Extended Events: Avoid the XML
One story I hear over and over goes like this: I tried setting up Extended Events, but then I saw the output was XML so I stopped. Look, I...
2021-04-08 (first published: 2021-03-29)
369 reads
The Scary DBA
Query Store as an Upgrade Tool
There are a lot of uses for Query Store, but one of the most interesting is as an upgrade tool. We all know that upgrades in SQL Server can...
2021-03-29 (first published: 2021-03-22)
314 reads
Apologies
Hello all! I wanted to apologize to you. I haven’t been keeping up with the blog well at all over the last couple of months. I have simply been...
2021-03-15
30 reads
Learning A Little Oracle
As part of my job, I’ve been tasked with doing some of my work in Oracle, so I’m learning Oracle. Allow me to share a little of my pain...
2021-02-19 (first published: 2021-02-15)
335 reads
SELECT * Hurts Performance, Badly
Quite a few years ago, I wrote a post about SELECT * and performance. That post had a bit of a click-bait title (freely admitted). I wrote the post...
2021-02-01 (first published: 2021-01-25)
696 reads
Getting Started Reading Execution Plans: Highest Cost Operator
Reading execution plans in SQL Server is just hard. There’s a lot to learn and understand. I previously outlined the basics I use to get started when I’m looking...
2020-12-22 (first published: 2020-12-14)
660 reads
Why Aren’t You Automating Database Deployments?
Building out processes and mechanisms for automated code deployments and testing can be quite a lot of work and isn’t easy. Now, try the same thing with data, and...
2020-12-03 (first published: 2020-11-23)
524 reads
The Learning Curve for DevOps
If you’re attempting to implement automation in and around your deployments, you’re going to find there is quite a steep learning curve for DevOps and DevOps-style implementations. Since adopting...
2020-11-25 (first published: 2020-11-16)
273 reads
Database Fundamentals #29: Create Foreign Keys With Table Designer
The purpose of a foreign key is to ensure data integrity by making sure that data added to a child table actually exists in the parent table and preventing...
2020-11-09 (first published: 2020-11-02)
260 reads
Most Costly Statement in a Stored Procedure
A lot of stored procedures have multiple statements and determining the most costly statement in a given proc is a very common task. After all, you want to focus...
2020-10-19 (first published: 2020-10-12)
892 reads
Blogs
Vibe Coding a Login Tracking System
By Steve Jones
A customer was asking about tracking logins and logouts in Redgate Monitor. We don’t...
4 CPE Opportunity (Virtual) for Charity
By Brian Kelley
Every year, the South Carolina State Internal Auditors Association and the South Carolina Midlands...
Data Céilí 2026 Call for Speakers!
Data Céilí 2026 Call for Speakers is now live! Data Céilí (pronounced kay-lee), is...
Forums
SQL Server audit with windows ad group
I am trying to create a filter on a SQL Server audit to capture...
Deadlock graph anomaly
I've come across what appears to be a strange deadlock anomaly. As seen in...
Stairway to Azure SQL Hyperscale Level 6: Backup and Restore Internals
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Azure SQL Hyperscale...
Question of the Day
Deprecated Feature Tracking
From T-SQL, without requiring an XEvent session, can I tell which deprecated features are being used on my instance?
See possible answers