Since the introduction of SQL Server 2005, there is a simple lightweight trace that is left running by default on every SQL Server. This provides some very valuable information for the DBA about the running server, but it isn't well-documented. Feodor Georgiev reveals many of the secrets of this facility and shows how to get reports from it.
This Friday Steve Jones asks you about the Enterprise Edition of SQL Server, and what should the distinction be?
SQL Server 2008 Service Broker lets you process higher priority messages and conversations earlier than those with lower priority.
From time to time I see a question asking how to determine the last time a SQL Server was either...
A hacker breaches security by gaining control of an executive's email account. Does that mean that we should consider adding another level of authentication to privileged requests?
You need to generate random data directly into SQL Server table columns or close to the database engine as variables or expressions. Looking at the SQL Server available functions, you notice that only RAND function offers support for random data generation. Although RAND([seed]) is a built-in function, it can only return a float value between 0 and 1, and has other limitations in regards to seed values. Because your table columns may be of various data types, and each data type may have a lower value and an upper value, you would prefer to create your custom random data generators. This is when SQL Server CLR functions come into play and provide a viable solution.
Hierarchical structures have an inherent ability for significant data value increases beyond the data collected. This will be shown to exist in hierarchical structures and even more powerfully in their natural hierarchical processing capabilities. These will demonstrate flexible and efficient ways to increase data value automatically and will be discussed in this article. SQL will be used to perform a wide range of hierarchical processing operations that easily demonstrate these increasing data value capabilities.
SQL Bits 8 will be in Brighton in the UK on April 7th-9th. There are paid full days of training as well as a free day on Saturday. Register now for the premier SQL Server event in the UK.
To mark my 30th Birthday today, as promised here’s a SQL Server Crossword for you to enjoy. You can find the previous...
In this second article of a short series we look at using the Extended Properties which you have added to a database
By Brian Kelley
I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...
By Steve Jones
Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand....
By HeyMo0sh
As a DevOps practitioner, I’ve always focused on performance, scalability, and automation. But as...
Hi everyone I asked this earlier but the desired outcome is a bit different...
Hi, I have a SQL Server instance where users connect to via Windows Authentication,...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Deployment Processes
I have a query from a former DBA that we run on SQL Server 2025 to check on database metadata. This query references sys.sysaltfiles. I want to refactor this code to be more modern. Which DMV should I reference instead?
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