SSIS: Conditional File Processing in a ForEach Loop
I’ve fielded a number of requests recently asking how to interrogate a file within SSIS and change the processing rules...
Mutexes in SQL
This article shows you how to manage process control among multiple servers using a lightweight database utility
The DBA Financial Analyst
Will DBAs need to perform more complex financial analysis of the options they consider when building and tuning software systems? Steve Jones thinks it might be a skill needed in cloud computing.
Security Auditing Matching Up Logins And Users
I have been tasked with auditing security on my SQL Server. However, this needs to be a somewhat automated process as I don't want to have to rely on taking screenshots every month to satisfy our auditors. What tables and/or views should I be using and what's the best way to extract the information out of them?
The Semantics of NULL in SQL Server 2008
Learn the basics of NULL, what it is, and how to query for it in your databases from Adolfo Socorro. What NULL means, how to account for it, and how are expressions involving NULL evaluated
Tracy Hamlin, Exceptional DBA of 2010, on what it means to go the extra mile
An interview with the Exceptional DBA of 2010, Tracy Hamlin.
When To Touch
When can you modify a database that supports some third party product? Steve Jones has a few thoughts and warns you to be careful.
Executing SSIS Packages Using DTExec
Learn how the DTExec and DTExecUI utilities give you the ability to assign values to arbitrary properties of components within a SQL Server Integration Services package, when invoking its execution.
DMVs: are they worth the effort?
Many of the SQL Server DMVs still have a wild, unfinished feel but they are an incredibly useful tool for DBA, well-worth the sweat and toil required to learn and query them effectively.
Multi-Script, Multi-DB Deployments
A way to handle application releases involving multiple scripts and/or multiple databases.
Blogs
Funny Money: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
While wandering around the documentation looking for some Question of the Day topics, I...
Why Database AI Agents need Layers?
By Arun Sirpal
Third part in my Ai series with databases. When building AI solutions within the...
Un-Migrating From the Cloud: T-SQL Tuesday #199
By Steve Jones
This month we have a very interesting invitation from Koen Verbeeck. He has hosted...
Forums
Backup Availability Group
Please I am hoping for some feedback Specifications: Windows Server 2022 SQL Server 2022...
How Do the Experts Become Experts?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Do the Experts Become...
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 4 – Preparing for Production Deployment
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
Question of the Day
Secure Communications
As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?
See possible answers