Performance Adding Hints

During the process of performance tuning queries and stored procedures there comes a time when you will notice that the execution plan selected by SQL Server is not the best plan. On occasion, everything you try doesnt cause SQL Server to choose the best way to execute your code. These are the times when hints can improve performance.

The Dot Com Bust - Part 2

It's been a year since Steve Jones last wrote about the state of the DBA job market after the economy soured. Here's an update of the last year.

Threat Profiling SQL Server

An interesting research paper by David Litchfield on how an attacker might go about attacking your server. Definitely worth a read.

Using Bitwise Operators to Boost Performance

Bitwise operators can be challenging to manage at first. However, with practice and patience, and under the right conditions, these operators can provide remarkable performance improvements in production environments. This article will compare two methods of accomplishing the same output, one with a normalized model and the other with bitwise operators.

What's best for DBAs? GUI or T-SQL commands?

This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using the SQL Server graphical administration tools (Enterprise Manager) versus the T-SQL administrative commands, with specific examples. Read up and decide for yourself, if you want to be a point-and-click DBA or a T-SQL scripting expert!

ANSI Options Part 4 - ANSI_WARNINGS

Part 4 examines more ANSI options that are available in SQL Server. A simple setting with some unexpected (for the author) results.

SQL-DMO - Using the '2' Objects

In this short article Andy talks about the differences in DMO between SQL7 and SQL2K, why it matters, and when you should use the newer version of DMO that comes with SQL2K.

Book Review: SQL Server 2000 Resource Kit

This 1100 page book offers something for everyone. Using Blobs, Analysis Services, Replication, High Availability. 38 Chapters plus ebook and tools on the CD. Should you get it? Read our review of this book to find out!

SQL-DMO for Beginners

How many of you are VB programmers? How many of you have never worked with DMO? This is the article if you don't work with VB or DMO, but want to get started. One of the more powerful tools that you can add to your arsenal.

Upcoming SQL Server 2000 64-bit Beta Program

Liberty Beta 2 will incorporate all the updates of SQL Server’s Service Pack 3. Furthermore, Liberty Beta 2 will be optimized for the newest addition to Intel’s Itanium® Processor Family, the Itanium® 2 processor. This beta is scheduled to start in late September.

Note: Liberty requires 64-bit hardware with an Intel’s Itanium® or Itanium® 2 processor and will not run on standard 32-bit machines.