Are You an Exceptional DBA?
The Exceptional DBA award is back again in 2009. Steve Jones comments a little on his experience last year.
Gathering in the Corner - SQLSaturday #14
I'm done with SQLSaturday #14, actually stuck in Pensacola for an extra night, but that's another story. It was a great event, and I have to say I was very surprised at the number and variety of speakers that came to contribute to the event
Geo-Replication Performance Gains with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Running on Windows Server 2008
This paper provides IT pros with an in-depth look at the tests conducted by the MSCOM Ops team, insight into the results, and technical analysis of the enhancements to Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 that enable wide area network (WAN)–based geo-replication.
Notes on SQLSaturday #14 in Pensacola
I'm just back from the event and it turned out very well, just over 170 attendees attending their choice of 30 sessions. Pensacola is a lot smaller than some cities so the 170 is an amazing turnout, and unusually there was only about a 10% no show...
SQL Saturday 14 - Pensacola
I’ve just arrived home from a quick trip to Pensacola to speak at SQL Saturday 14 in Pensacola, FL. I’m quite happy with the event; the planning and organization was handled very well, and I believe the event was a big success in the eyes of the...
SQL Saturday Pensacola pics
The SQL Saturday Pensacola pics are up! Visit the SQL Saturday Facebook group at
Using authenticators with SQL Server encryption
Authenticators are additional data that gets encrypted along with the data to be stored in an encrypted manner. When it comes to decrypt the data, if the right authenticator isn't specified, SQL Server doesn't return the data in the decrypted form. Rather, a NULL value is returned, just as if the wrong key was used.
Who's At Fault
Who do you blame when software fails? Hopefully you don't hire a lawyer before you do. Steve Jones talks about liability and software.
Back to the Future
Steve Jones asks this Friday if there is anything you wish you might have done differently.
Back to the Future
Steve Jones asks this Friday if there is anything you wish you might have done differently.
Blogs
The Book of Redgate: Spread across the world
By Steve Jones
This was Redgate in 2010, spread across the globe. First the EU/US Here’s Asia...
Merry Christmas
By John
Today is Christmas and while I do not expect anybody to actual be reading...
Self-Hosting a Photo Server the Whole Family Can Use
By Bert Wagner
Until recently, my family's 90,000+ photos have been hidden away in the depths of...
Forums
Happy Holidays, Let's Do Nerdy Stuff
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Happy Holidays, Let's Do Nerdy...
UNISTR Escape
Comments posted to this topic are about the item UNISTR Escape
Celebrating Tomorrow
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Celebrating Tomorrow
Question of the Day
UNISTR Escape
In SQL Server 2025, I run this command:
SELECT UNISTR('*3041*308A*304C\3068 and good night', '*') as "A Classic";
What is returned? (assume the database has an appropriate collation)
A: 
B: 
C: 
See possible answers