13 Disasters
This editorial that was originally published on Aug 15, 2007. It is being rerun as Steve is traveling. This editorial looks at the issues that happen in production and how you should perhaps plan for disasters.
The Database Recovery Advisor in SQL Server 2012
The Database Recovery Advisor in SQL Server 2012 will aid the ability of DBAs to recover their databases to a point in time in a crisis. Read about this new feature and how it can speed the process of recovery.
Tuning People?
Database people are used to changing the hardware of the server on which a problem database resides, or making changes to indexes and database settings, but humans and their organisations are far more difficult to tune and optimise than databases.
FileTable in SQL Server 2012
Among the many new features released in SQL Server 2012 is FileTable, which facilitates database storage of file and directory storage.
Comparing Table Variables with Temporary Tables
This articles brings a comparison of temporary tables with table variables from SQL Server author, Wayne Sheffield. In includes an in-depth look at the differences between them.
Interns
Today we have an editorial from Aug 8, 2007 that is being republished as Steve is on holiday. This piece looks at interns and how it's a good idea for finding new employees.
Handling Deadlocks in SQL Server
In this excerpt from his book Troubleshooting SQL Server: A Guide for the Accidental DBA, Jonathan Kehayias provides a guide to identifying the causes, reacting to, and ultimately preventing the dreaded deadlock.
Learn in the Margins
It can be very hard to find time to learn new skills and get better at your job. Today Steve Jones talks about finding a little time in the margins of your life.
Re-compilation and Its effects on Performance
How recompilation does significantly affect on the execution time of SQL query and plummet or degrade the performance?
Securing the Tabular BI Semantic Model
This paper introduces the security model for tabular BI semantic models in SQL Server 2012. You will learn how to create roles, implement dynamic security, configure impersonation settings, manage roles, and choose a method for connecting to models that works in your network security context.
Blogs
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
Forums
query to track time spent on individual tasks in SSIS
Hi everyone I am looking at building a query to determine how much time...
SQL Server Transactional Replication from Always On Availability Groups to Azure SQL Database
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Transactional Replication from...
Hidden Heroes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Hidden Heroes
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences I
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which are explicitly linked to increment a number in a table when a new row is added?
See possible answers