Keeping track of the performance of your SQL Servers requires metrics. There are many methods for doing this, but some type of automated process is essential these days with DBAs managing many servers. New author Allen White brings us a technique for doing this using SMO, the replacement for DMO in SQL Server 2005.   Read more...

We've had a lot of coverage of dynamic sql (including another great one from Robert Marda later this week) but this one is a little different. Done in a question/answer format, Andy tries to explain to junior developers why dynamic sql is to be avoided, how to do so, what to do when you can't.   Read more...

It has not been clear to what extent fragmentation, either internal or external, truly affects the performance of your SQL Server 2000 databases. New author Koby Biller discusses some of the impacts that it could have and has a free tool for download that can help you determine how fragmented your disk truly is.   Read more...

One of the best ways to reduce the load on your server and increase application responsiveness is to reduce the number of "round trips" your application makes. This article by Andy Warren shows you a few ways to increase your performance by reducing round trips.   Read more...

Do you use the maintenance plans or hate them? Wish they would do more? Curious about how they work under the hood? Cmon, you gotta read this one! Trust us, it's not another "how-to" article! Well, maybe just a little bit!   Read more...

As Chris points out, in most applications these days you end up having to go with optimistic locking, which presents a few challenges. Chris works through the list of options. If you're building web/disconnected apps and need anything besides last update wins, this one is for you.   Read more...

Part two in the Introduction to ADO series, this beginner level article shows how to open a recordset, how to add and edit records, and touches lightly on how to select the best cursor type and locking mode. Good code samples help you get started fast!   Read more...

Another new author! Gheorge shares some ideas about importing event logs and using OLAP to analyze the results. Not a bad idea at all. How many of use OLAP as often as we should? Read the article, see if it's something you want to try - and let Gheorge know what you think!   Read more...

This article shows you how to identify SQL Server performance problems and explains how the SERIALIZABLE transaction isolation level effected the performance of an OLTP application.  Read more...

We've had a lot of coverage of dynamic sql (including another great one from Robert Marda later this week) but this one is a little different. Done in a question/answer format, Andy tries to explain to junior developers why dynamic sql is to be avoided, how to do so, what to do when you can't.   Read more...

Programmers can most commonly relate to interface-based programming in their programming language. This is harder to accomplish in SQL Server though. In this article by Chris Cubley, he shows you how to build interfaced-based SQL.   Read more...

Do you use the maintenance plans or hate them? Wish they would do more? Curious about how they work under the hood? Cmon, you gotta read this one! Trust us, it's not another "how-to" article! Well, maybe just a little bit!   Read more...

This week Andy continues his series on how to reduce the number of round trips to the server by looking at some things you can easily add to your applications without a lot of rearchitecting.   Read more...

Architectural choices for data access affect performance, scalability, maintainability, and usability. This article focuses on the performance aspects of these choices by comparing relative performance of various data access techniques, including Microsoft® ADO.NET Command, DataReader, DataSet, and XML Reader in common application scenarios with a Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000 database.  Read more...

Last week Andy started a discussion of the various ways you can reduce the number of round trips to the server. This week he continues by looking at a method he used recently to do client side caching of data to eliminate the round trip altogether. Gotta read it!   Read more...

One of the best ways to reduce the load on your server and increase application responsiveness is to reduce the number of "round trips" your application makes. This article by Andy Warren shows you a few ways to increase your performance by reducing round trips.   Read more...

In three previous articles Andy has done a very basic introduction to the ADO connection, command, and recordset objects. In this wrap up article he talks about how to use the power of ADO client side filtering and disconnected recordsets, then adds some code which shows how to combine all the objects. ADO is not simple, but Andy has done a good job in limiting his dicussion to the things you REALLY need to know about ADO to get started.   Read more...

Running a Web farm means managing session state across servers. Since session state can't be shared across a Web farm with Internet Information Services 5.0, a custom solution is required. One such solution using a tool called the session manager is described here.   Read more...