Automating Log File Expansion
Max Vernon shows how you can automatically expand log files to optimize VLF counts: SQL Server Database Log file expansion can be fairly tedious if you need to make...
2019-05-14
Database Administration
Spring Cleaning Your Tables – And Forgetting Your Indexes. A Story of Compression
Anyone who has been either a kid or a parent has probably heard this story before. The child is sent to clean their room, which to your eyes looks...
2019-05-11
Setup SQL Server Alert to get automatically notified of database blockings
Suppose you want to or need to know anytime your SQL Server is experiencing blocking where queries are being blocked and it may or may not escalate to a...
The...
2019-04-17
Database Offline – Redux
A database can be offline at the time that you take over responsibility of the database. You will be asked when it was taken offline. This script will help...
The...
2019-04-15
What the heck is downtime, anyway?
There’s a lot of discussion about preventing downtime. As a DBA and IT professional, it’s my sworn duty to prevent downtime. I usually describe my job as DBA something...
2019-04-15
How do I let someone execute a SQL Agent job they don’t own?
In my last post I discussed the fact that SQL Ids can, in fact, be useful on an instance that ... Continue reading
The post How do I let someone...
2019-04-15
SET IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS ON Is One Hell of a Bad Idea
By default, when you run a query in SQL Server, your delete/update/insert (DUI) is finished as soon as your query finishes. That’s because the default behavior of SQL Server is IMPLICIT_TRANSACTIONS OFF – meaning, SQL Server doesn’t hold your queries open waiting for a COMMIT or ROLLBACK.
2018-03-14
3,761 reads
Changing Data Types on Large Tables: The INT to BIGINT Conundrum
Changing a data type seems like a simple task unless the table is quite large and downtime must be kept to a minimum. Danny Kruge walks you through the process he created to change an INT to a BIGINT in a large table.
2018-03-13
10,620 reads
How to Suck at Database Administration
Tara Kizer outlines 15 telltale signs that you aren't a very good senior DBA.
2018-02-26
5,733 reads
Are you bad enough to join the DBA Team
If you've ever had a terrible day, send in your story and Grant and Steve will pick their favorite to be spiced up DBA-Team-style. The winner will also be given a ticket to SQL Cruise 2015. Find out how to enter.
2014-09-10
1,401 reads
Blogs
T-SQL Tuesday #193 – A Note to Your Past, and a Warning from Your Future
By DesertDBA
I haven’t posted in a while (well, not here at least since I’ve been...
Keeping MS Docs Up to Date
By Steve Jones
One of the things that I like about the SQL Server docs (MS Learn...
Patch Tuesday – Where to get more information
By Brian Kelley
For a number of years I have subscribed to Randy Franklin Smith's Patch Tuesday...
Forums
Change Tracking – Troubleshooting
I have change tracking configured in several databases, in QA and production environments, and...
is there a no code way to limit an ssis extract from excel to the 1st 21 rows?
is there a no code way to limit an ssis extract from excel to...
Pivot but preserve all rows on Aggregate column
Hello Need help in pivoting this data set, the Pivot takes MIN/MAX on a...
Question of the Day
What is the PRODUCT
In SQL Server 2025, what does this return?
CREATE TABLE Numbers ( n INT) GO INSERT dbo.Numbers ( n ) VALUES (1), (2), (3) GO SELECT PRODUCT(n) FROM dbo.NumbersSee possible answers