Monitoring SQL Server Instance Version and Builds with PowerShell
In this article we continue our PowerShell monitoring series with scripts that check the current version and build for all SQL Server instances in your environment.
2020-11-26
Articles
Win a three-month subscription to Pluralsight
Redgate is giving you the chance to win a three-month subscription to Pluralsight (the technical skills training platform) in this month’s forum competition. To enter, simply share ‘how SQL Compare has helped you’.
2020-11-26 (first published: 2020-11-19)
Getting Informative SQL Agent Notifications from Failed SSIS Packages
Getting informative error messages when something goes wrong with an SSIS package is critical, especially if you are not in front of your computer.
2020-11-25
7,162 reads
Exploring errors to reveal unauthorized information
Database administrators can never stop thinking about security. In this article, Fabiano Amorim shows how data can be revealed through error messages when views are used to secure rows.
2020-11-25
Free eBook: Defensive Database Programming
Resilient T-SQL code is code that is designed to last, and to be safely reused by others. The goal of defensive database programming, the goal of this book, is to help you to produce resilient T-SQL code that robustly and gracefully handles cases of unintended use, and is resilient to common changes to the database environment.
2020-11-25 (first published: 2013-08-28)
105,836 reads
SQL Snippets Galore, Added to SQL Prompt
Imagine having at your fingertips all the metadata queries you need to explore your SQL Server databases and then, a few clicks later, all your diagnostic queries to troubleshoot their performance. Phil Factor demonstrates how it can be done, by storing each set of snippets in a standard JSON collection and using PowerShell to convert them to SQL Prompt snippet files.
2020-11-25
Check Windows Services Status with T-SQL
In this article we look at creating a SQL Server stored procedure that displays a list of all Windows services based on running or stopped state.
2020-11-24
Learn about Version Control with Redgate University
Are you new to Version Control and not sure where to start? Visit the Redgate University and check out Steve Jones' Introduction to Version Control course. In just 20 minutes Steve will give you a rundown of what version control is and what the benefits are.
2020-11-24
424 reads
Get involved in the 2021 State of Database DevOps survey
We’re inviting you to take part in the 2021 State of Database DevOps survey! Now in its 5th year, the leading research on Database DevOps will also explore how DevOps strategies have contributed to the resilience of the database during the pandemic. Complete the survey to get exclusive access to the final report and the chance to win a $500 Amazon gift card. Take the survey here.
2020-11-23
Visualizing Azure Resource Metrics Data in Power BI
Learn the five steps to perform Azure resource reporting with Power BI in order to embed the reports in dashboards for stakeholders.
2020-11-23
Blogs
Advice I Like: Responsibility
By Steve Jones
“The foundation of maturity: Just because it’s not your fault doesn’t mean it’s not...
Power BI Performance in 2026: A Practical Guide to Faster Semantic Models and Reports
By James Serra
Originally published April 2022; substantially updated July 2026. This post is a complete replacement...
Getting Started with Azure SQL Developer on Macbook
The idea behind Azure SQL Developer is for anyone to build, iterate, and test...
Forums
Migration Challenge: Excessive FULLSCAN Statistics Update Duration Blocking SQL
Hello everyone , I am planning to migrate a database from SQL Server 2014...
SQL Agent Job Automated Change Capture Process
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Agent Job Automated Change...
Another Model, More Data Loss
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Another Model, More Data Loss
Question of the Day
Finding a Database Master Key
Where do I check for the existence of a Database Master Key (DMK) in SQL Server 2025?
See possible answers