SQL Server vs. Oracle
Just so we’re clear, I use SQL Server. I like SQL Server. But, this doesn’t mean I have anything against...
2012-09-07
5,022 reads
Azure Virtual Machine TempDb Placement
The recommended location for the tempDb on an Azure virtual machine, is the non-persisted D: drive. This drive is actually...
2012-09-06
2,085 reads
Introduction to Windows Azure SQL Database Services (Part 2)
In my last article “Introduction to Windows Azure SQL Database Services (Part 1)“, I’ve provided an overview of Microsoft Windows...
2012-09-06
1,257 reads
SQLskills joining Pluralsight is a good news for all
Many can boast that they were trained by Paul and Kimberly Randal at SQLskills. That company is so highly regarded...
2012-09-06
1,088 reads
Meet Thomas Kejser in Aarhus
This is normally not a place where we advertise for events held by our friends, but today I’ll make an...
2012-09-06
774 reads
This is Big Data
I’m sure some people have bigger data, but Facebook has some serious daily growth. The highlight? 500TB a day.
A day.
That’s...
2012-09-06
982 reads
Demystifying SQL Server Differential Database Backups
Odd Man Out
SQL Server has three backup types. Two you have heard of and used. One, while useful, isn’t very well understood.
Let’s...
2012-09-10 (first published: 2012-09-06)
2,813 reads
Stressed? Need training? Take a #SQLCruise!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in a training room, in the middle of a week long...
2012-09-06
983 reads
DBCC Cleaning CACHE – Memory
DBCC Cleaning CACHE – Memory I wanted to write this blog for quite some time, here you go, as you know...
2012-09-06
960 reads
Installing SQLServer for SCCM 2012 – Some points to note on patch levels
The prerequisite SQLServer 2008 R2 patch level for System Center Config Manager 2012(SCCM) is SP1 with Cumulative Update 6 (CU)
For...
2012-09-05
1,699 reads
Blogs
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later)
By SQLPals
How to Clear the SSMS Cache (SSMS 21 and Later) Updated...
The flight recorder: Replaying what an AI agent did on my SQL Server
By Arun Sirpal
“What exactly did it do on my server?” is the first question a DBA...
Announcements from the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference — Barcelona 2026
By James Serra
Microsoft shared a broad set of Fabric, Power BI, and SQL updates at FabCon...
Forums
Let's Talk Certifications
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Let's Talk Certifications
The Hidden Security Risks of Role Combination in SSAS Tabular
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Hidden Security Risks of...
The Empty Aggregate
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Empty Aggregate
Question of the Day
The Empty Aggregate
I have this table in a SQL Server 2025 database:
CREATE TABLE [dbo].[CustomerOrder] ( [OrderID] [int] NULL, [CustomerID] [int] NULL, [total] [money] NULL ) ON [PRIMARY] GOWhat is returned from this code? (answers are for the sum and then the count)
SELECT SUM(total) AS sum,
COUNT(total) AS count
FROM dbo.CustomerOrder;
See possible answers