SQL Server and AI: Integrating Machine Learning Services
Get a quick glimpse of using AI in SQL Server by implementing a machine learning system.
2025-07-11
1,810 reads
Articles
Cloning Master Admin User Permissions in Amazon RDS for SQL Server with Fine-Grained Control
This article explores how to securely clone the master user permissions in Amazon RDS for SQL Server using a custom stored procedure, usp_rds_clone_login. It outlines a step-by-step process to generate, review, and apply a script that replicates server- and database-level access from the master user to a new login without directly exposing elevated credentials. The guide emphasizes the principle of least privilege, supports named account management, and enables transparent, auditable permission handling for DBAs and applications. Designed for secure and scalable environments, this solution enhances operational security while maintaining administrative flexibility in Amazon RDS.
2025-07-09
475 reads
PostgreSQL Aggregate Functions
Overview In this article we will go through the various in built aggregate functions available in PostgreSQL. Aggregate functions perform a calculation on a set of rows and return a single value. COUNT Function The COUNT function is a simple and very useful function in counting the number of records, which are expected to be […]
2025-07-09
410 reads
Zero-Trust Architecture for Cloud-Based AI Systems
Zero-Trust Architecture (ZTA) emerges as a strong security paradigm for cloud-based AI systems, fundamentally operating on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Unlike conventional security models, ZTA assumes potential compromise exists within the network and requires continuous verification of every access request regardless of origin.
2025-07-09
Unmasking CXPACKET and CXCONSUMER in SQL Server: What Your Execution Plan Isn’t Telling You
This article dives deep into cxpacket and cxconsumer in sql server, explaining how to simulate each, when they appear, and why they matter. Using live execution plans, wait monitoring, and worker thread diagnostics, we uncover how uneven parallelism triggers thread sync waits—and how SQL Server sometimes hides real issues behind innocent-looking CXCONSUMER waits. Includes step-by-step queries, tuning tips, and a real-world scenario where repartition streams quietly ruined performance.
2025-07-07
3,270 reads
State Transition Constraints
About two decades ago, I introduced the concept of transition constraints to show Data Validation in a database is a lot more complex than seeing if a string parameter really is an integer. In October of 2008, I did an article called Constraint Yourself! on how to use DDL constraints to assure data integrity. One of the topics in that piece was a look at state transition constraints via an auxiliary table.
2025-07-07
Automating SQL Server Inventory Collection with SQLInventory
Learn about a free inventory tool to help you keep track of basic information on your servers.
2025-07-04
4,487 reads
Parameterize Connections in Microsoft Fabric Data Factory using Variable Libraries
Building pipelines in Microsoft Fabric can be complicated, and it's easy to write code that is hard to maintain. Using parameters in your connections helps to build pipelines that are easily configured.
2025-07-04 (first published: 2025-06-02)
2,820 reads
DISTINCT and UNION: What happens when you use them together?
When I was perusing my LinkedIn feed the other day, I came across this thread about using SELECT *. In one of the replies, Aaron Cutshall noted that: “Another real performance killer is SELECT DISTINCT especially when combined with UNION. I have a whole list of commonly used hidden performance killers!”
2025-07-04
How SQL Server 2025’s Optional Parameter Plan Optimization Works
SQL Server 2025 improved PSPO to handle multiple predicates that might have parameter sensitivity, and that’s great! I love it when Microsoft ships a v1 feature, and then gradually iterates over to make it better. Adaptive Memory Grants were a similar investment that got improved over time, and today they’re fantastic.
2025-07-02
Blogs
A New Word: Anderance
By Steve Jones
anderance – n. the awareness that your partner perceives the relationship from a totally...
Troubleshooting SQL Server – Starting with the Error Log
By gbargsley
We’ve all been there. Someone walks up and asks, “Is SQL Server having issues?”...
From OLTP to Analytics: Bridging the Gap with Modern SQL Architectures
By Chris Yates
In the beginning, there was OLTP – Online Transaction Processing. Fast, reliable, and ruthlessly...
Forums
Work out closing balance using opening balance of prior month
Hello, I think I need a recursive cte query but unsure of the logic....
The Security of Old Tech
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Security of Old Tech
Question of the Day
Tables with a SPARSE Column and Consumption
True or False: Tables with a SPARSE column consume more space than regular columns if most values are NOT NULL.
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