Uncategorized

SQLServerCentral Article

Unmasking CXPACKET and CXCONSUMER in SQL Server: What Your Execution Plan Isn’t Telling You

  • Article

This article dives deep into cxpacket and cxconsumer in sql server, explaining how to simulate each, when they appear, and why they matter. Using live execution plans, wait monitoring, and worker thread diagnostics, we uncover how uneven parallelism triggers thread sync waits—and how SQL Server sometimes hides real issues behind innocent-looking CXCONSUMER waits. Includes step-by-step queries, tuning tips, and a real-world scenario where repartition streams quietly ruined performance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(5)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-07-07

3,996 reads

External Article

State Transition Constraints

  • Article

About two decades ago, I introduced the concept of transition constraints to show Data Validation in a database is a lot more complex than seeing if a string parameter really is an integer. In October of 2008, I did an article called Constraint Yourself! on how to use DDL constraints to assure data integrity. One of the topics in that piece was a look at state transition constraints via an auxiliary table.

2025-07-07

SQLServerCentral Editorial

The Long Weekend

  • Editorial

In the US, this is the Independence Day weekend. I had a few spare vacation days, so I tacked one on, making this a four day weekend. My plans are simple. Prep for my family coming over on the 5th for a celebration of the 4th (Ha!). Work on my query tuning book (gotta make […]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(1)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-07-05

82 reads

SQLServerCentral Editorial

Own Your Mistakes

  • Editorial

Hello, Grant again as Steve is on sabbatical. My evenings and weekends are currently being used to update my SQL Server query performance book for 2025. I really enjoy it because writing the book forces me to structure my learning on SQL Server 2025, not just hit it in some slipshod manner. Plus, I've got […]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(3)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-07-04

87 reads

SQLServerCentral Editorial

Filling Big Shoes

  • Editorial

Hey all! It's me, Grant. For those who don't me, Grant Fritchey. I work with Steve Jones, the person normally talking to you here. Yes, Redgate actually employs me, and continues to. I don't know why either. Anyway, Steve is off for a few weeks on his sabbatical. More power to him and I hope […]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(3)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-07-02

113 reads

SQLServerCentral Article

The Hidden Cost of MAXDOP: CPU Spikes, Query Slowdowns, and What We Learned

  • Article

Misusing MAXDOP can silently kill performance across your SQL Server. In this deep dive, we uncover how one bad query caused CPU meltdown, run real-world tests, and show how tuning—not parallelism—often holds the true fix.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(4)

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-06-23

4,522 reads

SQLServerCentral Editorial

Shades and Reflecting on SQLBits and the Bright Future of Data

  • Editorial

There is something magical about SQLBits. Whether it is the technical sessions, the sense of community and fun, or the relentless commitment to learning about the latest innovation, this event continues to serve as a pulse check for where data is today and where it’s going tomorrow. This year’s SQLBits at the ExCel in London […]

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

You rated this post out of 5. Change rating

2025-06-21

53 reads

Blogs

A New Word: on tenderhooks

By

on tenderhooks – adj. feeling the primal satisfaction of being needed by someone, which...

Ramblings about data communities and your contributions, no excuses

By

I have been active in the data community throughout my career. I have met...

SQL Server Journey till 2025 (brief)

By

Quick Summary for Microsoft SQL Server till 2025, I am fortunate to be part...

Read the latest Blogs

Forums

Ola Hallengren Index Optimize Maintenance can we have data compression = page

By JSB_89

I have a quick question on Ola Hallengren Index Optimize Maintenance . Do we...

how do i map the "current" object entry in for each to one variable

By stan

hi, in an ssis  for each loop over an object variable called MyListVariable, i...

Simulating Mercury’s Orbital Motion Using Pure T-SQL (NASA 2025 Dataset)

By NKTgLaw

SQL Server is typically viewed as a transactional or analytical database engine. However, it...

Visit the forum

Question of the Day

String Similarity I

On SQL Server 2025, when I run this, what is returned? 

SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY('SQL Server', 'MySQL')

See possible answers