Well, without using any arabic numerals, you could also do:

SELECT PI()/PI();

But those are "numbers", without being "digits", so it's probably not acceptable.

What name/address are you using in the connection string? "localhost" or "(local)" or "SQL 2012" or something else?

CELKO (9/20/2012)

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don't think you'll scare him. Maybe offend, but not scare. He comes across as one of those borderline sociopathy cases that have very thin skin, but assume everyone...

String truncation.

Is it on a different network, or different subnet? Try pinging the IP address you are using, from the server that can't connect. See if you get a...

All the data on how mirroring works in SQL Server can be found here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189852.aspx

There are tables in msdb that record what backups were done, where to (disk path, tape location, network path), what type, when they were done, and what was backed up.

Details...

I use a calendar table for that kind of thing.

Create a table of all dates for the year (or decade, whatever length seems appropriate). Mark the ones that are...

SQL Server Central has a "cousin-site" (not quite as close as a sister site, but still pretty close) at http://www.simple-talk.com. Both sites are owned by RedGate. Simple-Talk has...

Do you get an error message when you try to connect?

I've been using the book metaphore for over a decade, and it works so long as you actually have a book to show them with. I run into people...

Not sure what you mean by "static" vs "hard coded".

I use nested DateAdd and DateDiff functions to get last and first days of various time periods. For example, find...

Of course, another possibility is that it wasn't an interview question at all. Possible that the manager who asked it was hoping for some free consulting from you, and...

dwain.c (9/20/2012)

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GSquared (9/19/2012)

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Phil Parkin (9/19/2012)

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One thing which I have noticed with MERGE is that it does not natively provide separate Updated/Inserted/Deleted counts.

You need to code an OUTPUT clause and use...

Phil Parkin (9/19/2012)

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One thing which I have noticed with MERGE is that it does not natively provide separate Updated/Inserted/Deleted counts.

You need to code an OUTPUT clause and use $Action to...