Parallelism can reduce concurrency. This is a strong reason not to allow SQL Server to execute queries aggressively in parallel mode. In this tip, I will set up a demo to show that parallelism reduces query performance on a server with high concurrency.
2026-03-23
Learn how you can add transactional replication to an AG to move data to an Azure SQL Database.
2026-03-20
2,899 reads
Every few years, someone asks a familiar question: do we really still need to disable the sa account in SQL Server? After all, it’s 2026. SQL Server has better encryption, better auditing, better defaults, and more security features than ever before. Surely this old guidance belongs in the past?
2026-03-20
Answering a couple of questions from the previous posts about dropping columns.
2026-03-18
2,118 reads
SQL Server Management Studio keeps adding features, but unless you look you probably don’t notice. In this article, we look at the new Query Hint Recommendation Tool in SSMS 2022 and how this can be used.
2026-03-18
You know you shouldn't have production data in test environments. But every time you look at fixing it, the options feel impossible: enterprise tools that cost six figures and take months to implement, or DIY scripts that sort of work until they don't. Join this webinar on Mar 18 to learn more.
2026-03-18 (first published: 2026-03-09)
Last time we turned SQL Server into a Christmas tree. Every year around St Patrick's Day I find myself doing something I can't fully justify. This year that thing was using SQL Server's spatial viewer to draw a shamrock and a pint of Guinness. Hope you have a happy St Patrick's Day and a few […]
2026-03-16
2,259 reads
LinkedIn is full of absolute trash these days. Just flat out b****** garbage. (Oh yeah, that – this post should probably come with a language disclaimer, because this stuff makes me mad.)
2026-03-16
This article explains how I use sqlpackage to detect schema drift and generate a delta script that shows exactly what’s different.
2026-03-13
2,392 reads
SSMS 22 has several new features. Is there a compilation list of the new features? How will these features help me as a SQL Server professional?
2026-03-13
When I put together the invitation for T-SQL Tuesday #202, I wasn't sure what...
By Steve Jones
My life has some crazy travel stretches for sure. Between speaking, office visits, customer...
In Part 1, we saw how ‘Vamana’ represents vectors as nodes, connects them with...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Server-Level Table sizes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Optional Parameter Plan Optimization in...
There is a table tmp_tab:
CREATE TABLE tmp_tab ( id int, val int );
INSERT INTO tmp_tab VALUES (1, 1), (2, NULL), (3, 3), (4, 4), (5, 5);You want to order the rows ids by the following expression:
ISNULL(val, id) + 1Which of the following queries produces the expected ordering and why? (Select all correct) See possible answers