The way in which SQL Server chooses to join your tables in a query can dramatically affect performance. In this article, Jason Brimhall explains how a hash match works and shows some performance numbers.  Read more...

Understanding execution plans is a good basic skill for all DBA's and SQL developers. Darren White gives us an overview of what execution plans are in SQL Server and how they are used.  Read more...

We've all been there, trying to improve performance in a panic situation and not making things better.  Read more...

Window Functions in SQL greatly simplify a whole range of financial and statistical aggregations on sets of data. Because there is less SQL on the page, it is easy to assume that the performance is better too: but is it? Dwain gets out the test harness to investigate.  Read more...

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A simple script for automation of additional secondary data files of tempdb.  Read more...

Tuning a SQL Server instance and improving the way it performs is a complex task that many people struggle to complete. In this piece, Steve Jones talks about the idea that it is a science as much as an art.  Read more...

As a developer, if you need to go into the database and write queries, design tables, or determine the configuration of your SQL Server Systems, these tips should help make sure you're not unnecessarily sacrificing database performance. This eBook has 45 easy tips to improve the performance of your indexes and T-SQL queries, and hunt down problems within ORM tools and database design.   Read more...

This technical note provides guidance for Reporting Services. The focus of this technical note is to optimize your Reporting Services architecture for better performance and higher report execution throughput and user loads.  Read more...

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Follow the guidance of your DBA, but remember, he or she is from another land.  Read more...

As a developer, if you need to go into the database and write queries, design tables, or determine the configuration of your SQL Server Systems, these tips should help make sure you're not unnecessarily sacrificing database performance. This eBook has 45 easy tips to improve the performance of your indexes and T-SQL queries, and hunt down problems within ORM tools and database design.   Read more...

This article includes an examination of how I improved update performance. We examine four methods of loading data into a data warehouse.  Read more...

The SQL MERGE statement offers convenience, safety and elegance, but how does it perform compared to other methods?  Read more...

DBAs rarely use the full potential of sys.dm_exec_query_stats.  It’s common to see the queries for looking at the most expensive...  Read more...

Page Life Expectancy shows the memory pressure in SQL Server. To relieve that pressure and raise PLE right, we need to understand it...  Read more...

I have to give credit where credit is due. Microsoft has definitely made performance tuning easier in SQL Server 2012. Performance...  Read more...

Page splits are a normal occurring process in an OLTP system.  However, too many page splits can cause performance issues...  Read more...

Script to help you analyze a trace to find worst performing procs.  Read more...

I’m 30 today. In addition, it’s been 10 years since I started working with SQL Server. In my twenties, I fell in...  Read more...