Data (and Humans) At Rest
We talk a lot about data in the data world – imagine that! Sometimes, we talk about data at rest, but when do we all rest? Do we even...
2024-08-12 (first published: 2024-07-30)
183 reads
SQLKitty
Using Managed Identities with Azure SQL DB
We are trying to get apps and users off of using SQL accounts to access the Azure SQL DBs where I work. To make our lives easier, we are...
2024-08-05 (first published: 2024-07-25)
364 reads
Terraform Elastic Jobs
I did a couple of other posts on Elastic Jobs. But now I want to set them up with Terraform. This aligns with how we create infrastructure where I...
2024-07-31 (first published: 2024-07-19)
162 reads
Modifying sp_QuickieStore Returned Column Order
I love QuickieStore, but I wanted some columns to be at the front end of the results returned. Namely, I wanted top_waits, query_sql_text, and query_plan right after database name....
2024-07-15 (first published: 2024-07-03)
302 reads
Export Azure SQL DB to Storage
After a data migration, we needed to decommission the old Azure SQL DBs, but we wanted to keep a copy in case we needed anything later. Enter exporting an...
2024-07-03 (first published: 2024-07-02)
400 reads
Create a copy of an Azure SQL DB
Where I work, we will be migrating data from one set of databases into another. I will be making a copy of the destination databases to allow us to...
2024-07-10 (first published: 2024-06-25)
368 reads
Query deadlock info in Azure SQL DB
A couple of weeks ago, a developer came to me and wanted to know how to figure out what was causing a deadlock. I honestly didn’t know where to...
2024-07-03 (first published: 2024-06-14)
55 reads
Large System Databases on SQL Server
This one is an oldie in my blog drafts, but a goodie! So, I will finally post it after nearly three years of sitting around. Thank you, past self,...
2024-06-04
68 reads
How to give developers access to Query Store
Let’s have devs look at their own query performance. Yes, please, sign me up for that! Sometimes, it’s hard for me to know the best course of action, especially...
2024-06-24 (first published: 2024-06-03)
616 reads
ERD Your Existing Databases
There are several tools out there to make your life easier by creating an ERD for your existing db. Everything works pretty well when you have a small number...
2024-06-12 (first published: 2024-05-23)
580 reads
Blogs
Don’t Miss Out – SQL Server Query Tuning Fundamentals Starts Next Monday!
Next Monday, February 9, 2026, my one-day live online training SQL Server Query Tuning...
Monday Monitor Tips: SQL Auditing Preview
By Steve Jones
One of the features we advocates have been advocating for is a better way...
SQL Server 2025 CU1 Fixes the Docker Desktop AVX Issue on macOS
Microsoft fixed the AVX instruction issue in SQL Server 2025 CU1. The container now...
Forums
25 Years of SQL Server Central
Comments posted to this topic are about the item 25 Years of SQL Server...
The Decoded Value
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Decoded Value
Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition...
Question of the Day
The Decoded Value
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned from this code:
DECLARE @message VARCHAR(50) = 'Hello SQL Server 2025!'; DECLARE @encoded VARCHAR(MAX); SET @encoded = BASE64_ENCODE(CAST(@message AS VARBINARY(1000))); SELECT BASE64_DECODE(@encoded)See possible answers