Month: August 2012

Scary SQL Surprises: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Replication

Last Updated February 9, 2017

The more SQL Servers I see, the more scared I get. There are a staggering number of ways that your server can sneak around behind you and … well, let’s just say you shouldn’t drop the soap in the datacenter. As part of my health checks, I’m used to verifying that full backups are done…

Who’s taking your backups? No, really – who’s taking your backups?

Last Updated February 13, 2017

Jes Schultz

Backup and Recovery, SQL Server

Who in your company is responsible for database backups? It’s Me Fantastic! Check your backup job. Did it run successfully the last time it was supposed to? Are the files where they are supposed to be? Have you checked the integrity of the backup files by restoring them to a secondary server? If you are…

The Top Five Signs You Need a Break from SQL Server

Last Updated February 13, 2017

Kendra Little

Professional Development

Photo credit Even when you love your job, you can get too much of a good thing. How do you know when your love of technology is taking you too far away from reality? Take our quiz to diagnose your mental state. Our Quiz: Diagnose if Your Inner Geek is Out of Control Have you found…

We’re Taking sp_BlitzUpdate Out to the Farm

Last Updated May 13, 2014

Brent Ozar

SQL Server

Last year at the PASS Summit, one of my favorite moments in my Blitz session was showing off my new equivalent of Windows Update for stored procedures. I demoed how to use OPENROWSET to connect your SQL Server to the cloud, fetch an updated version of our sp_Blitz® stored procedure, and apply the update automatically.…

Potential Problems with Partitioning

Last Updated February 13, 2017

Jeremiah Peschka

Partitioning, SQL Server

Getting started with table partitioning is difficult; there are many decisions to make after you’ve decided to partition data. Correctly configuring partitioning is critical to the long term performance and stability of the database from both a querying and data modification standpoint. There are three key considerations that database architects should devote time to before…

Change Management: The Question You’re Not Asking

Last Updated August 15, 2012

Kendra Little

I work with clients with a variety of change management practices— everything from, “I just email the team when I’m going to change something” to “I need to submit formal changes each Tuesday by 2pm for weekly review for the next approved change window.” And occasionally, “Just Do It.” Don’t cry over this: plan for…

No Substitute for Time, Experience, and Training

Last Updated March 26, 2014

Jes Schultz

SQL Server

I’m a runner. I wasn’t always a runner. Three years ago, I couldn’t run a mile. I wanted to, but I wasn’t physically capable. So I started training with the Couch to 5K plan. Eventually, I ran a 5K – I did it! – even though I was a mess. I didn’t wear the best…

SQL Server DBA Interview Q&A Part 2: The Answers

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Brent Ozar

Professional Development

Last week, we asked you the questions, and this week we’ll talk about the answers. We’ll discuss what we look for in a candidate – not just the written answers, but also the way they answer questions. You’ll learn why you shouldn’t bluff, and why you should never, ever rate yourself a 10 on a…

Stop Worrying About SQL Server Fragmentation

Last Updated March 5, 2017

Brent Ozar

Index Maintenance, SQL Server

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I bet you’re worried about your index fragmentation. If your database was a phone book, it would look like this one. And I bet you’re wasting your time, missing the real point. What is Index Fragmentation and How It Happens Let’s take a step back for a second and pretend that your database is a…

#SQLPASS Wants You – to Help First Time Summit Attendees

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Brent Ozar

#SQLPass, Professional Development

I’ll never forget my first time, but here’s the weird part: I did it alone. Looking in at the PASS Summit in Denver In 2007, I went to my first PASS Summit conference in Denver. I’d never been to a professional conference before, and my boss, Don Duncan, was the one who actually suggested it…

Become a Presenter, Change Your Life

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Kendra Little

Professional Development, Writing and Presenting

I began presenting on SQL Server two years ago. At the time I was a Senior Database Administrator. My workdays were spent getting ahead of the next big performance problem in an environment where software changes rolled into production like gangbusters. I was under a lot of pressure to be super-technical, stay on top of…