Using the Default Trace in SQL Server
I have heard of the default trace in SQL Server. I know it’s on by default, but I don’t know how to use it. What can I do with the default trace?
2025-04-18
Administration
Killing a SPID and Checking Rollback progress in SQL Server
From time to time, I encounter blocking situations where I end up issuing a SQL KILL command against the blocking SPID. When I run sp_who2, I can see the killed SPID is in a ROLLBACK state. Is there any way I can get an idea of how long the rollback for the SPID will take?
2025-04-09
2025-04-04
1,255 reads
Finding Out What Changed in a Cumulative Update
Over the last several years, Microsoft has been putting less and less effort into Cumulative Update documentation. We used to get full-blown knowledge base articles about fixes, but these days, we get a collection of footnotes with deceiving hyperlinks that look like they’re going to lead to more information – but they simply lead back to themselves.
2025-03-31
2025-03-28
1,145 reads
SQL Server 2022 CU Updates and Error Code 0x851A0043
The documentation cautions that cumulative updates (CU) could fail if a specific registry key isn’t updated after moving the master files, so I wanted to test this before I spent too much time configuring the server.
2025-03-12
Tracking Table Sizes
Today Steve asks if you track the details of your table growth inside a database.
2025-03-07
186 reads
How to rename a SQL Server database
There may come a time when you want to or need to rename a database. In this tip we look at a couple different options.
2025-01-31
SQL Server Forced Plans Overwite the Query Hash
A 16-year old SQL Server bug that means 'forced plans' have the query plan hash in place of the expected query hash. Includes an explanation and discussion of the term 'morally equivalent plan'.
2024-12-27
2024-12-13
1,637 reads
Blogs
Case Studies: Real-World Success Stories of FinOps Implementation
By HeyMo0sh
Learning any kind of theory is easy, but adapting FinOps and watching it rescue...
SQL Server Security: Always Encryption
By Vinay Thakur
As discussed introduction of Always Encryption blog and initial Encryption at rest as TDE...
SQL Server Security – TDE Encryption
By Vinay Thakur
Transparent Data Encryption(TDE): TDE was initially introduced in SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition; this...
Forums
The day-to-day pressures of a DBA team, and how we can work smarter with automation and AI
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The day-to-day pressures of a...
The Problem Isn't Always Your Query or Schema... Sometimes It's Hidden Assumptions
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Problem Isn't Always Your...
Identity Defaults
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Identity Defaults
Question of the Day
Identity Defaults
What happens when I run this code?
CREATE TABLE dbo.IdentityTest
(
id int IDENTITY(10) PRIMARY KEY,
somevalue VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
See possible answers