With SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups, you can configure read-only routing and to automatically redirect the read-only workloads to a secondary replica after a failover. Can this be done using Windows PowerShell?  Read more...

Overview of 2 very important clauses added to SELECT statement in SQL2012 to allow paging on result sets.  Read more...

The new SQL Server 2012 Sequence Object can be used to generate unique numbers that can be automatically incremented based on an increment value. Greg Larsen discusses the different features of the sequence object and how you can use it to generate sequence numbers.  Read more...

For some time, Microsoft had a few window functions, but not the full set specified in the SQL 2003 standard. Now, in SQL Server 2012 we have the whole range, and extremely useful they are too. There's no longer an excuse to avoid them, particularly now you have Rob Sheldon's gentle introduction.  Read more...

You have the option of using PowerShell when automating management of SQL Server 2012 Integration Services. While this functionality is not as straightforward as those accustomed to traditional PowerShell cmdlets might expect, the steps required to accomplish the most common SSIS administrative tasks follow a relatively consistent pattern.  Read more...

Extended Events provide a way of unintrusively monitoring what's going on in a SQL Server instance. Unlike SQL Server Profiler and SQL Trace, it has little performance impact. Now, in SQL Server 2012 SSMS, it is relatively easy to use, as Robert Sheldon shows.  Read more...

Dynamically initialise FTP connection using expressions and retrieve files stored in multiple FTP directories using SQL Server Data Tools  Read more...

SQL Server 2012 delivers enhancements to the Resource Governor that reflect a growing need for centrally managed database services to provide multitenancy to customers who require isolated workloads. This document describes the enhancements and why they were added. It includes a self-contained walk through that you can try in order to gain familiarity with the new features.  Read more...

Greg Larsen explores the new SQL Server 2012 date and time functions and shows you how to exploit these functions in new application code.  Read more...

A list of the builds of SQL Server 2012 through SP2 CU2.  Read more...

There are several different ways of restricting access to SSIS packages and confidential information they contain. However, preventing unauthorized users from running or viewing the content of your code is not the only security measure that you should take into consideration.   Read more...

The error handling of SQL Server has always been somewhat mysterious. Now at last, the THROW statement has been included in SQL Server 2012 that, when combined with the TRY...CATCH block, makes error handling far easier. Robert Sheldon explains all.  Read more...

My organization is looking at SQL Server 2012 and I know that the ability to create roles at the server level is a new feature. Since this is new and impacts security, how do I handle them and how do I audit them?  Read more...

SQL Server Failover Clustering, which includes support for both local and multisite failover configurations, is part of the SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn implementation suite, designed to provide high availability and disaster recovery for SQL Server. The multisite failover clustering technology has been enhanced significantly in SQL Server 2012. The multisite failover cluster architecture, enhancements in SQL Server 2012 to the technology, and some best practices to help with deployment of the technology are the primary focus of this paper.  Read more...

A list of the builds of SQL Server 2012 through SP2 CU2.  Read more...

This white paper describes how to export master data from Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services (MDS) using a subscription view, and how to import the master data into an external system using SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS). The white paper provides a step-by-step sample for creating a subscription view and an SSIS package.  Read more...

Column Store Index, a new feature in SQL Server 2012, improves performance of data warehouse queries several folds. Arshad Ali shows you how to create column store index, and how to use index query hint to include or exclude a column store index.  Read more...

Learn how to apply the tracing functionality in Microsoft data access technologies such as ADO.NET 2.0, MDAC 2.82, SQL Server Native Client, and the JDBC driver; and in the SQL Server network protocols and the Microsoft SQL Server database engine.  Read more...

Learn about this new feature in SQL Server 2012 and how to move your binary data.  Read more...

This white paper provides practical guidance to help BI professionals and decision makers decide whether SQL Server 2012 Analysis Services tabular or multidimensional modeling provides the best fit for your next BI solution.  Read more...