Byte Me: Database Migra(ine)tion

Step by Step Installation of SQL Server 2014 on a New Failover Cluster

Manvendra Singh gives a step-by-step guide to installing SQL Server 2014.

Better Ways to Build a Database

The purpose of a database build is simple: prove that what you have in version control can successfully create a working database, and yet many teams struggle with unreliable and untested database build processes that slow down deployments and prevent the delivery of new functionality. Grant Fritchey explains how to achieve an automated and reliable database build that is only as complex as the database system it needs to create.

Do I Want to Design My Own Transaction Log?

The processing of the Transaction Log seems simple to reproduce, but be sure you consider all the possibilities.

SQL Server Integration Services SSIS Package Configuration

As you develop, test and deploy SSIS packages, you need to specify different parameter values for things like database connection strings, file and folder paths, etc. without having to edit the individual SSIS packages to make these changes. Ray Barley looks at how you can accomplish this goal by taking advantage of the configuration capabilities that SSIS provides, in particular the SQL Server package configuration.

Queries to Monitor SQL Server Replication Backlog

When replicating data to other servers it is always a concern that the subscribers may be far behind. In this article, Tim Smith shares some queries to help monitor SQL Server replication row counts.

Documenting SQL Server with PowerShell

SQL Server instances are generally poorly-documented. How easily can you tell if something has changed? How easily can you check that there is adequate space for growth? Are you up-to-date with licenses? What errors are happening? Who has accessing the system? Before PowerShell, it was difficult to be on top of all this. Now you can, with the help of Sander's database documenter.

Comparing string splitting / concatenation methods

Whenever a query is executed in SQL Server, its execution plan, as well as some useful execution data are placed into the plan cache for future use. This information is a treasure trove of metrics that can allow some very useful insight into your server’s performance and resource consumption - Ed Pollack shares some useful queries to start utilizing it.

Documenting SQL Server with PowerShell: PosH VC

Virtual Chapter meeting, Mar 16, 12pm EST. Documentation is mostly overlooked and only comes up when a problem arises. What if you'd have a tool or method to generate documentation for all your database servers? In this session, Sander Stad will show you show how easy it is to use PowerShell to retrieve information from your servers. He'll detail what can be used to document your servers, how to retrieve the information and what should be documented. In the end you no longer have an excuse not to document your servers.

Sparse Columns in SQL Server : Impact on Time & Space

Erin Stellato (@erinstellato) looks into sparse columns in SQL Server – the changes to space requirements and the impact on the write portion of your workload.