Vendor Value
Software maintenance is often required when purchasing software packages. But do the vendors deliver value for this charge? Steve Jones has a few thoughts on the subject.
2009-05-17
76 reads
Articles
Vendor Value
Software maintenance is often required when purchasing software packages. But do the vendors deliver value for this charge? Steve Jones has a few thoughts on the subject.
2009-05-17
87 reads
Setting up a SQL cluster under MS VS2005 R2 Part2
Continuing with setting up a 2 node SQL cluster under MS Virtual server 2005 Ent R2 SP1, Perry Whittle looks at the SQL configuration in this article.
2009-05-15
3,933 reads
The Data Access Handbook - Sample Chapter
We have a sample chapter available from The Data Access Handbook, written by experts at DataDirect Technologies.
2009-05-15
1,947 reads
Overview of Native XML Web Services for Microsoft SQL Server 2005
Get an overview of how to set up and use XML Web Services using SOAP/HTTP inside SQL Server 2005 (formerly known as "Yukon"). Illustrative examples are included. To get the most from this paper, you should have a basic understanding of Web service technologies including HTTP, SOAP, and WSDL.
2009-05-15
1,725 reads
SQL Server UDF to pad a string
Unlike other relational database management systems that shall remain nameless, SQL Server's underlying coding language, T/SQL, does not have a built-in function for padding string values. I recently took it upon myself to create my own and as you'll see I got a little carried away
2009-05-15
2,910 reads
Mastering SQL Server Profiler - Part 4: Profiler Events
The fourth module of the training course "Becoming a Profiler Master", takes a detailed look at the many events and event categories that can be collected with Profiler.
2009-05-14
8,458 reads
Simple Steps to Creating SSIS Package Configuration File
This new article from Lanre Famuyide shows how to make your SSIS package deployment hassle free by using package configuration files.
2009-05-14
74,678 reads
Data Degradation
The other day at a conference, the subject of data degradation/corrosion arose. The speaker at the conference said that data in a database degraded or corroded over time. The statement was made as if degradation over time applied to all databases. I found this blanket statement to be misguided. Indeed, I think that data does degrade in some databases, but not all.
2009-05-14
2,180 reads
The Best Days
Feeling his age a bit, Steve Jones asks you about yours in this Friday's poll. Where do you think you are in your career as a technologist?
2009-05-14
347 reads
Blogs
Adding an HTTP MCP Server to VSCode
By Steve Jones
I wrote earlier this week about the SQL MCP Server using the Data API...
Microsoft announces new cybersecurity AI multi-model
By Brian Kelley
Yesterday, July 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity effort called Project Perception. Included...
Getting the SQL Server MCP Server Running
By Steve Jones
If you’ve wanted a SQL Server MCP server for your databases, it’s available. The...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
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The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server
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Building Your Own Software
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Question of the Day
Symmetric Key Encryption
If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256, KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase', IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7'; GOSee possible answers