It Starts with Version Control
Steve Jones knows that good development practices require lots of skill and practice, but the basis for stability with your code is version control. He talks about some reasons why you might want to implement it.
Microsoft's Log Parser Utility: Swell ETL
For loading text, CSV or XML files into SQL Server, the Log Parser utility, with its amazing SQL engine, is likely to be the obvious choice. Although initially developed purely for converting IIS logs, the Log Parser can turn its hand to a range of formats including even event logs or the Windows registry.
SQL CLR Multi-Threaded File Copy
A CLR Procedure that performs multi-threaded fie copies without external command line tools.
Testing Skills
How can you measure someone's DBA skills? Steve Jones comments on a new technique that someone suggested to him.
SQL Server Index Properties in Management Studio
Understanding indexes and how they work can be complicated enough for a Jr. DBA, but throw in all the different options and properties and an index can soon be overwhelming. Brady Upton takes an introductory look at creating an index in SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio. He explains what each index property is meant for and the various options presented.
Locking, Blocking and Deadlocking
Introduction into Locking, Blocking and Deadlocks in SQL Server, and why SQL Server uses these actions.
What Counts for a DBA: Deduction
Like Sherlock Holmes, a DBA needs the sound deductive reasoning to pinpoint the root cause of a crime, in amongst a thousand interesting but irrelevant details.
Who Inspires You?
Today we have a guest editorial from Chris Shaw. After the recent PASS Summit, Chris talks about the value of getting inspired by people he listens to talking about SQL Server.
SQL in the City Seminar Washington DC 2013 –Deployment Stairway
Join Red Gate for a free seminar on December 6 (the day before SQL Saturday Washington DC). Steve Jones and Grant Fritchey, SQL Server MVPs, will present best practices for SQL Server version control, continuous integration and deployment, in addition to showing Red Gate tools in action.
Windows Azure SQL Database (WASD) Primer
Are you a SQL Server DBA who is now being asked to migrate databases to Windows Azure SQL Database (WASD)? Are you a developer who is writing code for a cloud service that shall use SQL Database as the back-end? This blog post is based on issues encountered while supporting customers that were once in your shoes and the lessons learned in the process.
Blogs
Moving On-Prem PostgreSQL to the Cloud: Picking the Right Path for Big Tables
Every PostgreSQL migration eventually hits the same fork in the road. The database is...
A Spread of Vacation
By Steve Jones
I’m off on vacation today. Which is a little weird as I just got...
How AgentDBA Identifies Backup Failures
By Arun Sirpal
Every DBA has a box like this. Sitting untouched for months. Nobody’s proud of...
Forums
Have you done a Mid year check in?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Have you done a Mid...
From SQL Server On-Premises to Claude Desktop: How I built a Full MCP Pipeline
Comments posted to this topic are about the item From SQL Server On-Premises to...
Independence Day 2026
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Independence Day 2026
Question of the Day
Independence Day 2026
In the original Independence Day movie (1996), what type of computer did Jeff Goldblum use to connect to the alien mainframe? Take a guess, don't look it up or ask AI.
See possible answers