What's Your Area of Expertise?
We might be smart in one area, but not others. That's worth remembering.
Get ChatGPT’s Advice On Your Queries with sp_BlitzCache.
First off, I understand if you read the headline and you have a knee-jerk reaction. I totally understand that there are a lot of people out there who hate AI, and believe me, I hate most uses of it. Lots of its advice can be misleading at best, and absolute garbage at worst.
The Microsoft SQL Year in Review
Microsoft gives a year in review from the SQL Server and Azure SQL teams. Steve sees a lot of accomplishments from this past year.
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: The || Operator
I have been working in various computer languages for a long time. When I saw that the || operator was coming, I was a bit confused as to why we needed this, and how it would work. After all, this is a part of other languages. I decided to dig in a bit. This is […]
Your Value from a Conference
Today Steve asks what value you get from attending conferences or other events.
SQL Server 2025 Product() Function Examples
SQL Server 2025 includes new features and enhancements. In the previous SQL Server 2025 tips, we have explored many new features. Have you explored the new Product() function? If not, this will walk you through the Product() function with several examples.
Stairway to Azure SQL Hyperscale Level 6: Backup and Restore Internals
Learn how backup and restore work in Azure SQL Hyperscale in this next level in the stairway series.
The Challenge of AI
Steve sees a lot of challenges ahead for AI, especially in the area of labor and employment.
15 Practical Tips for Securing SQL Server
Securing SQL Server isn’t complicated, but it does require consistent attention to the areas where real risks arise, such as privileges, configuration, encryption, patching, and monitoring. This article outlines 15 practical, high-impact steps you can take to harden your SQL Server environment.
Blogs
From Planning to Practice: Setting Up Your FinOps Framework
By HeyMo0sh
As someone who works in DevOps, I’m always focused on creating systems that are...
“We love to debate minutiae”
By Brian Kelley
I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...
Advice I Like: Knots
By Steve Jones
Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand....
Forums
Restoring On Top II
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Restoring On Top II
SQL Art 2: St Patrick’s Day in SSMS (Shamrock + Pint + Pixel Text)
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art 2: St Patrick’s...
Breaking Down Your Work
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Breaking Down Your Work
Question of the Day
Restoring On Top II
I have a database, DNRTest, that has a number of tables and other objects in it. The other day, I was trying to mock up a test and ran this code on the same server:
-- run yesterday CREATE DATABASE DNRTest2 GO USE DNRTest2 GO CREATE TABLE NewTable (id INT) GOToday, I realize that I need a copy of DNRTest for another mockup, and I run this:
-- run today USE Master BACKUP DATABASE DNRTest TO DISK = 'dnrtest.bak' GO RESTORE DATABASE DNRTest2 FROM DISK = 'dnrtest.bak' WITH REPLACEWhat happens? See possible answers