QGrip is a ‘Centralised Application Based Database Management’ tool for SQL Server on-premises.
All organisations using SQL Server can benefit from QGrip. The supported features cover the functionalities needed to successfully and efficiently manage the SQL Server estate. Smaller organisations might only be interested in the out-of-the-box Backup & Restore functionality, but larger organisations with development-, test-, DevOps- and Scrum-teams can profit from the possibility to let the teams do more themselves. The teams become more agile, in a controlled fashion, and the workload for the DBA is reduced.
Centralised
QGrip will form a centralised layer between the IT Department and the SQL Server Environment. Everything that takes place on the SQL Server environment is controlled and managed from the QGrip layer. Learn more…
Application Based
Most tools focus solely on the SQL Server components and the link between the connecting applications and their SQL Server objects is often missing. QGrip, on the contrary, requires that each SQL Server object is linked to an application. A complete overview of all objects belonging to an Application can easily be found the QGrip-UI (User Interface). Authorisation in QGrip is set per Application/Environment rather than per specific SQL Server Instances. Learn more…
Database Management
QGrip does not only support the basic Backup & Restore functionality that is needed to manage a SQL Server environment. Other necessary features and controls that most organisations need are available. Learn more…
Benefits
The ultimate benefit of QGrip is in the time and cost savings that result from generating accurate information in a more efficient way. The ‘Grip’ on the SQL Server environment will be enhanced which will improve efficiency. The QGrip CMDB will be up-to-date and contain the most relevant information regarding the SQL Server environment and will probably replace most of the documents and excel sheets that are now kept. The Warnings generated by QGrip will enhance continuity by enabling you to solve problems before they occur.
Benefits for the organisation
No major investments
QGrip is built using a combination of T-SQL, PowerShell, and .Net, which are regular components in most Windows/SQL Server environments. The QGrip database can be placed on an already existing SQL Server Instance. All that is needed is one or more QGrip Servers for the worker processes and some backup shares if they are not already present. Learn more…
Complete Out-of-the-box
QGrip is ready for use and no scripting is needed. It does not only support the basic Backup & Restore functionality that is needed to manage a SQL Server environment. Other necessary features and controls that most organisations need are available as standard features. Some initial configuration is needed to define templates, schedules and set up some business rules to comply with your own organisation. To speed up this process and help you on your way, we have developed an ‘Implementation-Aid-Kit’. Learn more…
Free Trial
Customer satisfaction is our number one priority. With this in mind, we are pleased to offer a ‘try before you buy’ pilot of QGrip so that you can verify that it lives up to your expectations and fit within your organisation. You can download, install and use QGrip for 45 days, using a trial license key. The trial key is limited to max 5 Instances/5 QGrip users. Learn more…
Consolidate
The QGrip-Users only need to be authorised in QGrip and do not need access to the SQL Server Instance with elevated rights. When authorised for jobs for a specific application, the QGrip-User will not be able to request the job for databases belonging to another application. Separate SQL Server Instances for each application will no longer be needed and it will be easier to consolidate and get more out of the hardware and reduce license costs.
Delegate – Spare the DBA
Using the QGrip-UI requires hardly any SQL Server knowledge. The QGrip-UI can be regarded as a self-service portal. Make teams accountable and let them request actions themselves which results in less steps in the chain and reduced workload for DBA. One of the best features with QGrip is that a QGrip-User can perform tasks on the SQL Server environment without actual access. Requested jobs will be executed via the Queues in the QGrip database. No need to set up access with elevated authorisation on the Instance itself; giving the user the proper authorisation within QGrip is sufficient. The uniform way of working makes it easy to move people around (vacation, replacement).
Split Costs
The Charges, Split Costs module is an easy, flexible and powerful way to split the costs of the SQL Server environment and fairly charge the Applications using it. Put price tags on the different Infra components (Servers, Instances, etc.), define how the costs should be split and let the Applications pay their fair share of what they use. Learn more…
Benefits for the DBA
One Interface – Better Grip
The QGrip CMDB will be up-to-date and contain the most relevant information regarding the SQL Server environment and will probably replace most of the documents and excel sheets that are now kept.
Daily Check & Backup Retry
The ‘Daily Check’ window in the QGrip-UI (User Interface) contains a quick overview of important information that might need some attention. Failed jobs, instances that are or have been down, missing backup files and databases that have not been backed-up are listed here. Learn more…
If a Backup job fails, QGrip will try to automatically correct the error by requesting a ‘Retry’ job within x minutes. The Retry actions are based on the error message given and have been defined for the most common failures. Learn more…
Monitoring – Free Space Forecast
Without classifying QGrip as a monitoring tool, it will provide you with some core monitoring and heads-up regarding the SQL Server environment. QGrip monitors its own jobs real-time. Every 3 minutes, the free space on the backup shares, the status of SQL Server Instances and Always On clusters is checked (down, Failover). During the Discover job, a Free Space Forecast is calculated of Datafiles and Server Disks based on historical growth. An indication will be given within how many days the object is expected to run out of space. Learn more…
SQL Server Always On
QGrip makes it easier to manage databases on a SQL Server Always On cluster. Backups are made according to the defined backup preference of the availability groups. In case of a restore or clone, QGrip will automatically remove the database from the availability group, restore the database on all replicas simultaneously and then add the database to the group again. When logins are created using QGrip they are added to all replicas with the same SID (and password). QGrip will keep on monitoring the logins to make sure they stay consistent on all replicas and report any flaws. Any Failover taking place on an Always On cluster will be reported by QGrip. Learn more…
QGrip User
Anybody within the IT department working with SQL Server databases is a potential QGrip-User. The QGrip-UI is user friendly and hardly any SQL Server knowledge is required. The Teams & Authorisation module is very flexible and enables comprehensive authorisation. The QGrip-Admin role requires substantial SQL Server knowledge and should be limited to the SQL Server DBAs.
