Configure SQL Server Alerts for Azure SQL Managed Instance
How can we setup alerts in Azure SQL MI to notify us when there are issues?
2025-09-15
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Getting In: Running External Code in a Locked-Down PaaS
In Part 1, I explored how to bend SQL Server Agent to our will and peek under the hood of Azure SQL Managed Instance (SQL MI), gaining full OS access to the container (all without relying on xp_cmdshell). But once I realized what kind of door I'd opened, curiosity pushed us further, tempting us to […]
2025-07-17 (first published: 2025-07-16)
454 reads
Why Clone Fails: Discovering the Hardware Beneath Azure SQL MI
In this next part of the series on Managed Instance, we see how to discover a bit about the internals of how the instance is being run. Learn how to kill and respawn a Managed Instance.
2025-06-27
1,103 reads
Inside the Walls of Azure SQL MI
Here's a teaser about Azure SQL Managed Instance, which isn't quite PaaS or IaaS, but isn't as locked down as you might think. This is the introduction to a three part series to follow.
2025-08-27 (first published: 2025-06-18)
3,750 reads
Managed Instance Gotchas – Configuration Items
Validate all of your settings and be prepared to make some changes during your migration process. Most of the incompatible options make sense when you think about the purpose of SQL MI – it is controlled by Microsoft. Hardware settings, local file access, high-availability settings, and auditing are configured differently or completely disabled.
2025-06-11
Managed Instance Gotchas – Error Conditions
I was recently on a project to migrate a very transactional installation of SQL Server to Azure SQL Managed Instance (MI). SQL Managed Instance is a good stepping stone between a full, on-prem SQL instance / Azure VM and an Azure SQL Database.
2025-04-25
Azure Managed Instance Download and Restore SQL Server Backup
Create an SQL Server backup for an Azure Managed Instance that you can download and restore on another SQL Server instance.
2024-10-14
Managed Instance Impressions
Today Steve asks about your view of Managed Instance. He has found many people like the offering quite a bit.
2024-05-27
389 reads
Deploying Azure SQL Database Using an ARM Template
Provisioning infrastructure in a timely and reliable manner is essential for agile development. One well-liked method that lets you use code to automate resource management and provisioning is infrastructure as code (IaC). Azure Resource Manager templates are one IaC solution for Azure (ARM templates).
2024-02-02
2,668 reads
Creating a Hyperscale Database in Azure Using the Azure Portal
One of the most effective ways to fully utilize your data is to create an Azure Hyperscale database. The principles of Azure Hyperscale databases have been discussed in this article, including their cost-effectiveness, worldwide accessibility, automatic scaling, and reliable performance.
2023-12-22
2,146 reads
Blogs
PowerPoint to HTML with Claude AI
By Steve Jones
I had an idea for an animated view of a sales tool, and started...
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...
Forums
25 Years of SQL Server Central
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The Decoded Value
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Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
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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