Windows Server 2012 introduces native deduplication functionality. While this is a promising new Windows feature for other file types and characteristics, there are some potential pitfalls that you need to be aware of when it comes to deduplication specifically for SQL Server backup files.
2013-02-08
7,363 reads
2013-02-13 (first published: 2013-01-25)
1,998 reads
The backup and restore system in SQL Server hasn't changed a great deal over the years despite a huge growth in the typical size of databases. When disaster strikes, and an important service is taken offline while a restore is performed, there is often time to reflect on whether it might be possible to design databases for a more rapid recovery of the most critical parts of a database application.
2012-12-12 (first published: 2012-11-26)
2,382 reads
You may think that if your database has backed up without errors, that it's going to restore without errors. Think again, says Paul Randal.
2013-12-27 (first published: 2012-09-24)
11,805 reads
2012-09-17
2,715 reads
2012-07-20
2,605 reads
When you need to restore but aren't 100% sure about the contents of your backup files, what do you do? Head to the headers. Grant Fritchey explains how to find the useful bits in these huge stores of information and make sure you restore the right files.
2012-04-03
1,606 reads
Next Monday, February 9, 2026, my one-day live online training SQL Server Query Tuning...
By Steve Jones
One of the features we advocates have been advocating for is a better way...
Microsoft fixed the AVX instruction issue in SQL Server 2025 CU1. The container now...
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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