2025-07-18
2,676 reads
2025-07-18
2,676 reads
In this article, I wanted to test a common assumption we DBAs make – that adding INCLUDE columns to indexes is harmless. I created a FULL recovery test database with a realistic wide Orders table containing extra large VARCHAR columns to simulate an ERP workload. I ran updates and measured transaction log backup sizes before and after adding INCLUDE columns to a nonclustered index. The results shocked me. The update without INCLUDE columns generated a 10 MB log backup, while the same update with INCLUDE columns produced over 170 MB – a 17x increase in log volume. I explain why this happens: INCLUDE columns are physically stored in index leaf rows, so updates affecting them write bigger log records. I also clarify that updating key columns generates even more log than INCLUDE updates because it involves row movement (delete + insert), but INCLUDE updates still cost more log than if those columns weren’t indexed at all. The takeaway is clear – INCLUDE columns are powerful, but they silently increase transaction log generation, impacting backup sizes, replication lag, and DR readiness. Always measure their real cost before deploying to production.
2025-07-18
185 reads
In Part 1, I explored how to bend SQL Server Agent to our will and peek under the hood of Azure SQL Managed Instance (SQL MI), gaining full OS access to the container (all without relying on xp_cmdshell). But once I realized what kind of door I'd opened, curiosity pushed us further, tempting us to […]
2025-07-17 (first published: 2025-07-16)
252 reads
In this next article, we look at creating balanced dimensions on demand.
2025-07-16
518 reads
Article Overview In this article we will learn how to integrate a Spring boot application with Apache Cassandra database and Redis cache. This is an extension to one of our previous articles which demonstrates the steps to set up Apache Cassandra and how to integrate is with Springboot, link shared below. https://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/cassandra-springboot-integration In this tutorial […]
2025-07-14 (first published: 2024-07-18)
43 reads
This article shows the final step of an availability group creation, specifically for a distributed clusterless one.
2025-07-14
2,773 reads
With the ever-increasing pace of the digital era, companies are continuously looking for opportunities to enhance efficiency, cut costs, and optimize operations. The most viable way to accomplish these is through Custom Automation Software Development.
2025-07-11
394 reads
2025-07-11 (first published: 2018-12-20)
12,026 reads
This is a list of the builds for SQL Server 2022. There are other build lists available here. A list of all the builds that I can find and install on my Build VM. If you find a build not listed here, please let the webmaster know (webmaster at sqlservercentral.com). All builds are listed in reverse […]
2025-07-11 (first published: 2022-09-01)
3,909 reads
Get a quick glimpse of using AI in SQL Server by implementing a machine learning system.
2025-07-11
1,140 reads
By Daniel Janik
The circle cylinder of life Maybe you’ve noticed all the twenty somethings tight rolling...
By Chris Yates
In today’s data-driven economy, organizations are no longer asking if they should invest in...
By Rohit Garg
PostgreSQL, often referred to as Postgres, is a powerful, open-source object-relational database system that...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How a Legacy Logic Choked...
Good Morning All, We are facing replication latency issue. I checked for blocking, long...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Life's Little Frustrations
I have this table in SQL Server 2022:
CREATE TABLE CustomerLarge (CustomerID INT NOT NULL IDENTITY(1, 1) CONSTRAINT CustomerLargePK PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED , CustomerName VARCHAR(20) , CustomerContactFirstName VARCHAR(40) , CustomerContactLastName VARCHAR(40) , Address VARCHAR(20) , Address2 VARCHAR(20) , City VARCHAR(20) , CountryCode CHAR(3) , Postal VARCHAR(20) ) GOIf I check the columns_updated() function return in a trigger, what is the data returned? See possible answers