Over the past couple of years, I've been using the bejeezus out of AI. I don't really feel like an expert by any means - it's so hard to keep up with the advancements - but I've been enjoying reading Grant Fritchey's series on building stuff with AI, and I thought you might enjoy some of my lessons learned as well.
2026-08-19
This guide walks through the most common SQL Server index tuning mistakes seen in production environments, such as over-indexing, oversized INCLUDE lists, unnecessary fill factor settings, misuse of SORT_IN_TEMPDB, over-aggressive index maintenance – and the myth that heaps are a shortcut to speed. Features real examples.
2026-08-17
I've just spent a week in the UK visiting the Redgate HQ with my fellow advocates. I'm really blessed to get to work with such a great bunch of people. A couple of the conversations we had stuck with me and I'd like to share them here. Sitting in the midst of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK, […]
2026-08-15
62 reads
This article looks at one of the killers of performance at scale, SELECT *.
2026-08-14
1,864 reads
As database changesets accumulate over time, they gradually become more than deployment artifacts. This level explores how a well-organized changeset library evolves into a replayable representation of the database’s structural history, supporting not only reliable deployments but also reconstruction, auditing, and long-term maintainability. Through practical examples and a real-world case study, it shows why maintaining coherent Create and Rollback scripts continues to provide value long after a successful production deployment.
2026-08-05
608 reads
2026-08-03
930 reads
Yeah, I've got the Go-Go's running in my head because I'm going on vacation tomorrow (holiday for you UK types). I've been slogging through a really dense book, War in Human Civilization. Total recommendation. Get it. Read it. However, I'm right near the end and there's been a lot of discussion about the impact of […]
2026-08-01
107 reads
This article covers a few common errors when attaching database files to an instance, with some information on how to resolve the issues.
2026-07-31
1,080 reads
Although ‘Big Data’ (and more specifically, the analysis of it) offers several benefits, organizations often fail to derive the correct insights – the data that could help them make better business decisions. So, in this article, I’ll reveal exactly how organizations can take full advantage of these large datasets to make those better business decisions and improve operational effectiveness.
2026-07-31
I was performing research for requested AI work and noticed that I was viewing the risks from a database perspective. As the saying goes in the tech industry, “Once a DBA always a DBA…” As foreign as some of the views were, much of it feels familiar and I simply begin to look at it […]
2026-07-25
125 reads
If you spend your days tuning queries, managing pipelines, or keeping a production database...
I’ve been rebuilding my three-site SQL Server demo lab, and I ran into something...
By SQLPals
SQL Server gMSA: Why DBAs Still Aren't Using It in 2026 ...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Never is Not the Policy
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Automating SSAS Multidimensional Security Audits...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Rebuilding All Indexes
I have added a few indexes to one of my tables in SQL Server 2025:
ALTER TABLE dbo.CustomerContact
ADD CONSTRAINT PK_CustomerContact
PRIMARY KEY (CustomerID);
-- Create index on CustomerEmail
CREATE INDEX IX_CustomerContact_CustomerEmail
ON dbo.CustomerContact (CustomerEmail);
CREATE INDEX IX_CustomerContact_CustomerEmail
ON dbo.CustomerContact (phone);
I then do this to disable one index:
alter index IX_CustomerContact_CustomerPhone on dbo.CustomerContact disableI see this when I check the index status:
I decide to rebuild all indexes with this command:
ALTER INDEX ALL ON dbo.CustomerContactAfter I do this, what will I see for the index status? See possible answers