Microsoft certainly has a best-practices stored in here:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/default.mspx

Calling scripts doesn't seem to be a high I/O solution;

Assuming the scripts are stored on the computer from where the application runs...

Have a look at

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/articleList.asp?categoryid=102

1. Have a proper design (very very important)

2. Try to avoid holding locks (not retrieving all rows, waiting for user input in the midst of...

There are no errors in the SQL Server log?

Is Server1 sql server still reachable when it can't communicate with the other sql server?

Fully patched (windows + sql server)?

Ram tested?

You will need the /PAE switch for >4GB

see http://support.microsoft.com/?id=283037

Never seen sql server dropping databases on his own.

Sure there isn't an (backup)application/job/user doing this?

Perhaps you can set up profiler to listen for sp_detachdb commands

You mean the scripts are stored on the server and are called using xp_cmdshell? Or that they are send across the network as sql-statements?

1)Advantages using stored procedures:

Reduces roundtrips (network latency)

Managebility,resusability...

SELECT convert(datetime,'20050910') as myDate

select convert(varchar(20),convert(datetime,'20050910'),103) as myVarCharDate

Should do it.

select avg(DurationSummed.duration)

from

(select sum(duration) duration

from cutlog group by datepart(dy,date))

) as DurationSummed

?

make an union?

select columnA as MyColumn

union all

select columnB as MyColumn

union all

select columnC as MyColumn

In order to update on a linked server there should be a primary key on the table to function as recordidentifier.

Delimiting all identifiers is an excellent approach.

I think by lazyness and readability we decided to use a naming convention prohibiting the use of problem object names ( like spaces in...

The Convertion of char data type to a datetime type resulted in an out-of-range datetime value.

-> results in a date before 1753

Look up CONVERT for an extra format parameter.

This article should help you on the way:

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/rc_hardware_planning.asp

Sql server performance: 80% application+design,20% hardware

Hardware performance benefits: memory (the more the merrier-> less slow IO activity needed),IO subsystem, cpu (as this...

it is possible for windows 2003 enterprise

Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition supports 32 GB of physical RAM. Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition supports 64 GB of physical RAM by using...

not sure, but I believe Gold = non beta