SQL Server

Load Testing, SQL Server

I Like Testing Things Especially Brent’s patience. And I like watching people test things. SQL Server is sort of perfect for that. You make some changes, you hit f5, and you wait for something to finish. If it’s faster, you ship it. Right? I mean, we all know you just added NOLOCK hints anyway. A…

My How to Think Like the Engine Class is Now Free – and Open Source

Last Updated April 9, 2017

#SQLPass, SQL Server

You’re a developer or a DBA, and you’re comfortable writing queries to get the data you need. You’re much less comfortable trying to design the right indexes for your database server. You’ve never had a formal database internals class, and you don’t really have the patience to read a book on it – but you…

Announcing our 2017 SQL Server Training Scholarship Winners

Last Updated October 15, 2016

We’re serious about the heart thing. Right now, all over the world, people are using SQL Server to make the world a better place. Sadly, most of these teams are underfunded, understaffed, and undertrained. They’re doing the best they can with the limited resources they have available, just trying to make a difference. No, actually making a…

[Video] Office Hours 2016/10/19 (With Transcriptions)

Last Updated October 23, 2016

This week, Brent (and only Brent) answers your questions about table partitioning, best practices for VMware configuration, rebuilding indexes, transitioning from physical SQL failover cluster to VMware or Hyper-V, database backups, security issues with cross-database chaining, and why you should never use vague adjectives when describing database sizes. Here’s the video on YouTube: You can…

MAX Data Types Do WHAT?

Last Updated March 12, 2018

Users are horrible, I know You can just never rely on them to pass in reasonable search strings. When you write stored procedures to retrieve information for them, it’s really tempting to define all your string variables as MAX length. As long as the actual data type, N/VARCHAR matches, you’re cool, right? Avoid that pesky…

[Video] Office Hours 2016/10/12 (With Transcriptions)

Last Updated October 15, 2016

This week, Brent, Richie, and Erik discuss estimating compression savings, disabling triggers, suggestions to first-time Pass Summit attendees, tools for database version control, transitioning from SQL 2000 to 2016, troubleshooting failovers, and how to convince your manager to upgrade to newer version of SQL. FYI: our regular transcriptionist is out for a couple of weeks,…

Updated First Responder Kit: sp_Blitz markdown output, sp_BlitzIndex statistics checks

Last Updated April 25, 2017

First Responder Kit, SQL Server

In addition to lots of bug fixes and tweaks, my favorite option is: sp_Blitz @OutputType = ‘markdown’ sp_Blitz @OutputType = ‘markdown’, @CheckServerInfo = 1, @CheckUserDatabaseObjects = 1 See, recently I’ve spent a lot of time looking at Stack questions going, “Man, if I just had the output of sp_Blitz, I bet I could answer that question…

Questions You Should Be Asking About Your Backups

Last Updated February 9, 2017

Backup and Recovery, SQL Server

#basicbackup So you’re taking backups! That’s great. Lots of people aren’t, and that’s not so great. Lots of people think they are, but haven’t bothered to see if the jobs are succeeding, or if their backups are even valid. That’s not great, either; it’s about the same as not taking them to begin with. If…

The Problem with Windows Server 2016 Licensing

Last Updated February 9, 2017

Licensing, SQL Server

Windows Server 2016 Licensing Guide (PDF) Windows Server 2016 is now licensed by the core, but that’s not really the big problem. The bigger problem is buried in the licensing guide (PDF): “A minimum of 16 core licenses is required for each server.” “A minimum of 8 core licenses is required for each physical processor.” When…

Why I Love kCura RelativityOne Even Though I Don’t Use It

Last Updated February 9, 2017

kCura Relativity, SQL Server

At RelativityFest this week, kCura showed more details about how their upcoming software-as-a-service hosted in Microsoft Azure works. I really like where they’re going with it. Presenting at Relativity Fest 2016 I’ve blogged about Relativity before, especially about how it uses SQL Server, but here’s a quick recap: It hosts legal data (think lawsuits, cases,…

[Video] Office Hours 2016/10/05 (With Transcriptions)

Last Updated May 20, 2018

This week, Brent, Richie, Tara, and Erik discuss their learning styles, Always On Availability Groups, memory leaks, Windows updates, how to transition from developer to DBA, upgrading SQL server from 2008 to 2014, temp tables vs table variables, and how to become an MVP. Here’s the video on YouTube: You can register to attend next week’s Office…

Update On Connect Item To Replace DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS

Last Updated October 5, 2016

ALL CAPS EXCITEMENT In rather fun news, a Connect Item of mine about replacing DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS with a DMV or function got updated as ‘Resolved as Fixed’. It was only slightly odd, because I intentionally funneled votes to Greg Low’s item after realizing I had duplicated it. So, Greg, if you’re out there… Uh, hi!…

Applications are Open For Our 2017 Scholarship Program

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Company News, SQL Server

That heart means something. Last year, we gave dozens of amazing people a helping hand so they could improve themselves – and the world around them. I was really touched by the heartfelt thanks we got – and yep, tears were shed. (On both sides of the screen.) So it’s time to do it again. You work…

[Video] Office Hours 2016/09/28 (With Transcriptions)

Last Updated October 1, 2016

This week, Brent, Richie, Tara, and Erik, discuss non-clustered indexes, dynamic SQL, replication, setups for servers dedicated to reporting services and warehouse databases, cross-cluster migrations, employment opportunities in the current market, and much, much more! Here’s the video on YouTube: You can register to attend next week’s Office Hours, or subscribe to our podcast to listen on…

Divide By Zero Hero

Last Updated September 22, 2016

Alright, so at least they’re not NULLs But zero is actually literally much more problemaaaaatic per se (add lots of annoying vocal fry to this when you read it) when it comes to math. Or maths, depending on which message board you read. Zero has a weird history. It wasn’t always a number, and it…

Are You Load Testing for Best Case Scenario, or Worst Case?

Last Updated February 14, 2017

Cloud Computing, Load Testing, SQL Server

In preparation for a recent load testing engagement, we started talking about the company’s goals. The DBA said something really insightful: “We want to get to 1,000 page requests per second, which is around 5,000 batch requests per second. We’re testing with all of our caching turned off, because we want to simulate what might…

What To Do If sp_BlitzFirst Warns About High Compilations

Last Updated November 16, 2017

First Responder Kit, sp_BlitzFirst, SQL Server

Compiles Aren’t The Same As Recompiles If you’re seeing high RECOMPILES, this post isn’t for you. We’ll talk about the differences between compiles and recompiles, but not how to troubleshoot recompiles. Recompiles mean one of two obvious things: You have a RECOMPILE hint at the stored procedure or statement level, or SQL found a reason…

[Video] Office Hours 2016/09/21 (With Transcriptions)

Last Updated September 24, 2016

This week, Brent, Richie, Tara, and Erik discuss enhancing queries, database corruption, availability groups, parameter sniffing, sending mail via SQL server, whether SQL 2016 is solid or not, other versions of SQL, physical servers vs virtual servers, and much more! Here’s the video on YouTube: You can register to attend next week’s Office Hours, or subscribe to…

Partitioned Views: A How-To Guide

Last Updated February 13, 2017