Combining R and SQL Server to diagnose performance bottlenecks
Using clustering algorithms to analyse index usage data from SQL Server’s DMVs & simplify complex performance investigations.
2017-05-29 (first published: 2015-12-07)
9,873 reads
Articles
Generating Plots Automatically From PowerShell and SQL Server Using Gnuplot
When you are automating a number of tasks, or performing a batch of tests, you want a way of automating the production of your plots and graphs. Nothing beats a good graphical plot for giving the indications of how the process went. If you are using PowerShell and maybe also SQL Server, it pays to use a command-line plotting tool such as Gnuplot to do all the hard work. It turns out to be handy for a range of data jobs, turning PowerShell into a handy data science tool.
2017-05-29
3,301 reads
Using striped backups with SQL Clone
If you’re a Redgate SQL Backup customer, occasionally you’ll need to convert your SQL Backup (.sqb) files to the native SQL Server backup format (.bak), perhaps to perform native database restores on a server where SQL Backup isn’t installed. This produces a striped backup, because each thread used when making the backup will produce a separate file. Can we use a striped backup produced in this way, or indeed any striped backup, as the source for a SQL Clone image? Short answer: we can! Let’s see how that works.
2017-05-29
2,237 reads
How to deploy a database plus static data using SQL Compare and SQL Data Compare
This article from Tony Davis describes how to the use the Redgate SQL Compare and SQL Data Compare GUIs to get the current version of a database schema, and its static data, into version control, and then automate database deployments from the version control system using SQL Compare's command line and PowerShell.
2017-05-26
4,474 reads
It’s not you, it’s me (I/O troubleshooting)
Monica Rathburn talks about a few of the more common elements she always checks for when troubleshooting I/O problems.
2017-05-26
3,491 reads
Getting Started with Azure SQL Data Warehouse - Part 4
Azure SQL Data Warehouse is a new enterprise-class, elastic petabyte-scale, data warehouse service. Join Arshad Ali as he discusses round-robin and distributed tables, and how to create them. He also discusses how partitioning works in SQL Data Warehouse and looks at the impact of choosing the right distribution key. As a bonus Arshad shows you how to leverage PolyBase to quickly and easily import or export data from SQL Data Warehouse.
2017-05-25
3,392 reads
Training: Zero to BIML
A four-day course aimed at BI developers who want to use Business Intelligence Markup Language (BIML) to generate SQL Server Integration Services packages.
2017-05-25
3,411 reads
Masking your on-premise database with SQL Data Mask
In the last update from Redgate Foundry three weeks ago, they announced their intention to build a version of SQL Data Mask that would mask on-premise SQL Server databases, as well as Azure SQL Databases. They're pleased to say this version of the prototype is now available - here are the details.
2017-05-24
2,809 reads
2017-05-23
5,452 reads
Azure Networking for SQL Server DBAs
The network is important to any DBA because so much performance is dependent on I/O, because of the importance of security, and ensuring that everyone get the right access. DBAs generally need not become experts in Azure networks, but it helps to understand the concepts and language. If you are running a SQL Server Virtual Machine in Azure, then VNets, Subnets, Network Security Groups, VNet peering and VPN gateways are all worth knowing about in order to to keep SQL Servers running smoothly.
2017-05-23
3,526 reads
Blogs
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Question of the Day
Backup to Immutable Storage
In SQL Server 2025, a backup can be made on Azure Immutable Storage. What changes in how the backup is created?
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