Reading the transaction log is challenging and one of the tools that enables you go get insight is ApexSQL Log. New author S. Srivathsani takes a look at this tool and how it worked in one environment.   Read more...

Reporting is a huge part of any DBA's job with constant changes and new requests for data that non-technical people can use. And more and more often the format of choice is PDF, which ensures the end result looks the same on many different platforms. Kathi Kellenberger takes a look at a product that can allow end-users to generate PDFs from a database and easily send them to other people.   Read more...

Longtime SQL Server expert and author Michael Coles takes a look at one of the security products that every SQL Server DBA should consider. Read on to find out how NGSSQuirreL can help you.   Read more...

Maintaining SQL Server security is fast becoming a big part of a SQL Server DBA's job. Longtime security expert Brian Kelley takes a look at a security scanner: Typhon III   Read more...

Danny Lesandrini reviews SQL Refactor, a SQL Server Add-In that works with the new SQL Server Management Studio.  Read more...

Every DBA should know what is going on with their database servers, but this is a chore that requires some type of tool to help. SQLCentric from Pearl Knowledge Solutions is a tool that can help you and SQL Server MVP Satya Shyam brings us a look how to setup and use this tool in your environment.   Read more...

A new product from SoftArtisans makes it easy for Reporting Services users to work in their familiar Word and Excel environments. Longtime author Jonathan Spink brings us a review of this software.   Read more...

Visual Studio developers have enjoyed the benefits of intellisense for some time, but us SQL Server users have had to work from memory. Wayne Fillis was so enthralled with a new offering from Red Gate he wrote a short review and sent it in. Check out his thoughts and how this product can help you.   Read more...

A special offer on this product for SQLServerCentral.com and a mini review. Read about how to get your FREE copy of this utility.   Read more...

When architects speak with database administrators, it is important they come forearmed. Tools can help. While Microsoft's own database management tools cover the most common database administration scenarios, they don't do anything about some of the most common pain points faced when you need to maintain and deploy SQL Server databases for projects under active development. That's where Red Gate comes in.  Read more...

Choosing a backup solution can be a trying exercise with all the various add on products these days. New author David Bird gives us some insight into his testing and decisions with a look at Litespeed and Tivoli's Storage Manager.   Read more...

Do you have a need to generate bar codes for an application? Check out this new product, reviewed by Dinesh Asanka, that uses Reporting Services to help you easily print bar codes.   Read more...

Do you want intellisense for Query Analyzer? Many people would love this amazing enhancement that has long been available for Visual Studio users. It is now available as an add-in from PromptSQL and Brian Kelley reviews this amazing product.   Read more...

In this review, Brian reviews one of his favorite tools in his DBA toolkit. He shows you some of the new features in this event management system and how it can shave hours off your day each day.   Read more...

Have you ever needed to figure out which objects in development need to go to production? Ever wondered about how to get your databases back in synch? SQL Server guru David Poole takes a look at SQL Examiner, a product that he feel works well for him and is looking to purchase. Read about David's impressions and see if this is for you.   Read more...

The integration of SQL Server 2000 with version control is basically nonexistent. Managing and keeping track of your changes and files is a cumbersome task, and prone to have mistakes occur. There is a product that can help you with this called dbGhost and Jeremy Brown takes a look at this product and how it works.   Read more...

SQL Diagnostic Manager from Idera is a great tool for troubleshooting issues with your SQL Server databases. Kathi Kellenberher puts this tool through it's paces and gives you some insight into how it fits in a busy SQL Server environment.   Read more...

Now it's time to review yet another migration related product from AdventNet. It is called "AdventNet SwisSQL Sybase to SQL Server Migration Tool 2.1". As the name suggests, this migration product automates the conversion of Sybase ASE (Adaptive Server Enterprise) T-SQL stored procedures, inbuilt functions, triggers, tables, views, and other database objects to Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL.   Read more...

How often do you check your SQL Server tables for fragmentation? How often do you defragment them? This is one of those technologies that has been available for disks for a long time, but now is here for SQL Server. Norb Technologies is offering a discount to the SQLServerCentral.com community on this product.   Read more...

Having a good tool to read your SQL Server transaction log can be a lifesaver, or a job saver. RegGate Software, maker of a number of useful SQL Server utilities has a log reader and Grany Fritchey takes a look at this product and how it might work in your environment.   Read more...

Longtime author David Poole has written an excellent article about using SQLDoc, from Red Gate Software. Learn how you can document your own databases in this sponsored article.  Read more...

An article sponsored by SQL Sentry that compares how the Data Collector in SQL Server 2008 and SQL Sentry's Performance Advisor can be used with your SQL Server. Written by MVP Aaron Bertrand.  Read more...

Rodney Landrum, DBA manager in Pensacola, Florida, puts the pain of DBA:M into context as we learn about how SQL Backup can evolve to keep pace. Take a look at the changes we’ve got planned to help time-pressed DBAs in the forthcoming pre-release of version 6.0, including a new compression level and network resilience.   Read more...