2016:

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/pass-summit-2016-day-1.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/pass-summit-2016-day-2.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/pass-summit-2016-day-3.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/pass-summit-it-pro-event.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/sql-saturday-organizers-meeting-and_25.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2016/10/pass-summit-2016-networking-dinner_29.html

PASS Summit 2015:

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/pass-summit-2015-wednesday-day-1.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/pass-summit-2015-thursday-day-2.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/pass-summit-2015-friday-day-3-final-day.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/sql-in-city-seattle-2015-by-redgate.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/pass-summit-2015-monday-day-2.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/ssg-free-con-seattle-wa.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/pass-summit-2015-tuesday-day-1.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2015/10/sql-photo-walk-seattle-wa-2015.html

PASS Summit 2014

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2014/11/pass-summit-2014-day-0.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2014/11/pass-summit-2014-day-1.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2014/11/pass-summit-2014-seattle-wa-day-1.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2014/11/pass-summit-2014-day-2.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2014/11/pass-summit-2014-day-3.html

PASS Summit 2013

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2013/10/pass-summit-2013-day-1.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2013/10/pass-summit-2013-day-2.html

https://sqlpictures.blogspot.com/2013/10/pass-summit-2013-day-3.html

SQL Saturday in Pittsburgh, PA. Sessions I want to visit.

I've started the series of SQL Saturday pre-reviews from SQL Saturday in Charlotte, NC last Saturday.
Now I want to continue with overview of SQL Saturday #545 in Pittsburgh, PA, which is sceduled exactly one month from now:

Event date: October 1st, 2016.
Session schedule: http://www.sqlsaturday.com/545/Sessions/Schedule.aspx

Slot #1. 08:45 AM - 09:45 AM

That is probably the hardest slot to make the decision with.
There are two "performance" sessions: Chris Bell's "Would You Just Load Already?! Maximizing Your SSIS Data Load" and Jeff Moden's "The Secret to High Performance Code...The Devil’s in the Data".
There are two "High Availability" sessions: Adam Belebczuk's "Availability Groups 101: An Introduction" and Drew Furgiuele's "SQL Server Transactional Replication: A Deep Dive"
Even though my favorite so far is Jeremy Frye's "Speed Up Your SSAS Cube's Data Refresh With Dynamic Partition Processing" I might make my mind at the last moment or run between the sessions and capture the best of all.

Slot #2. 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

That is the easiest slot for me. The session I'd like to visit in that slot would be Kevin Kline's "Configuration Option and Trace Flag Secrets: Surprising Behavior at the Flick of a Switch".
However, I'll miss that one because I must attend the best one: "What treasures are hidden in the Plan Cache?" which will be delivered by myself. Although, it will be my first time with that session, I hope that will be the turning point for all attendees, as it was for me few years ago when I attended similar topic delivered by Christina Leo. That topic should open your eyes on what the Plan Cache is, how it works, why we need it and what extra benefits we can get from it.

Slot #3. 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Despite of all other good sessions I want to visit Jonathan Stewart's "An introduction to the magical world of BIML!". I already know what it is and even tried it once, but I want to nail it down by asking questions and start using BIML from this point on daily basis.

Slot #4. 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM

In My previous post I've said that I will visit Rick Heiges' session "Winning with Columnstore - A Customer Story" in Pittsburgh, but I might review that decision and visit it in Charlotte. In Pittsburgh Rick will compete with Thomas Grohser's "Designing SQL Server HA/DR Infrastructure to meet the SLA", which I'm not going to miss that day.

Slot #5. 02:40 PM - 03:40 PM

That slot looks more relaxing. Different interests covered and I'll visit Robert Davis's "Exploiting SQL Server Security Holes".

Slot #6. 03:50 PM - 04:50 PM

The last slot and the less confusing one: Steve Hood's session "Buffer Pool Memory Management" is the winner in that slot for me.

So, if you are not registered yet for SQL Saturday in Pittsburgh, do it ASAP and dig into the schedule to find the topic you want.

SQL Saturday in Charlotte, NC. Sessions I want to visit.

Usually, I do my blog posts after visiting SQL Saturday events, but I want to change that tradition and talk about them before the actual event.

In this post I want to talk about sessions I have personal interest in and I understand that it might drive people from other sessions. However, it will definitely drive some audience in and I hope those people will thank me for an additional information/suggestions/guidance.

So, will start:
SQL Saturday #560, Charlotte, NC

Event date: September 17th, 2016.
Session schedule: http://www.sqlsaturday.com/560/Sessions/Schedule.aspx

Slot #1. 9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.

In that slot there is ONLY ONE session I'm going to visit. That is my own session "Inside of Indexes". I'll be talking about:
- What indexes are;
- How SQL Server is using different types of indexes to retrieve data in the best possible way;
- What are Page Split and how they impact performance;
and some more.
I hope my session will be very interesting, but I'm afraid that half of the people, interested in indexing, will split between my session and Jeffrey Garbus' session "Indexing for performance".

If I didn't have my session in the very first slot I'd definitely go to Aaron Nelson's session "Achieve More in Less Time by Using the New SQL PowerShell".

Slot #2. 10:15 A.M. - 11:15 A.M.

In the second slot, the winner, without a doubt is Adam Machanic's "SQL Server 2016 "Hidden Gems". The room has to be big enough to accommodate all attendees. If you desperately want to visit his session, I'd suggest to come to the previous session of Angela Henry's "Lightning Talks" to secure your space.

Even though Adam Machanic will be the shining star in that slot I won't go for his session because I've already attended it on another event.

The second session in the priority is  Rick Heiges' "Winning with Columnstore - A Customer Story". Since Microsoft nailed down Columnstores in SQL Server 2016 and because of Rick's HIP (High Influential Power) - that would be the session to visit.

Despite on all advantages of Rick's presentation I won't go there. The trick is: I want to visit his session two weeks later on SQL Saturday #545 in in Pittsburgh.
So, I'll have a tough  choice between Rushabh Mehta's "Mastering and Enhancing Company Data" and William Assaf's "SQL Server Permissions and Security Principals".

Slot #3. 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

The Best and "Must Go" in the third slot is Geoff Hiten's session "What’s your Imperative doing in my Declarative?". The name is not very descriptive, but that session can do a Inventor's Light bulb  effect on any beginner SQL Developer, who just graduated college with most of the experience in Java and C#. I guarantee, there will be the "AHA! moment" during that session, which will shift a paradigm of your programming experience for life.

So, because I already know all of that I won't go to that session.
The next in the line is Tom Norman's "Encrypting Data within Sql Server". I'm from DC region and "Security" here is always #1 priority.

Slot #4. 1:45 P.M. - 2:45 P.M.

After lunch session. There will be a lot of other performance tuning topics I like, but my choice will be Brian Carrig's session "Managing Very Large Databases with SQL Server".

Slot #5. 3:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Very good session is supposed to be of Kevin Feasel's "APPLY Yourself" about the art of using "Apply" operator.
Wonderful session of Jonathan Buller: "Tips and Tricks for the SSIS Catalog" about new abilities of managing SSIS packages directly from SQL. That  topic is not fully covered in SQL community yet and I'm waiting the time when we will discuss parallel executions of multiple queries using SSIS catalog and SSIS packages addressing their own scheduling manipulating SSISDB.

Because it will be the last slot of sessions and everybody, including me, will fill pretty tired, I'd probably will go an relax listening to "Replication v. AlwaysOn, the great debate", hosted by Chris Skorlinski and Curt Mathews. They encourage to bring your own questions to that discussion, so, I assume there might be several of very good blog posts delivered only based on that conversation.

See you in Charlotte!
And not hesitate to show your smile when I'll make your picture.

SQL Saturday in Baltimore. Pre-Con survey results.

Just in case you do not know: I'm one of co organizers of SQL Saturday in Baltimore, which will take a place in Columbia, MD on April 30st.

SQL Saturday is wonderful Free learning event about SQL Server technologies (you only pay for your own lunch).
Our SQL Saturday officially is in BI edition. That means there will be not only about SQL Server, but also about SSIS, SSAS, SSRS, Hadoop, BigData, PowerBI, Data Warehousing and etc.

If you live in Baltimore-DC Metro Area, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, Eastern part of West Virginia, Delaware and as part of your job you are touching SQL Server - there is no excuse for you not to visit Columbia, MD on April 30st.
If you can't be there whole day it is OK, you can come only for the session you want to attend.
Unfortunately in this case you'll miss all great sponsors' prizes at the end of the event.

If you are interested in which sessions and speakers will be present at the event you can take a look here: http://www.sqlsaturday.com/506/Sessions/SubmittedSessions.aspx

If you haven't registered yet here is the link: https://www.sqlsaturday.com/506/registernow.aspx
Do not be late to get to the waiting list and possibly miss the event.

As part of our SQL Saturday we will also do couple of Full Day paid Pre-Con sessions, which will be scheduled for day before: Friday, April 29th in the same Loyola University building in Columbia, MD.


Final decision on who will be speaking at Pre-Con is not made yet, but here I will publish the results of our survey we did on whom people want to speak and what topics do they want to see in Baltimore:

In the nomination of topic the winners are:
1. T-SQL
2. Performance/Internals
3. ETL/SSIS
That choice of topics will drive the decision on who will be the speakers.



Speaker nomination is much more difficult.
At first list was so big that I couldn't grab the whole diagram at once.
That probably also plaid a bad role in people's decision. 10 people couldn't determine whom they would like to see.


















































































Some people added new names in the list of suggestions, some of which I immediately added to the questionnaire.
Ben Galluzzo and Rob Volk weren't in the list from the very beginning, that would explain their not perfect results.
I also had as suggestions names of Brent Ozar and Grant Fritchey.
Guys, they were my first choices and I had conversations with them way before I've made the survey.
However, their busy life can't accommodate extra traveling to Baltimore.
Maybe next year?

Had a request to get ANYBODY fro SQLSkills. The person who suggested it also read my mind. I've asked them, but they are too busy and ravel only for their own events and to PASS Summit.

Also have suggested: Kevin Boles, Jason Brimhall, Wayne Sheffield, Devin Knight, Marco Russo, Alberto Ferrari, Chris Webb, Kasper De Jonge. Unfortunately it was too late to include all of them to the list and then the list would be tooooooo big.
Another my concern is that those names are not very famous in our area. Besides of Wayne Sheffield none of those SQL speakers recently presented in Baltimore.
I'd suggest to bring those guys to SQL Saturday first, and then the next time people will be more knowledgeable and will vote for the best.

Back to the diagram:
I've already contacted the winners: Itzik Ben-Gan and Adam Machanic, unfortunately they also can't come. As a satisfaction Itzik helped as to get book sponsorship from his publisher and we will have his books as a prize at our event.

From all others we have to choose two speakers:
1. Best for SQL, Internals, and troubleshooting;
2. Best for ETL and SSIS

It is already too late to vote or make suggestions.
I've sent invitations and hope these people will accept them.

As soon we will have Pre-Con speakers I will officially announce them.

If you want to be informed immediately, please register for the SQL Saturday event then you'll get an email as soon as Pre-Con registration will be available.