Why bother with backup?

Backing up SQL Server data is like many of the things we do because we figure we need to. It is good for you, like eating a good diet and getting exercise. Unfortunately, folks are often about as successful with SQL Server backups as they are with diet and exercise.

This is the first in a series of articles covering SQL Server database backup. The series starts from the very basics of why database backup is important. The question of why to backup a database can inform many other decisions.

How to Check the Status of a File Before Processing

SQL Server Database administrators often copy(refer Fig 1.0) huge files, such as Full backup files and transaction log backup files from production to QA or from production to development environment and so on. Sometimes they need to copy source data files for importing. If they want to restore those Full backups or transaction log backup files or import those huge source files, they have to wait until the copy is complete.

A Call to Arms

Long anticipated, the arrival of radically restructured database architectures is now finally at hand. By Jim Gray of Microsoft Research.

XML Indexing In SQL Server 2005

Intrested in how to index XML documents? Here's a 12 page PDF on how this works.

Reporting Services vs. Crystal Reports

A Feature comparison of Reporting Services for SQL 2000 and Crystal Reports / Crystal Enterprise. PDF file link.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to patch SQL Server, part 2

Welcome to part two of our series on finding and patching SQL Servers in your organization. In part one we discussed how to find all of the SQL Server instances on your network. In this part, we'll discuss patch deployment and the various options available to you.

Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Presentation Nuances:

In this article, we will examine a subject that is near and dear to broadly focused report authors - the use of cube structure to create desired cosmetic effects - in the Cube Browser, and more importantly, in a reporting environment. I constantly get e-mails, and see questions in forums and elsewhere, asking how to achieve effects that are not apparently "available" in "intuitive" cube structures, such as any of those that we see in the sample cubes. One of the apparent "shortfalls" that frustrate users is their inability to display the same dimension on both the "x-" and "y-" axes for presentation purposes.

10 Things You Shouldn't Do with SQL Server

I posted a blog entry and a forum entry in a couple places to ask the question, "What are the things you see developers doing with SQL Server data access that they shouldn't?" The list grew to about 25 or 26 things that were hot topics (so much that the Microsoft SQL Server product team was passing the thread around).

The Advent of E3

A few months ago we ran a series of columns dedicated to defining each of the major disciplines of data integration: extract, transformation and load (ETL); enterprise application interchange (EAI); and enterprise information integration (EII). We also asked for input as to which method or methods of integration are in use, or planned to be used, in your organizations.

SQL Server 2005: The CLR Enters the Relational Stage

This article describes the CLR integration into the SQL Server 2005 Database Engine in detail and provides some background for answering two integration-related questions.