SELECT FORMAT(COUNT(1),’N’) FROM TableName WITH (NOLOCK);
Alternate title: How do I tell how far I am on that command? This little command (frequently with a WHERE ... Continue reading
2024-01-05 (first published: 2023-12-26)
1,087 reads
Blog Posts
Skipping SQL Bits 2024
SQL Bits has been my favorite data platform event for years. Both it and the PASS Data Community Summit hold special places in my heard and I enjoy going,...
2024-01-04
31 reads
Create failed for Availability Group
Ever since the release of Always On Availability Group (AG or HADR) in SQL Server 2012 the adoption ratio is increasing. A lots of my clients too are adopting...
2024-01-03 (first published: 2023-12-25)
4,434 reads
Kusto (KQL) for Azure SQL Audit
According to Rod Trent, Kusto is named after Jacques Cousteau. He says, “We are exploring the depths of our data” by searching and querying our Azure log data. His...
2024-01-03 (first published: 2023-12-26)
326 reads
Testing Microsoft Fabric - Part 4
After several discussions with the Microsoft team and chatting with Sunil Sabat about the testing I was conducting, the conclusion was...
2024-01-03
7 reads
Career Plan for 2024
It’s a holiday today, but I’m dropping this as I spent last week working on it. I wrote about having a career plan on Friday, with a few notes...
2024-01-01
44 reads
Clearing Intellisense in SQL Prompt
I got this question from an account rep: if a customer is using SQL Prompt and a snippet, for example AT, that was also used as an alias, is...
2024-01-01 (first published: 2023-12-13)
279 reads
Spark Connect
Spark Connect References https://spark.apache.org/docs/latest/spark-connect-overview.html
https://www.databricks.com/blog/2022/07/07/introducing-spark-connect-the-power-of-apache-spark-everywhere.html
Reference Implementations Rust
GOLang
Source gRPC proto files https://github.com/apache/spark/tree/master/connector/connect/common/src/main/protobuf/spark/connect
Useful Videos If this doesn’t get you excited then nothing will it is, of course, suitable for work, it is...
2024-01-01
25 reads
A New Word: Koiniphobia
koinophobia – n. the fear that you’ve lived an ordinary life. The last one of the year. I’ve enjoyed reading through this dictionary, learning new (made up) words, and...
2023-12-29
227 reads
Can you take a differential backup of master?
In one of the sessions I attended during the Pass Data Community Summit the speaker asked “If master is in ... Continue reading
2023-12-29 (first published: 2023-12-19)
295 reads
Blogs
Microsoft Fabric OneLake Shortcuts: When to Use Them and When Not To
By James Serra
An architecture scenario Imagine separate Sales, Finance, Shared Data, and Executive Analytics workspaces. Sales...
SQL Server Security Hardening Guide Using the DoD STIG Checklist
Security on your SQL Server is important. That doesn’t need any explaining. But where...
EightKB 2026: Registration is Open!
It’s that time of year again! EightKB is back on August 20th at 13:00...
Forums
Backing Up a DMK
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Backing Up a DMK
The Quiet Part
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Quiet Part
BIT_COUNT in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item BIT_COUNT in SQL Server
Question of the Day
Backing Up a DMK
In SQL Server 2025, I have a database with a Database Masker Key (DMK). I want to back up this key and keep a copy offline. When do I have to open this key before running the backup?
See possible answers