Monitor SQL Server Integration Services Packages Stuck in Running Status
In this tip we look at a script to find SSIS packages that are stuck executing and how to end the package execution.
SQL Server Triggers Pros and Cons
In this tip we look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using triggers in SQL Server.
A Plunge Into TOP
Introduction TOP is one of the many syntactical operators available in T-SQL and at a first view, it could seem very simple and not particularly interesting. According to the official documentation, it “limits the rows returned in a query result set to a specified number of rows or percentage of rows”. The following is the […]
Monitoring After Deployment
This Friday's poll looks at the time after deployment. Can you tell if things were successful? Do you have a formal way to determine if the changes are causing issues?
How to Eliminate Gaps in Identity Values in SQL Server by Disabling the Identity Cache
Learn how to remove gaps in Identity values in SQL Server caused by Identity Cache.
SQL Clone for Unit Testing Databases
Phil Factor demonstrates how to use SQL Clone to create 'disposable' SQL Server databases, for development and testing work. You can spin up a clone, use it to unit test your code, messing up the clone in the process, then reset the clone in seconds, ready for the next test.
SQL Server Common Table Expression vs Temp Table
In this tip we look at how to use Common Table Expressions CTE in SQL Server including the syntax, use cases, using more than 1 CTE at the same time and recursive CTEs with a parameter.
Create and deploy Azure Resource Manager templates by using the Azure portal
This article will explain and help to create and deploy ARM templates using the Azure portal. When Azure was first created, Azure resources were managed using the Azure service management (ASM), which is also known as “Classic”. Now this has been replaced and is called the Azure resource manager (ARM) API. ARM is the deployment […]
Date and Time Conversions Using SQL Server
There are many instances when dates and times don't show up at your doorstep in the format you'd like it to be, nor does the output of a query fit the needs of the people viewing it.
Introduction to SQL Server Security — Part 6
SQL Server has many tools used to make it secure. In this article, Robert Sheldon demonstrates several of these features including SQL Server Configuration Manager and the Vulnerability Assessment tool.
Blogs
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...
EightKB 2026
EightKB is back again for 2026! The biggest online SQL Server internals conference is...
Forums
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
Everything is the right question away
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Everything is the right question...
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