Data Compression and Snapshot Isolation
Data Compression and Snapshot Isolation don't play well together, you may not see a performance benefit
The Final Service Packs
Microsoft has released a final service pack for SQL Server 2008 R2, which many of you might want to install.
Protect Confidential SQL Server Data Q and A
Following on from a webcast, Tim Smith answers some questions on SQL Server security like: Is It Better To Mask At the Application Level Or The SQL Server Database Level? Are there any options to find SSNs in SQL Server besides RegEx? And, why would anyone store sensitive data un-encrypted in SQL Server?
Life Logging
This editorial was orignally published on Dec 8, 2009. It is being re-run as Steve is on vacation. Would you like the idea of capturing everything you do? Audio, video, text, code, a log of your life. A new book from Microsoft Research talks about this and Steve Jones things it could be an interesting capability for your career.
Filling In Missing Values Using the T-SQL Window Frame
Since SQL Server delivered the entire range of window functions, there has been far less justification for using the non-standard ex-Sybase 'Quirky Update' tricks to perform the many permutations of running totals in SQL Server. One of these related problems is the 'Data Smear'. Do window functions make this easier, and what is performance like? Dwain Camps investigates.
Challenge Yourself
How do you grow your career? Steve Jones has a few ideas on what you can do to both improve your skills and build your brand.
Synchronize Salesforce with SQL Server using SSIS
Easily synchronize live Salesforce data with SQL Server using the Salesforce SSIS DataFlow Tasks.
Change All Computed Columns to Persisted in SQL Server
Aaron Bertrand recently answered a question from a user who wanted to convert all of their SQL Server computed columns to be persisted. This allows you to shift the SQL Server cost of performing the computation from query time to the time of the insert/update, at the cost of storage. In this tip, Aaron shows you how.
Webinar: 7 Steps to Build a Database Deployment Pipeline
Join Red Gate’s Alex Yates and TeamCity for a free webinar this Thursday, October 2nd. In this practical demo, Alex will show you how to set up continuous delivery for your SQL databases using TeamCity, Red Gate’s SQL Automation Pack, and Octopus Deploy. Places are limited – register now.
Database Checkups
It's important that you are watching your databases' health to be sure that you can make changes, as well as rollback patches when issues occur.
Blogs
Advice I Like: Respect
By Steve Jones
“Don’t aim to have others like you; aim to have them respect you.” –...
Blue Sky Programming – The Optimism Trap
Many years ago, before I joined Oracle, I was working on a major modernisation...
Setting Up a Mac for Data Engineering and AI Work
If you work with data pipelines, SQL, notebooks, or machine learning models, a Mac...
Forums
SQL Art, Part 4: Happy 4th of July — A British DBA's Guide to Celebrating a War We Don't Talk About
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art, Part 4: Happy...
SQL Server Still Wins
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Still Wins
DBCC CHECKDB Limits I
Comments posted to this topic are about the item DBCC CHECKDB Limits I
Question of the Day
DBCC CHECKDB Limits I
When running DBCC CHECKDB on SQL Server 2025, can I include the Resource Database?
See possible answers