Containers, Kubernetes, Spark and SQL Server 2019

--- Description ---
Setting up a big data cluster tends to be a hard job. Working with containers is something else that tends to be difficult in the data world.
Not anymore, SQL Server 2019 promises to bring us the final AI Platform we need with Spark, HDFS, Parquet, Java, Python, R and even Scala all working in harmony in-database.
To unlock most of this magic, you'll need to work with containers and that's where most of us lack some knowledge.

Tonight, Chris Adkin, a highly regarded community member, is visiting our user group and he will share his expertise on how to run containers in production. Next we explore some of the new Big Data and AI features already available in the SQL Server 2019 preview.
And to top it all off, Mihaela Blendea from the SQL Server team will join us for a Q&A so you can learn even more!
This last session will be broadcast live. Not in Belgium? Join us via this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2317239841612023308

--- Agenda ---
• 18:00 - 18:30 - Free food & drinks, sponsored by Ordina
• 18:30 - 19:00 - optional Intro to containers (depending on attendee input)
• 19:00 - 20:00 - Kubernetes For The Microsoft Data Platform Professional
• 20:00 - 20:10 - Break
• 20:10 - 21:00 - Demo of SQL Server 2019 Big Data Clusters
• 21:00 - ??:?? - Drinks, discussions and fun

--- Session 0 ---
(optional) * Intro to containers *

To make sure everyone is up to date on what containers are and when/how to use them for your data, Chris Adkin might give a short introductory presentation as well.
This depends fully on your input whether you want an introduction or not.

--- Session 1 ---

• Kubernetes For The Microsoft Data Platform Professional *

Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform that has tremendous traction and mid share in the developer community. With the announcement SQL Server 2019, in particular big data clusters, Kubernetes is gaining prominence in the data platform landscape. However, why do we need container orchestration, what is Kubernetes, what is this platform called OpenShift that Microsoft are also embracing. What are the key concept and architectural components behind Kubernetes, what does adopting open source based platforms mean to the organisations we work for and what parts of Kubernetes do we need to know about in order to run SQL Server and stateful apps in general on it. This session aims to answer all of these questions and more.

Speaker: Chris Adkin
(https://twitter.com/ChrisAdkin8)
Chris has been working with SQL Server since 2000 in roles which have varied from DBA to developer to architect and he has been a regular speaker on the European SQL Server circuit for the last six year, which has included sessions at SQL Bits. Chris currently works at Pure Storage as the solutions architect for the EMEA region.

--- Session 2 ---

• Demo of SQL Server 2019 Big Data Clusters *
  (Not in Mechelen? https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2317239841612023308 )

During the last part of our user group meetup, we'll show you why containers and kubernetes are so important.
We'll introduce and demo the currently available features for working with Big Data Clusters in SQL Server 2019.
And we have Mihaela Blendea, Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, on the webinar for all your Big Data Cluster questions!

Speaker: Mihaela Blendea
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihaelablendea/)
Mihaela is a Senior Program Manager in SQL Server team focusing on enabling platform management capabilities for SQL Server big data clusters: deployment, HADR, security, monitoring/troubleshooting, etc. She previously worked on HADR scenarios for SQL Server on Windows and Linux, Azure SQL VM and Azure SQL Database.

Speaker: Jan Mulkens
Jan Mulkens is a Microsoft BI Consultant and the Competence Center Lead for Microsoft Advanced Analytics at Ordina Belgium.
In his spare time, he is a speaker at conferences and user groups in europe and he organizes 2 user groups and a conference in Belgium.