SQL Server Metadata Functions: The Basics
To be able to make full use of the system catalog to find out more about a database, you need to be familiar with the metadata functions. They save a great deal of time and typing when querying the metadata. Once you get the hang of these functions, the system catalog suddenly seems simple to use, as Robert Sheldon demonstrates in this article.
Protecting sa
Today Steve Jones talks about the issues with the sa account, and how you might protect this on all your instances.
Why Every SQL Server Installation Should Be a Cluster
In this article, I’ll attempt to “convince” you that every SQL Server you put into production should be a SQL Server Failover Cluster Instance (FCI).
When AUTO_UPDATE_STATISTICS Doesn't Happen
When your SQL Server database is set to have its statistics automatically updated, you will probably conclude that, whenever the distribution statistics are out-of-date, they will be updated before the next query is executed against that index or table. Curiously, this isn't always the case. What actually happens is that the statistics only gets updated if needed by the query optimiser to determine an effective query plan.
Do Less
One way to make code run faster is to have less of it. Or ensure the code you have does less work.
Fixing Maintenance Plan Error code 0x534
This article shows you how to resolve SQL Server maintenance plan execution failure error
The One 'Security' Feature in Oracle You Probably Shouldn't Use
Oracle offers a number of security-related settings, but one could definitely create more harm than good. David Fitzjarrell looks at which parameter that is, and why.
Step by Step Installation of SQL Server 2014 on a New Failover Cluster
Manvendra Singh gives a step-by-step guide to installing SQL Server 2014.
Blogs
Presenting Twice in May 2026
By alevyinroc
I will be presenting my latest session, Documenting Your Work for Worry-Free Vacations, in-person...
Finding the Next Sequence Value: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I saw a question asking about the next sequence value and decided to try...
SQL Server Journey Part 2: Modern Era (2017 – 2026) – AI/Cloud First
By Vinay Thakur
Following up on my Part 1 baseline, the journey from 2017 onward changed how...
Forums
Auto Update Statistics not triggering on filtered indexes
I've got a table with 186,703,969 rows, about 300GB of data. There are several...
What is the difference between SQL Server and SQL Database?
I created a SQL Database in Azure Portal but I've just noticed it also...
An Unusual Identity
Comments posted to this topic are about the item An Unusual Identity
Question of the Day
An Unusual Identity
What values are returned when I run this code?
CREATE TABLE dbo.IdentityTest2
(
id NUMERIC(10,0) IDENTITY(10,10) PRIMARY KEY,
somevalue VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
INSERT dbo.IdentityTest2
(
somevalue
)
VALUES
( 'Steve')
, ('Bill')
GO
SELECT top 10
id
FROM dbo.IdentityTest2 See possible answers