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When a Query Isn’t Quite a Query
Databases exist to store data and answer questions about that data. The way we ask questions has to change based on the database itself – SQL changes between different RDBMS vendors. Things get even...
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Free AlwaysOn Availability Groups Lessons Learned Webcast
Did you miss my top-10 session at the PASS Summit last November? Now’s your chance to see it for free, plus get updated details with what I’ve learned since then. Microsoft says that SQL Server...
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SQL Server Table Partitioning Tutorial: Videos and Scripts
There’s a secret to learning about SQL Server’s table partitioning feature: you need to get your hands on some code and really play with it in a test environment. In this tutorial, Kendra will walk you...
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All-Day Workshops at DevIntersection – with a free Surface RT.
First things first: don’t register for this until after January 31st, because otherwise, you’ll have to deal with a free Microsoft Surface RT, and you know how I feel about those. Now, about the...
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The Okapis of SQL Server Indexes
They are elusive and hard to spot in the wild, but they exist: rare index options that can enhance the performance of your queries. If you have a solid knowledge of index basics and want to add to your...
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Best Practices + Table Partitioning: Merging Boundary Points
One of the many best practices for SQL Server’s table partitioning feature is to create “extra” empty partitions around your data. This is explained in SQL Server Books Online in the page on altering a...
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The DBA Comics: @DBAreactions
Database administration is an unusual job because nobody understands what we do. You know how you get all frustrated when certain things happen, but nobody else understands what you’re thinking? Yeah,...
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Our 2-Day SQL Server Class in Atlanta in May!
You’re a developer stuck managing a SQL Server that you don’t really understand. Why is it slow? You’ve got a hunch that it’s not really your queries, but you’re not quite sure. You’ve tried adding...
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Hive Data Warehouse: Lessons Learned (video)
Your company is considering a data warehouse and you’re unsure where to start; with so many tools on the market, it can be difficult to pick a solution. Jeremiah Peschka has designed and deployed...
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The Fastest Query is the One You Never Make
When someone brings me a query to tune, I start with a few questions: How long does it take to run now? I’m looking for a time at first, and later as I progress through tuning, I’ll measure it more...
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Upcoming Free SQL Server Training Webcasts
Hoowee, we’ve got a lot of good stuff lined up! You know the routine: click the links, check boxes, and get smart. February 12 SQL Server Change Management: 3 Best Practices Kendra Little, Technology...
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Why We’re Offering Training for Developers
DBAs have been asking me, “Brent, why do you have a book of Lady Gaga photos on your standing desk?” Also, “Brent, why are you guys offering training for developers instead of training for DBAs? Have...
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Why You Should Care About Lori’s New Job
Right now is an incredible time to do what you love. Take this one-minute video from Red Bull: It’s chock full of people doing cool, crazy stuff that they’re absolutely passionate about – skating,...
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7 Things Developers Should Know About SQL Server
Hi. I’m a former developer who’s moved into database administration, and here’s what I wish somebody would have told me when I got started. 7. SQL functions rarely perform well. Good developers like...
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How Does SQL Server Store Data?
Let’s step back and take a look at the big picture. (Today, I’m writing for beginners, so you advanced gurus can go ahead and close the browser now. I’m going to simplify things and leave a lot out...
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Rolling Averages in SQL Server
Aggregate functions are convenient – they solve a business need and they make development easy. Unfortunately, not all business requirements are so easy to solve. Let’s look at one example: rolling...
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SQL Server Change Management: 3 Best Practices (video)
Whether you’re planning a major migration, a code release, or an update to Windows security patches, there’s always the risk that something may go terribly wrong. How can you prevent disaster? In this...
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Extract, Transform, Loud Noises
Getting data out of SQL Server is easy—you don’t need special tools. With just a few lines of code, you can easily send the results of a query to a file. When you’re building a prototype, this is also...
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Log Shipping: Preparing for Disaster
Log shipping is a tried and true method in SQL Server for keeping a copy of your data on a secondary server. If you haven’t worked with this feature yet, join Jes to learn the basics, such as what log...
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Disabling vs. Dropping Indexes
In order to improve your applications and your databases, they will need to change over time. The structure of the database changes, the structure of the tables change, the data in the tables change,...
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