SQL 2016: Columnstore row group Merge policy and index maintenance improvements
Denzil Ribeiro looks at how SQL Server 2016's new Merge functionality in INDEX REORGANIZE simplifies Columnstore index maintenance significantly.
2015-09-08
3,007 reads
Additional Articles
Building Databases: One Man’s Best Practice?
One man’s meat is often another man’s poison. In this editorial Tony Davis looks at why a migrations-based approach to database version control might not always be best practice.
2015-09-07
6,262 reads
An Introduction to the OpenPOWER Foundation
In a bid to challenge Intel's dominance of high performance computing environments, IBM have introduced OpenPOWER, a flexible open-source framework based on their POWER processor architecture. Robert Sheldon looks at the potential of this new platform.
2015-09-04
4,562 reads
Understand the Limitations of SQL Server Dynamic Data Masking
Dynamic data masking provides a simple way to implement obfuscation of private data. However it's important to understand the limitations, and to keep in mind that it is not true encryption and that the data cannot be protected in all scenarios. Aaron Bertrand explains.
2015-09-03
3,475 reads
Creating Dashboards for Mobile Devices with Datazen – Part 3
With the recent acquisition of Datazen by Microsoft, if you have SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition or later with Software Assurance, you can download and use Datazen to create visually appealing dashboards for mobile devices across all the major platforms at no additional cost. In this article, Arshad Ali demonstrates creating data source, data views and then creating dashboards using them with Datazen Publisher.
2015-09-02
5,144 reads
Free Workshop: Microsoft Data Platform Modernisation - London, Sep 24
Are you an ISV and/or commercial software developer using SQL Server? Are you considering how to upgrade your application to take advantage of new SQL Server 2014 and would like to know more about how Microsoft can help your migration and sales/marketing efforts? Register using this invitation key 9ABED3
2015-09-01
5,194 reads
Selective Updates with ASP.NET SignalR
Many developers get the misleading perception that ASP.NET SignalR merely helps to build a chat application or provides live updates of news, stock and score tickers. In reality, ASP.NET SignalR has a broader scope. In this article, Dino Esposito covers a few techniques to make selective SignalR updates to pages behind an ASP.NET authentication layer.
2015-09-01
2,801 reads
Choosing hash distributed table vs. round-robin distributed table in Azure SQL DW Service
Designing databases to use distributed tables effectively will help you to achieve the storage and query processing benefits of the Azure SQL DW Service (SQL DW). In this article, Murshed Zaman explains the various Azure SQL Data Warehouse distributed table types, and offers guidance for choosing the type of distributed table to use and when to use it.
2015-08-31
2,130 reads
Free Webinar: Should your databases be Continuously Delivered?
If you want to learn more about Continuous Delivery, and where your databases fit into the picture, join Dave Farley on September 2nd for a webinar covering why databases are an essential component of CD, and how to start modernizing your software development practices.
2015-08-31 (first published: 2015-08-13)
8,593 reads
SQL Server 2016 – Introduction to Stretch Database
Beginning with SQL Server 2016 you will have the ability to store portions of a database in the cloud. Tim Radney introduces Stretch Database by looking at the applications and limitations of the new feature.
2015-08-28
5,395 reads
Blogs
Asking for Help Isn’t a Weakness
By Brian Kelley
During COVID, I attended training on software/enterprise architecture given by Mark Richards. One of...
The Proof of the Backup Is in the Pudding
For me, the objective is straightforward: have a backup strategy that is reliable, understandable,...
T-SQL Tuesday #204 – Are blogs still relevant?
By DesertDBA
Note: This post is the invitation for T-SQL Tuesday #204 on November 3rd, 2026....
Forums
The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
Planning for Change
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Planning for Change
Importing Excel files into SQL Server, Azure Edition
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Importing Excel files into SQL...
Question of the Day
The ##MS_DatabaseConnector## User
On SQL Server 2025, I run this code as a sysadmin:
CREATE LOGIN Demo WITH PASSWORD = 'Demo1234567' GO ALTER SERVER ROLE ##MS_DatabaseConnector## ADD MEMBER Demo GOI then login as Demo and run this:
USE sandbox go SELECT CURRENT_USERWhat is returned? See possible answers