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
Houston AI-Lytics 2026–Powerpoint Slides
By Steve Jones
Thanks to everyone for attending my session on running a Local LLM. If you...
The Book of Redgate: Do the Right Things
By Steve Jones
I do believe that Redgate has been very customer focused since it’s inception. I’ve...
GenAI vs Dashboards: Not the Same (And Never Will Be)
By James Serra
There’s a question I’ve been hearing more and more lately, especially as Copilot, Fabric,...
Forums
T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: JSON_ARRAYAGG
Comments posted to this topic are about the item T-SQL in SQL Server 2025:...
Spring Connections and Learning at PASS On Tour
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Spring Connections and Learning at...
Multiple Sequence Values
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Sequence Values
Question of the Day
Multiple Sequence Values
How do I easily get the next 12 sequence values from a sequence object?
See possible answers