SQL Server instance metadata inventory with PowerShell and SMO
The purpose of this article is to introduce a PowerShell script that I wrote and published on...
2026-06-19 (first published: 2026-05-29)
461 reads
Track SQL Server Configuration Changes Using the Error Log
If you work with SQL Server long enough, you or someone will eventually want to know, “Did...
2026-05-29 (first published: 2026-05-14)
370 reads
Beware of Generic SQL Server License Keys (What to Use Instead)
I (think) realize that content here is probably more applicable to mid-to-large organizations than small...
2026-05-01 (first published: 2026-04-22)
415 reads
PowerShell Remoting for SQL DBAs: WinRM + SSH Guide (Updated 2026)
Originally published in 2023, this post never made it into Google's index, so I'm republishing it...
2026-04-03 (first published: 2026-03-26)
518 reads
Fix Slow, Bloated MSDB: Purge Old History And Add Missing Indexes
After tempdb, msdb is often the most abused system database, growing unchecked until it tanks...
2026-02-11 (first published: 2026-01-30)
566 reads
Reality (And Limits) of Instant File Initialization for Transaction Logs in SQL Server 2022
If you’ve spent any time tuning SQL Server, you’ve probably heard “Turn...
2026-02-09 (first published: 2026-01-27)
332 reads
Dry-run xp_delete_file Before Actually Deleting Files?
xp_delete_file doesn’t really have a built-in dry-run option to preview which files it would remove. But there’s a simple workaround,...
2025-12-10 (first published: 2025-11-27)
508 reads
Writing Better Dynamic SQL
This updated and "sort" of a style guide is for SQL developers and, to some extent, DBAs, essentially anyone daring (and sometimes...
2025-11-18
320 reads
Set Theory vs. Batch Mode in SQL Server
Not long ago, a colleague of mine was completely shocked when he first heard about SQL Server’s Batch Mode feature. His immediate...
2025-10-15 (first published: 2025-09-23)
598 reads
Measuring and Improving SQL Server Query Plan Cache Efficiency
The query plan cache hit ratio in SQL Server indicates the percentage of queries that are executed...
2025-07-11 (first published: 2025-06-24)
687 reads
Programmatic Tool Calling with the Claude SDK Every morning somebody on the team runs the...
By Steve Jones
mauerbauertraurigkeit – n. inexplicable urge to push people away, even close friends whose company...
By Brian Kelley
Pinal Dave wrote up his methodology for what to do when you discover bad...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Why SQL Server Database Attach...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Fixing P1 Queries
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code:
select bit_count('A')
What is returned? See possible answers