SQL 2008 R2 Cluster Setup: Easy? Not So Much.
The SQL Server 2008 R2 setup program crashes sometimes leaving you with a "half installed" instance: this is about how I repaired the setup on a populated cluster.
Thinking Time
Do you get time to stop and think, without being pressured to solve a specific problem? Steve Jones notes that it's important to get that creative time to grow and produce better work.
7 Preventable Backup Errors
The loss of a company's data is often enough to put the company out of business; and yet backup errors are generally avoidable with the application of common sense rather than deep technical knowledge. Grant digs into memories of his long experience of giving forum advice, to come up with the most easily preventable backup errors.
Little Love Lost for SMO
SMO is a very useful way of automating a wide range of routine database jobs, but Phil Factor laments Microsoft's apparent ambivalence towards the technology, including a lack of anything remotely resembling adequate documentation.
Stress – It’s Not Fair
Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren that looks at stress and how it impacts your job. He offers a few ways that you might better deal with it as well.
TSQL Challenge 70 - Find the longest sequence of alphabets in a string
This challenge invites you to identify the longest sequence of alphabets from a string.
Data Mining Model Training Destination in SQL Server Integration Services
How to incorporate data mining directly into the Data Flow of SQL Server 2008 R2 Integration Services-based packages.
A VB.NET toolkit for writing SSIS Script Tasks
This article demonstrates basic VB.NET code that will enable SSIS package developers to write useful custom SSIS script tasks.
Snack Attack
This editorial was originally published on Jan 11, 2007 and is being re-run as Steve is on vacation. A fun poll today asking what you like to eat at work.
Blogs
Databases and AI Agents
By Arun Sirpal
As part of my wider work exploring Claude Code and AI-assisted database engineering, I...
Creating a Pulsing Conducting Baton - Part 1
By Bert Wagner
Train Wreck The last time I watched a high school band nearly fall apart mid-performance...
ISACA AI Material/Exam Prep Discount (May 18 – June 30, 2026)
By Brian Kelley
If you are considering any of the ISACA AI certs like the Advanced Artificial...
Forums
Why Your Index Isn't Being Used? - Reading Execution Plans to Find the Real Culprit
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Distance Metric Algorithms
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What Can AI Really Do?
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Question of the Day
Distance Metric Algorithms
What are the distance metric algorithms that can be used in VECTOR_DISTANCE()?
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