So Many Choices with SQL Server
There was a day when you didn’t have many decisions to make about a new SQL Server instance. You had to choose from a few editions and two licensing models: per proc or server cal. It wasn’t long ago that SQL Server would almost always be installed on a physical server on premises, and the […]
SQL Server 2017 for Linux First Impressions
Microsoft has released a version of SQL Server 2017 for Linux.
READ COMMITTED SNAPSHOT ISOLATION and High version_ghost_record_count
Developer shops may decide to use Read Committed Snapshot Isolation (RCSI) to reduce contention, and possibly improve performance, but it is not without its own pitfalls. In this article, Uwe Ricken describes a situation where long running transactions caused a severe performance degradation when RCSI was in use.
Ad Hoc Logs
We often make changes to production systems in an ad hoc manner. Steve asks how much auditing we might have in place.
Getting query text from SSMS into a CSV with PowerShell
You have times where you need to copy/paste something out of SSMS' grid view results pane that has a carriage return in it. Trying to copy/paste that data into Excel can be a headache and cause you to waste precious time reformatting. This just offers a tidbit of PowerShell code to help.
Scripting the Description of Database Tables Using Extended Properties
Stored procedures, for example, are very easy to document. The comment block at the beginning stays with the code and a CREATE or ALTER script contains everything to reproduce the proc. SQL Server tables, however, are more difficult to document. You can use Extended Properties to document columns and constraints, but working with Extended Properties is difficult at best. Phil Factor demonstrates ways to easily add Extended Properties to your build scripts.
More SQL Server Updates
Updates this week for SQL 2014, 2016, 2017 and SSMS have Steve thinking about the pace of patching.
The DefaultBufferMaxRows and DefaultBufferSize Properties in SSIS
This article shows how DefaultBufferMaxRows and DefaultBufferSize properties can be used to improve dataflow task performance.
How to Get a Random Row from a Large Table
Brent Ozar takes a look at four different ways to get a random row from a large SQL Server table.
Blogs
Claude AI Convinced Me Not to Build an iPad App
By Steve Jones
I coach volleyball and I do a lot of stat stuff on paper. I...
A New Word: Dolorblindness
By Steve Jones
dolorblindness – n. the frustration that you’ll never be able to understand another person’s...
Claude Code Helps Analyze Test Data Manager Log Files
By Steve Jones
I had a customer ask about analyzing their Test Data Manager (TDM) usage to...
Forums
GPX distance and time analysis in SQL Server
Comments posted to this topic are about the item GPX distance and time analysis...
The DBA is Dead; Long Live the DBA
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The DBA is Dead; Long...
Changing the AG Listener
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Changing the AG Listener
Question of the Day
Changing the AG Listener
In SQL Server 2025, if I want to remove an IP from a listener, what do I do?
See possible answers