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Execution Plan Basics

Every day, out in the various discussion boards devoted to Microsoft SQL Server, the same types of questions come up again and again: Why is this query running slow? Is my index getting used? Why isn't my index getting used? In order to arrive at the answer you have to ask the same return question in each case: have you looked at the execution plan? We are very pleased to be allowed to publish the first chapter of Grant Fritchey's excellent new book on execution plans.

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Using xp_ReadErrorLog in SQL Server 2005

I would like to share some interesting parameters I found for the undocumented extended stored procedure xp_ReadErrorLog. In doing some testing with this extended stored procedure I found four very interesting parameters. Adding to some of the articles already on the web that discuss undocumented stored procedures, in this article I will explain my testing, use and some examples of the procedure.

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As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?

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