What is CPU Usage?
Tracking metrics and reporting on them to others can help ensure everyone is aware of how your database servers are functioning. However, Steve notes that we have to agree on what we are measuring.
2026-07-22
213 reads
Editorials
2026-07-20 (first published: 2019-08-20)
694 reads
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
136 reads
The Mythical Bus Accident
Preparing for disaster is important, both at work and in your personal life.
2026-07-17
124 reads
A Security and AI Fail
Security is an important consideration for anyone working with data, but it's especially a concern with AI.
2026-07-15
155 reads
Forward Deployed Engineers
A new job title, the forward deployed engineer, is becoming more popular.
2026-07-13
202 reads
SSRS Reminded Me of the Time Microsoft Retired TMG
Reading that SQL Server 2025 shipped without SSRS took me back to 2012, when Microsoft announced end-of-life for TMG — our perimeter firewall, web proxy, and SSL inspection. It had run quietly for years until it suddenly needed a plan. Within weeks, vendors found us. Demos, a steering committee, a three-month project plan. We weren't […]
2026-07-11
143 reads
I Can't Make You Learn
Steve believes that his career and life have become better as he learns more everything. It's the key to improvement.
2026-07-10
156 reads
A Quick Second Opinion
Communication is hard, and it's something most of us can learn to do better. Steve notes that using an LLM for tasks will also help you learn to communicate better.
2026-07-08
170 reads
Bad IT People
What happens when you have bad IT people working in your company? Steve Jones says that they always will be around, but we might not want to enable them to continue in this business when we find them.
2026-07-06 (first published: 2011-03-02)
2,388 reads
Blogs
T-SQL Snapshot Backups on Availability Group Secondary Replicas
One of my favourite features of SQL Server 2022 was the T-SQL Snapshot Backups....
The Book of Redgate: Hours
By Steve Jones
I have said and written this many times: Redgate Software is the type of...
How to Check TDE Progress and Elapsed Time in SQL Server
By SQLPals
How to Check TDE Progress and Elapsed Time in SQL Server ...
Forums
AI Experience Gap that we keep talking about
Comments posted to this topic are about the item AI Experience Gap that we...
Squared Values
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Squared Values
I Don't Want To Do XX
Comments posted to this topic are about the item I Don't Want To Do...
Question of the Day
Squared Values
What happens when I run this code in SQL Server 2022?
SELECT SQUARE('12') See possible answers