Random Numbers

External Article

Evaluating the Randomness of SQL Server Random Number Functions

  • Article

Microsoft provides T-SQL developers with three functions (rand, newid, and crypt_gen_random) for generating random numbers. Each of these functions is effective at returning random values, but feature sets associated with each function make them best suited to different use cases. This tip’s Solution section presents an overview of common use cases for random numbers in SQL Server along with references to learn more about random numbers in SQL Server.

2025-05-12

Blogs

Tooling for Success: The Best FinOps Tools and Technologies

By

As a DevOps person, I know that to make FinOps successful, you need more...

From Planning to Practice: Setting Up Your FinOps Framework

By

As someone who works in DevOps, I’m always focused on creating systems that are...

“We love to debate minutiae”

By

I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...

Read the latest Blogs

Forums

Restoring On Top II

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Restoring On Top II

SQL Art 2: St Patrick’s Day in SSMS (Shamrock + Pint + Pixel Text)

By Terry Jago

Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art 2: St Patrick’s...

Breaking Down Your Work

By Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Breaking Down Your Work

Visit the forum

Question of the Day

Restoring On Top II

I have a database, DNRTest, that has a number of tables and other objects in it. The other day, I was trying to mock up a test and ran this code on the same server: 

-- run yesterday
CREATE DATABASE DNRTest2
GO
USE DNRTest2
GO
CREATE TABLE NewTable (id INT)
GO
Today, I realize that I need a copy of DNRTest for another mockup, and I run this: 
-- run today
USE Master
BACKUP DATABASE DNRTest TO DISK = 'dnrtest.bak'
GO
RESTORE DATABASE DNRTest2 FROM DISK = 'dnrtest.bak' WITH REPLACE
What happens?

See possible answers