The SQL Server 2016 Plan
Steve notes SQL Server 2016 went out of support this past week. What are you plans if you run this version?
2026-07-18
106 reads
SQL Server 2016
2023-09-06
368 reads
Has SQL Server Performance Improved?
This week Steve found a question of whether SQL Server 2019 uses more CPU than 2016.
2023-04-01
737 reads
2021-09-08
832 reads
Fixing "Login failed for user" error in SQL Server
In this article, I am going to explain fixing a problem related login failure error with SQL Server. The Problem One of the common error in the SQL Server error log is "Login failed for user 'DomainName\ServerName$'. Reason: Could not find a login matching the name provided. [CLIENT: <local machine>]". Even though it says that […]
2025-12-31 (first published: 2020-11-24)
55,539 reads
Converting a History Table into a System-Versioned Temporal Table
Temporal tables were introduced with SQL Server 2016. To take advantage of this feature, you might start fresh with a brand new table. It is possible, however, to convert an existing table with accumulated history to the new functionality. In this article, Mala Mahadevan explains how to create temporal tables for both scenarios.
2019-04-01
Approaches to Import JSON in SSIS (SQL Server 2016+) Part 2
In this article, 2nd of 2-part series, we will look at the 3rd approach to import JSON, recap both parts of the series and form a conclusion.
2020-03-20 (first published: 2018-08-27)
6,652 reads
Approaches to Import JSON in SSIS (SQL Server 2016+) Part 1
In this article, 1st of 2-part series, we will look at 2 approaches to import JSON in SSIS using 2 methods: the new functionality of SQL Server 2016 and the Json.NET library.
2020-03-13 (first published: 2018-08-20)
32,678 reads
2018-03-13
974 reads
2018-02-15
913 reads
Blogs
Resolving SQL Server Transaction Log Issues Efficiently
By Arun Sirpal
Transaction log issues are one of the quietest ways a healthy database turns into...
Adding an HTTP MCP Server to VSCode
By Steve Jones
I wrote earlier this week about the SQL MCP Server using the Data API...
Microsoft announces new cybersecurity AI multi-model
By Brian Kelley
Yesterday, July 27, 2026, Microsoft announced a new cybersecurity effort called Project Perception. Included...
Forums
Symmetric Key Encryption
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Symmetric Key Encryption
The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why Your Login Auditing Strategy Might Be Hurting Your Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The “Successful Login” Dilemma: Why...
Building Your Own Software
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Building Your Own Software
Question of the Day
Symmetric Key Encryption
If I run this statement in SQL Server 2025, how is the password encrypted?
CREATE SYMMETRIC KEY MySymmetricKey WITH ALGORITHM = AES_256, KEY_SOURCE = 'My secret key source passphrase', IDENTITY_VALUE = 'My secret identity value' ENCRYPTION BY PASSWORD = 'S&perS#cretP@ssword7'; GOSee possible answers