Digging Into Internals
There are plenty of experts that look to teach you about query tuning and the internals of query execution in SQL Server.
2020-07-18
145 reads
Performance Tuning
A simple use case for Columnstore Indexes in SQL Server
In this article we look at different use cases for columnstore indexes like when performing SQL Server count * queries.
2020-01-17
Optimize Your SQL by Reformulating the Spec
As SQL developers, we tend to think of performance tuning in terms of crafting the best table indices, avoiding scalar and table valued functions, and analyzing query plans (among other things). But sometimes going back to the spec and applying some properties of elementary math can be the best way to begin to improve performance of SQL queries which implement mathematical formulas. This article is a case study of how I used this technique to optimize my SQL implementation of the Inverse Simpson Index.
2019-09-12
2,855 reads
The Basics - Level 1 of the Stairway to Query Store
Introduction Instead of going straight into the topic of the Query Store, I would like to start this Stairway Series by mentioning a few performance tuning scenarios that are very common to production DBAs. I think most of us have been in one of these situations at some time: An application experiencing slowness after a […]
2020-10-07 (first published: 2019-05-13)
5,532 reads
IGNORE_DUP_KEY slower on clustered indexes
The IGNORE_DUP_KEY option for unique indexes specifies how SQL Server responds to an attempt to INSERT duplicate values: It only applies to tables (not views) and only to inserts. Any insert portion of a MERGE statement ignores any IGNORE_DUP_KEY index setting.
2019-04-05
Indexed Views – Performance Panacea or Plight
Far too often, an indexed view is created without consideration for the costs of the indexed view. In this article, Jason Brimhall covers some of the more important costs that are frequently overlooked when considering an indexed view as a performance panacea.
2019-04-05
WhoIsActive In SSMS
Kevin Feasel provides three SSMS keyboard shortcuts for the sp_whoisactive calls he uses most often in day-to-day database development and query tuning work.
2019-04-02
How to Determine Activity on Each Processor in SQL Server
The contents of the SELECT, WHERE and ORDER BY clauses are all a matter of determining the story you need to tell. I was asked to look into an issue recently where a 40-core SQL Server instance was fully utilizing a one node over all others...
2019-03-30
Tracking the number of active sessions on a database using SQL Monitor
It’s surprisingly useful to know the number of active sessions on each of the databases on your servers. With a bit of SQL, we can create a custom metric to track how many sessions recently performed reads or writes on a database.
2019-03-30
Can You Force A Parallel Plan in Query Store?
I love the questions I get when presenting: Can You Force a Parallel Plan in Query Store. I haven’t a clue. The trick I think is going to be in setting up the test. Let’s try it out.
2019-03-30
Blogs
The End of PASS
By Andy Warren
I think our profession was the better for having a professional association, even if...
Platforms for Events
By Andy Warren
in my last post I wrote about thinking of the tools as being a...
Getting Started with Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Using the Power Automate Desktop
By Devin-Knight
There are a lot of hot phrases you’ve likely heard thrown around during various...
Forums
sp_execute and sp_executesql and sp_prepexec for the same statement
From our software provided by a third party vendor, I am seeing the following:...
"Home PC" SQL instance
This may be a bit non-typical, but I am currently running SQL 2019 Developer...
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