Sunday, September 29, 2024

If your python environment does not have pip installed. What then?

Over a period of time, there was some computer problem which needed complete recovery. Before this event, I had installed PyCharm and had everything working without problem and I had even installed PIL library from within PyCharm. However, after the recovery, I lost some of the files.

Besides, PIL I wanted to install other libraries to work with images. When I tried to open an existing project in PyCharm, I encountered errors.

All Python packages were absent and the program was asking me for a Python interpreter.

What happened to my python?

Before proceeding to other image related libraries, I had to fix this problem.

If your Python environment does not have pip installed you need to install pip first. There are two ways to install pip supported by the pip's maintainers:

ensurepip       -------->run py -3 -m ensurepip

or run get-pip.py------->run get-pip.py using python interpreter

Because of the recovery created problem, I did not have python interpreter according to PyCharm (as shown in the first image above).

I need to install python even before I can install pip.

I tried to find python.dll which I could not as I had lost it during recovery.

Finally, I found it in the Windows.old folder [C:\Windows.old07042024\Users\hoden\AppData\Local ]

I copied the python.exe from the windows.old folder to Windows/system32.

 I tried to run from the command-line with administrative privileges:

-------

C:\Users\hoden\OneDrive\Desktop\PyCharm\PIL>python get-pip.py

Could not find platform independent libraries <prefix>

Collecting pip

  Downloading pip-24.2-py3-none-any.whl.metadata (3.6 kB)

Downloading pip-24.2-py3-none-any.whl (1.8 MB)

   ---------------------------------------- 1.8/1.8 MB 33.0 MB/s eta 0:00:00

Installing collected packages: pip

  WARNING: The scripts pip.exe, pip3.12.exe and pip3.exe are installed in 'C:\Users\hoden\OneDrive\Desktop\PyCharm\PIL\Scripts' which is not on PATH.

  Consider adding this directory to PATH or, if you prefer to suppress this warning, use --no-warn-script-location.

Successfully installed pip-24.2

-----------

I ran into another problem because of the 'Onedrive'. Permit me to call it 'oneDrive" interference.

Finally, I copied the python folder into Windows\System32 of local computer and restarted the computer(laptop). The problem was resolved as seen in PyCharm.

Finally, both the Python Console and the Python packages are all back in PyCharm.

More here:




 

Monday, September 23, 2024

How do you test reliability of I/O for installing a SQL Server?

SQLIOSIM is a tool for simulating SQL Server IO. SQLIOSIM performs reliability and integrity tests on the disk systems that SQL Server utilizes for data and log files. 

It simulates,

Read

Write

Checkpoint

Backup

Sort and 

Read-ahead activities of MS SQL Server.

Main objective of SQLIOSIM is to test the reliability of the underlying I/O subsystem even before installing SQL Server. This proactive tool helps preparing well for the installation. SQL Server installation is not needed for using it as it does not interact with the SQL Server. If an installation exists, using it may overwrite the files. It is not a tool for data security. It is an upgrade over the previous SQ7IOStress utility.

It is located in the Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/MSSql16.<Named Instance>MSSQL/BINN folder of your installation.

In the installation described here, there are two SQLIOSIM related files in the BINN folder.

SQLIOSIM Application (SqLIOSIM.exe)----GUI

SQLIOSIM DOS file (SQLIOSIM.com)--DOS 

For using SQLIOSIM.com you need to configure the SQLIOSIM configuration file.


What if you cannot locate the file?

If the file is not found as in this installation, it can be found in GitHub. However, it is not found on the GitHub and one may need to go to Microsoft or raise the issue. As we see later, there may be a way out using the GUI.


https://github.com/microsoft/mssql-support/blame/master/sqliosim/Readme.md


The SQLIOSIM gui can be launched using the SQLIOSIM.exe application in the BINN folder.

Double click the SQLIOSIM application in the BINN folder to launch the GUI.


Click SIMULATOR t open the Simulator. Simulator->Configure will open the Files and Configuration GUI as shown.

From here on it can be used to configure the .mdx and .ldx file locations, size  and max size and Increment parameters on the computer and test patterns for integrity testing can be carried out. Do not choose the existing .mdx and .ldx file locations as they will be overwritten during testing.












Monday, September 16, 2024

How do you custom Install SQL Server 2022 on a laptop?

  In Part 1 we looked at hardware and software requirements and determined that the Surface Pro laptop could satisfy the requirements for the SQL Server 2022 installation.

If you are looking to working on your SQL Server in an isolated mode to gain some experience, you may not need to worry about a number of items in the Planning node of the SQL Server Installation center such as,

  • Azure extension for SQL server (New)
  • Download Data Migration Assistant(DMA)
  • How to get started with SQL Server 2022 Failover Clustering
  • Upgrade Documentation
  • Download SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA)

However, make sure you go through the other items. You could always bring up the SQL Server Installation Center later if you need to.

The next item on the SQL Server Installation center is Installation. A click on the installation node in the SQL Server Installation enter brings up this page (window).


On this page, these items are important, 

  • New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation.
  • Install SQL Server Reporting Services
  • Install SQL Server Management Tools
  • Install SQL Server Data Tools

If this is a fresh install, you will be using the New SQL Server standalone installation, the first item's option.


Click "New SQL Server standalone installation"

The installation begins and you will be getting messages regarding installation progress, you just wait them out.

After a while you get his page(window).



Since we are using a free edition, just choose the first option Specify a free edition. However, have a look at the two other options

Also, note on the navigation items on the left of this page. The installation goes through each of these items. It may skip through some items that are not relevant.

Click the button Next> at the bottom. As the case may be, sometime you want to go back to the previous screen and a back button is present.

The following page is displayed regarding license terms.


If you accept by checking the "I accept..." control at the bottom you can install. Some of your data may be collected by the software. It may be prudent to keep a copy of the license terms should you be interested.

Click on the Next> button. As you may have observed, it skips the Global Rules step in the installation and goes to Microsoft Update. 


Accept the recommendation of Microsoft and place a checkmark. Here, you have an option to go to the shown links to check out FAQ and Privacy related statements.

Click Next>. It processes your request rapidly and skips Product Updates, to Install Setup Files .


After Install Setup Files the Install Rules page gets displayed. You may see Windows Powershell highlighted. You need not worry as Windows Powershell is already installed on Windows 11 Pro computers and laptops.

Click Next>


This is the Azure Extension for SQL Server and skip this as we are just looking at the SQL Server on our laptop exclusively.  This is wasn't there in the SQL Server 2012 edition. The Azure Cloud services had just appeared in beta agt that time.

Let us disregard this (do not check any of the boxes) and click Next>.

This takes you to the Feature Selection page as shown.


This is an important step and you should take time to read and understand the items. It describes broadly under Instance FeaturesShared Features and Redistribution Features. Microsoft Reporting Services used to be a  part of the installation in earlier editions of SQL Server. In this edition you can install it using the internet link shown on this screen.

Place a check mark on Database Engine Services. Windows Powershell, a powerful programming is already installed and it used to be a requirement in earlier editions. It comes with Windows 11. We will not be interested in Replication and you skip this one. Machine Learning Services and Language Extensions will be very useful should we use R, Python, Java and other programming languages. With the advent of AI this may become very useful. If you choose this, it will enter the installation queue and will be installed. It would take up 1419 MB of disk space as shown.


Choose the option "Full-Text..."

If you want to connect to non-SQL databases choose the option "Polybase query Service for External Data". I believe, Polybase Query had just appeared in Beta in 2012.

As you choose, items the disk space requirements gets updated as you see in your right side boxes.

For now, we skip Analysis Services. We also skip the whole of Shared Features as well as Redistribution Features. We can always go to the SQL Server Installation Center and modify items later.

At the very bottom, observe that the installation root directory is shown as, C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\

Click Next>.

It takes you to the Instance Configuration page as shown with a standard Default instance, named MSSQLSERVER. This naming has little changed over the editions. The SQL Server directory is also shown.


If you choose the Named instance by clicking on it. You need to give a name for your SQL Server.  

Let us choose a named instance. Herein, Regency2024 is chosen. The directory gets modified to reflect your choice.


As there are no SQL Servers installed presently on this machine, this being the first,  the Installed Instances does not list any server. 

Click Next>.

It goes to Polybase Configuration as shown. 


It pre-chooses a set of ports to which non-SQL Server databases may be connecting to. We will come to it, when we have to. This page was not there in SQL Server 2012 and Polybase had just made its appearance and was in its initial stages.

Click Next> takes you to the important, Server Configuration page as shown.


In SQL Server 2022, NT Service accounts are virtual accounts used to run SQL Server services. These accounts are automatically managed by Windows and are designed to provide a high level of security and ease of management.

All these do not require user intervention as they are managed by the Windows system. If they are set Manual it suggests they are set manual for resource optimization. They can be Started/Paused/stopped using Windows services. Microsoft recommends a separate account, but herein the default will be used.

Place check mark for "Grant Perform...." You may look at details going to the linked page shown.

You may also review this link: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/databases/database-instant-file-initialization?view=sql-server-ver16

Click Next>.

This takes you to the Database Engine Configuration page shown in the next screen,


There are very important items on this page. At the very top there are tabbed pages in this Database Configuration node:

  • Server Configuration (the page presently displayed)
  • Data Directories
  • TempDB
  • MaxDOP
  • Memory
  • FILESTREAM

All bulleted items are configurable although defaults are accepted here.

In the Server Configuration tabbed page one has to choose between Windows authentication mode (default) and a Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication) needs to be chosen. Windows authentication is considered to be more secure because it uses Windows security model with all its features like password policies, NTLM protocols, etc. The management is simple. 

Mixed-mode authentication is more flexible. Please go here, for more details, or read my earlier posts.

Let us choose Windows authentication. We would like to Add Current User (the current user is also the one installing the SQL Server).


Click Add Current User. It adds OLIBU\hoden. These are the credentials of the ComputerName\Computer User (windows). You could add, or remove more users. Remember that they should be in the Windows Users list.  If you need to add people to this, you could do it later as well. Since it is windows User, no need to enter password, etc.

Click Next>

It skips everything else and goes to Ready to Install node of the navigation on the left ass shown. If you need to configure the items on this page, you could go to each of the tabbed page and configure. You may read here for more.


Only a part of this screen is shown. The details shows are available in the SQL Server Configuration file, Configuration.ini. When you install, all of the above will be installed.

Click Install.

It starts installing and shows a progress bar. After the installation is complete, this page is displayed.


The installation was successful. A installation log is generated for checking up the details.

Close the Installation center window.








 











 






























Monday, September 9, 2024

Can you Install SQL Server 2022 on a Surface Pro laptop - Part 1?

 This is where you really start looking installing SQL Server 2022 on a laptop, or a computer. This is in the planning stage of the installation. If you are looking at installation of SQL Servers there are a number of posts for other versions here.


It is possible to install SQL Server 2022 on a laptop as long as it satisfies the hardware and software requirements.

These are the hardware requirements from Microsoft site:

ComponentRequirement
StorageSQL Server requires a minimum of 6 GB of available hard drive space.

Disk space requirements vary with the SQL Server components you install. For more information, see Hard Disk Space Requirements later in this article. For information on supported storage types for data files, see Storage Types for Data Files.
MonitorSQL Server requires Super-VGA (800x600) or higher resolution monitor.
InternetInternet functionality requires Internet access (fees can apply).
Memory 1Minimum:

Express Editions: 512 MB

All other editions: 1 GB

Recommended:

Express Editions: 1 GB

All other editions: At least 4 GB and should be increased as database size increases to ensure optimal performance.
Processor SpeedMinimum: x64 Processor: 1.4 GHz

Recommended: 2.0 GHz or faster
Processor Typex64 Processor: AMD Opteron, AMD Athlon 64, Intel Xeon with Intel EM64T support, Intel Pentium IV with EM64T support

1 The minimum memory required for installing the Data Quality Server component in Data Quality Services (DQS) is 2 GB of RAM, which is different from the SQL Server minimum


For example I have a Surface Pro older version with the following specs:

Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1265U   2.70 GHz

Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.8 GB usable)

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Pen and touch Pen and touch support with 10 touch points

Additionally, the Surface Pro has a display capable of a resolution of 2496 x 1664

This makes it easy to decide that SQL Server 2022 can indeed be run on this laptop. However, we need to allocate 6GB for the database which presently, is more than needed.

The laptop also satisfies the software requirements.

Software Requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 version 1607 or greater, or Windows Server 2016 or greater.
  • .NET Framework: Minimum operating systems include the minimum .NET framework required.
  • Network Software: Supported operating systems for SQL Server have built-in network software.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

How do you use AI in WordPress website/blog?

 AI is recently making rounds in all sorts of software. How it is doing, or whether or it makes things better is hard to judge.


Let us say, this is how your Header looks in the Appearances->Editor of your site or blog.

Let us say we want to edit the logo, then we place our cursor on the logo as shown in the picture above.

Choosing the three starts brings up the Jetpack AI Generator which uses the description of the site to create an appropriate logo. If the one suggested by the AI is acceptable, then the existing one will be replaced by the Ai created logo.

Click Generate button and the AI starts working. The image created trying first time is shown in the same picture. The image after the second run appears as shown and gets saved.

It may be possible to change the prompt by clicking enhance the prompt.  It provides a prompt which can be further tweaked. The highlighted words are mine.

"Create a logo for a website catering to condominium owners in Oahu, capturing the essence of island living and community connection in a clean and modern design that reflects a sense of belonging and pride in ownership [with subtle tropical elements] [using a bright and refreshing color scheme] [incorporating a modern and sleek font that contain the letter H]"

I ask for a more vibrant color. Again, one more round of generation yields this.


All these AI generated images gets uploaded to the MEDIA storage.

I am not sure whether the AI generated logo is better than one I have. You be the judge. AI surely generated an image based on the description, which is everything it can do, but not what is in my mind.

For example, I asked for a more vibrant color and I got this. It forgot to add the letter H totally. These lapses in following a thread in an iteration loop is something common to all of the AI's I have had a look at recently.

Did I like it? I think, no. It seems in general, the more vibrant, the more flashy is considered 'amateurish' and the more boring, professional.

More here, https://jetpack.com/ai/