Live versus Stored Data
Is it always important to have the most current data? Steve notes that you might need to make a decision here.
Create SQL Server Graphics with ggplot2 and R Services
Learn how to create charts and graphs with R and how you can use R code in SSMS to generate and save graphs to an external file.
Is Tempdb Causing a Bottleneck?
One of your SQL Server instance shows a major dip in performance or throughput, affecting all the user databases. You notice that the slow interludes coincide, as if orchestrated. On investigation, it appears that several transactions running over that period were using a lot of space in tempdb. However, which of them, if any, are causing the tempdb bottleneck, and why?
Are You Empowered?
Many people don't feel like they can make changes in their work environment. Today Steve notes this is common in many organizations.
Power Query or SQL Server? Which, when and why
When it comes to developing a Power BI report, we can use it for accessing data, transforming the data, and turning the data into information using visuals. With no doubt Power BI can do the job from beginning to end. Now, this is not the only, nor necessarily the best, tool for all the steps […]
Heaps in SQL Server: Part 4 PFS contention
When inserting rows into a heap, SQL Server must sometimes update the PFS page which can PFS contention and affect performance. In this article, Uwe Ricken demonstrates how to measure PFS contention.
SQL Server MSDB Database Tutorial
In this tutorial we will cover common questions related to the SQL Server msdb database. This is one of the standard system databases that are part of every SQL Server installation.
Data Privacy Grows in California
Changes in data privacy law in California are demanded by consumers.
A Beginning Project
Learning to be a better database developer can be hard. Today Steve asks how you might suggest someone learn.
Import flat files to SQL Server on Linux using Azure Data Studio
Have you ever wonder how to import flat files to SQL Server on Linux? In this article, I will share my experience loading data to a Linux SQL Server instance using the new Azure Data Studio data import extension from macOS.
Blogs
How to Find Expensive Queries in Amazon Redshift
Slow-running queries can degrade your Redshift cluster’s performance and lead to increased costs. Identifying...
The Notification Trap: How Input Fatigue Is Killing Deep Work in Tech
By gbargsley
If you've been here before, you know this blog is usually about SQL Server,...
Designing a Storage Load Test for SQL Server
I’ve been doing storage load tests for SQL Server for a long time, both...
Forums
SQL 2019 instance with AG, across 2 Windows 2016 OS servers - OSin-place upgrade
Hi all Can I get some perspective from the community please on performing in-place...
How Long is a Long I/O?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Long is a Long...
T-SQL Trigonometric Functions in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item T-SQL Trigonometric Functions in SQL...
Question of the Day
How Long is a Long I/O?
In SQL Server 2025, a long I/O is recorded in the error log with message 833. How long much an I/O request be outstanding before this message is written to the log?
See possible answers