Instant File Initialization

This article describes a way to speed up various file operations performed by SQL Server.

Agile 2014, Florida

Agile Alliance is holding a conference July 28 - August 1 in Orlando, Florida. If you're interested in Agile development, whether your initiative is mature or brand new, enterprise-wide or team-centric, you will find the finest knowledge, resources and people at Agile2014. This conference is for Teams, Developers, Managers and Executives. Register while space is available.

The Mindset of the Enterprise DBA: Creating and Applying Standards to Our Work

Although many professions require judgement and skill, they also require the ability to do many repeated standard procedures in a consistent and methodical manner. For DBAs, standardization involves providing and following checklists, notes and instructions so that the results are predictable, correct and easy to maintain.

Microsoft Azure Diagnostics Part 2: Basic Configuration of Azure Cloud Service Diagnostics

Michael Collier takes a look at the key aspects of configuring the diagnostic agent in Microsoft Azure to collect the data you want, and transfer that data to storage on a schedule you define.

Dynamic Management Views: Changes in SQL Server 2014

SQL Server 2014 has a number of new DMVs, and some changes from SQL Server 2012. What are the new views and changes, and how can be useful to you?

Rollback and Recovery Troubleshooting; Challenges and Strategies

What happens if your database deployment goes awry? Grant Fritchey has some troubleshooting advice to get you out of a bind.

Creating Memory-Optimized Table in SQL Server 2014

A quick introduction of how to create memory-optimized tables in SQL Server 2014

DBAs and the Fear Factor

Louis Davidson on why DBAs ought to do one thing, every day, that is scary.

Finding Unused SQL Server Stored Procedures With PowerShell

Tim Smith describes a number of ways to tell which Stored Procedures are in use, DMVs, a SQL Server Trace, and his preferred method, the Source Code and PowerShell.

SQLServerCentral.com 2014 Users Survey

We want to make sure we're covering the things that are relevant to you, so we're asking for some feedback on what you use on SSC, where we need to improve, and what you'd like to see.

It should only take a few minutes, and three randomly-selected people will win a $50 Amazon gift card for their efforts.