This article explores the 'shadow copy' and 'disk virtualization' services built into the Windows operating system and explains a basic solution demonstrating how the technology is used to copy the data and log files for a live SQL Server database into an 'image', from which we can create multiple, lightweight copies, or clones, of the original database.
2025-10-22 (first published: 2021-04-29)
6,174 reads
Learn how indexes can help you with more than just querying data.
2025-10-22
17,819 reads
I’ve seen the SQL EXISTS keyword in Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL code and don’t understand it well. What does it do? How do I use it? Are there best practices around SQL IF EXISTS?
2025-10-22
Learn how ledger databases and ledger tables work in SQL Server 2022.
2025-10-20
17,338 reads
VIEWs are an undervalued and underused feature in SQL. They basically consist of a query that has been given a name, and a parameter list, so can be used like an inline macro. Technically, you’re supposed to think of it as a virtual table.
2025-10-20
This article shows how to use Python to create a REST API for your application that developers can use to access the database.
2025-10-17
6,276 reads
Most SQL bulk insert and SQL Server openrowset tutorials skip file access issues that can stop imports cold. Both the bulk insert statement and openrowset function rely on the SQL Server service account to read a source file. The SQL Server service account must have read permission on the file or its folder. It is also convenient to have read & execute as well as list folder content permissions.
2025-10-17
I have never seen a T-SQL feature that people love as much as NOLOCK.
2025-10-15
Learn how to migrate SSRS reports to a new server using SSRS Reports Migration Wizard. Step-by-step guide to move reports, data sources, and datasets in just a few clicks.
2025-10-13
5,463 reads
You have a Power BI project that generates real-time reports for an inventory management system that uses SQL Server. You are aware that Power BI performance is heavily influenced by how your data is structured in SQL Server but don’t have a clear understanding of how to optimize your SQL data structure for Power BI. In this article, we look at different ways to structure the data and tables to help improve Power BI query performance.
2025-10-13
By Steve Jones
This month we have a new host, Meagan Longoria, who graciously agreed to help...
By Steve Jones
I’m at the UK Redgate office today, meeting with senior leaders in all areas...
Optimizing Azure SQL Database performance often begins with identifying the most resource-intensive queries. Understanding...
When the schema of an object is changed, SQL Server wipes out the previous...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SSRS Is Dead. Here Are...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Distance Metric
In the new VECTOR_DISTANCE() function in SQL Server 2025, the first parameter is the distance_metric. What is this?
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