Capturing the activity on a server when a problem occurs can be a challenge for many DBAs. This article shows how you can automate the capture of information when a CPU spike occurs.  Read more...

There are plenty of occasions when it makes a lot of sense to do backup and restore scripts in PowerShell. Microsoft have put effort into making it much easier, as Allen White demonstrates.  Read more...

Red Gate Books has released SQL Server Transaction Log Management, a free eBook on maintaining and troubleshooting the enigmatic transaction log based on the Stairway Series.  Read more...

The trust we build by ensuring our computer systems work is important. If we can't maintain that trust, Steve Jones sees a problem for our careers.  Read more...

This is the 5th article about Data Mining with SQL Server. This chapter is about Neural Networks.  Read more...

Dealing with disaster situations or trying to maintain an HA environment can be stressful. However knowledge about your goals and the capabilities of each technology, along with practice, can make things much easier.  Read more...

Greg Larsen shares a number of different TSQL methods to provide paging functionality, for when your application requires that you display only one page of data at a time.  Read more...

This document evaluates the latest functionality provided by Microsoft SQL Server 2012 With Power View for Multidimensional Models[1], this SQL Server 2012 CTP release allows connections between Power View and Multidimensional Models ( cubes) and not just Tabular Models.  Read more...

I'm interested in monitoring all my SQL Server backups, but for SQL Server Express we're currently using scheduled backups using Windows Task scheduler on each SQL Server Express since SQL Agent does not come installed on Express Editions. Is there an alternative where I can utilize my existing SQL Server infrastructure?  Read more...

It's good to have a methodology for solving problems, and T-SQL is no exception to this. Steve Jones notes that all too often we look at solving a problem, but only doing half the job.  Read more...

SQL Server 2012 makes your database maintenance jobs easy by proving an effective Maintenance Plan Wizard. This wizard does a fair job of creating core maintenance plans for your database.  Read more...

SQLServerCentral and Red Gate software have agreed to host the AdventureWorks database on the Azure platform and give free access to anyone that wants to practice querying it.  Read more...

A quick guide for connecting to our free copy of AdventureWorks on the Azure platform.  Read more...

Is Microsoft trying to move away from just being a software vendor? It seems they'd like to and that's a goal, but are they moving in the right direction? Steve Jones has a few ideas to help them.  Read more...

Powershell is a great tool for helping you work with multiple instances of SQL Server. This week Steve Jones talks about how and why you might want to get started.  Read more...

It is increasingly likely that DBAs are now given responsibility for maintaining Azure SQL databases as well as conventional SQL Server databases. What is likely to be required by way of maintenence? What are the differences? Grant Fritchey covers what you need to know.  Read more...

Learn how to write a script for regular database backups using Powershell and SMO.  Read more...

There's more than one way to be green.  Read more...

Once you've prepared an SSRS report, it needs formatting to get it ready for the people who need to read it. This tip covers the basics of formatting SSRS Reports.  Read more...

Do you use version control for your databases? For your application code? Is there a time when you think it's not needed? Steve Jones asks the question today.   Read more...