How SQL Server stores data types: sql_variant
This post looks at a curious data type that isn’t really a data type. Instead, sql_variant tries to be all things to all people. As with most things in...
2020-09-30
244 reads
Randolph West
- Twitter: @_randolph_west
- Website: https://bornsql.ca/blog/
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rabryst/
A new malware attack on SQL Server
Tencent Security has released a report (written in Chinese) describing a new malware attack by the name of “MrbMiner” on SQL Server instances exposed to the Internet with passwords that can...
2020-09-23
402 reads
If not me, then who?
[Content Warning: this post contains references to subjects that may trigger a trauma response. Read with caution.] This is not a technical post. I was going to write about...
2020-09-16
65 reads
How SQL Server stores data types: XML
This week we’re looking at how the database engine stores the XML data type in SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. If you would like to read about storage of...
2020-09-09
179 reads
The final word on storage for DATETIME2
Two years ago I wrote a post that got a lot of traction in the comments at the time. Last month there was renewed interest because one of the...
2020-09-02
40 reads
Using the Xero OAuth 2.0 API from a .NET Core console application
This is not a post about SQL Server, but I need to write about something that I’ve been struggling with for a number of weeks so that other people...
2020-08-26
253 reads
Finally, PASS is a proper association now
For the longest time PASS was known as the Professional Association for SQL Server, and made all of its money from a single event each year, the PASS Summit. If...
2020-08-19
50 reads
Fun and profit with UTF-8
When SQL Server 2019 was announced, it brought with it UTF-8 support. Also available in Azure SQL Database, UTF-8 is exciting if you have a legacy database and application...
2020-08-12
74 reads
Managing virtual machine drives on ESXi
Recently I migrated my home lab from a SuperMicro SYS-E300-8D to something a little beefier. There were ten virtual machines on the SuperMicro server, nine which were allocated 127...
2020-08-05
25 reads
Honorifics in the 21st century
As data professionals, we should understand how language and forms of address can impact our data model. In the 21st century, we should also learn how to communicate with colleagues in a respectful and professional manner.
2020-07-30
2,442 reads
Blogs
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....
A Front Door for the DBA Team – AgentDBA UI
By Arun Sirpal
AgentDBA began as a command line. That suits one DBA on one server, but...
Cleaning Up Azure MS Defender Billing
By Steve Jones
I have a few Azure subscriptions, which are fairly small and not used that...
Forums
SQL Server Vector Support II
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Vector Support II
Great Things
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Great Things
Troubleshooting Slow Queries That Already Have an Index
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Troubleshooting Slow Queries That Already...
Question of the Day
SQL Server Vector Support II
With regard to SQL Server 2025's Vector support, what is an embedding?
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