Azure Stretch Database, Part I: Getting Going
With most innovative new technologies, Azure Stretch Database demos make it look completely easy. Here is a step by step to get going, with examples. Part One of a Two-Part series.
Growing and Changing
It can be hard to let go of old knowledge and try something new, but we need to find a balance.
4 Pillars of SQL Server Monitoring
Five SQL Server experts have brought their collective years of experience working with and maintaining SQL Server data systems to identify the four strategies required for a successful estate-wide SQL Server monitoring solution.
Cracking DAX – the EARLIER and RANKX Functions
So far in this series, Andy Brown of Wise Owl Training has shed light on functions like CALCULATE, VALUES and FILTER, but it’s only when you understand the idiosyncrasies of the EARLIER function that you can claim to have genuinely cracked DAX. This article gives four examples of the use of this peculiar function, in the process explaining why it has such a misleading name. Using the EARLIER function properly all boils down (as is so often the case with DAX) to understanding row and filter context. The article also shows how to use the RANKX function to sort data into your required order.
SQL Tamagotchi! Mini-Servers as Database Pets
If you've ever stuffed SQL Server onto a Raspberry Pi 4 and given it a pet name, don't worry, you're not alone…
Importing Files in Parallel with SSIS
Run multiple instances of your package in parallel so that each instance processes a portion of the total number of files
Waits and Queues
This week Steve is wondering if you know how to use waits and queues for troubleshooting.
Improve Data Quality for SQL Server Reporting
Poor data quality for any reason is very expensive in terms of man hours and decision making to all organizations. There are a number of ways to address the issue with both SQL Server Reporting Services and Power BI.
Scaling SQL Monitor with your growing estate
Tony Davis describes the features and capabilities of SQL Monitor that allow it to scale smoothly to monitor a growing estate of servers and databases, while still providing a single, simple dashboard that gives the team all of the essential SQL Server metrics and alerts, establishes baselines, and detects trends in behavior.
Don't Get On This Page
There is a page where GDPR fines are tracked. None of us want to get on that page.
Blogs
Monday Monitor Tips: Intelligent Alert Thresholds
By Steve Jones
At the recent Redgate Summit in Chicago, I demo’d (lightly) the ML based Alert...
A New Word: los vidados
By Steve Jones
los vidados – n. the half-remembered acquaintances you knew years ago, who you might...
In-Person CISA Training – April 13-16, 2026
By Brian Kelley
I will be leading an in-person Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam prep class...
Forums
String_agg not working as needed
I'm trying to get this string_agg to put all the 'comments' into one result...
Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Vectors in SQL Server 2025
Odd Sequences
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Odd Sequences
Question of the Day
Odd Sequences
What values are returned from this code?
CREATE SEQUENCE NumericSequence
AS NUMERIC(5,1)
START WITH 1.0
INCREMENT BY 0.1;
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO
SELECT NEXT VALUE FOR NumericSequence
GO See possible answers