SQL Server Temporary Object Caching
Paul White describes temporary object caching in SQL Server – what it is, why it exists, and how to use it to your advantage.
Practical usage of SQLCLR: Building QueryToHtml function
This article shows a few techniques with SQLCLR to to transform a query result into HTML.
Wanna Cry? Me too
I don’t doubt for a minute that on a certain level you’re sick to death of people talking about the Wanna Cry ransomware. However, bear with me, we need to go through it just a little more because it actually has some bearing on us as data professionals. OK, more than some bearing, it’s a […]
Where is my SQL Server Configuration Manager?
If you are running Windows 8 and above, you might have found out that you can’t find SQL Server Configuration Manager in the list of installed applications. Read on to learn how to locate it.
Presentations that are Easy on the Eyes
Today Steve Jones talks presentations, specifically the best way to share information on a projector.
Why Scalar Functions Can Be Costly
Scalar user defined functions can be costly in more ways than you know. Watch Mickey Stuewe show the hidden costs of using them incorrectly.
Free ebook: Stairway to SQL Server XML
Free download to all Simple Talk users. XML has been part of the SQL Standard since 2003, and is essential for any DBA because so many of the dynamic management views return XML data. Now that the industry is more used to data defined by document markup, it is becoming more important than ever for Database Developers and DBAs to understand the technology and to know where it makes sense to use XML.
Introducing DLM Techniques for a Multi-Database Multi-Server System
Although the techniques of Database Lifecycle Management can reduce the timescales for the delivery of new functionality to business systems, what if the database 'layer' consists of several large interdependent databases and data flows with replication and audit? Does DLM scale to this level of complexity? Margaret Cruise O'Brien starts a series of articles that describes the practicalities of improving DLM within an existing framework and team supporting a multi-database multi-server system, by describing some of the database management problems and solutions in an enterprise-scale database.
Consider the Downside
Steve Jones asks software developers to consider the issues we may have with lax internal security.
Blogs
Shifting Mindsets: Why FinOps is Essential for Cloud Efficiency
By HeyMo0sh
As a DevOps practitioner, I’ve always focused on performance, scalability, and automation. But as...
March 2026 SQL Server Security Updates
By Brian Kelley
On Patch Tuesday, in addition to OS and Office security patches, Microsoft also released...
How Fabric Mirroring Transformed with SQL Server 2025
When mirroring was first released for Azure SQL Database, it used Change Data Capture...
Forums
Multiple Deployment Processes
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How to Use sqlpackage to Detect Schema Drift Between Azure SQL Databases
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How to Use sqlpackage to...
Upgrading Admin Queries
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Upgrading Admin Queries
Question of the Day
Upgrading Admin Queries
I have a query from a former DBA that we run on SQL Server 2025 to check on database metadata. This query references sys.sysaltfiles. I want to refactor this code to be more modern. Which DMV should I reference instead?
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