Extended Properties Introduction
Part one of a four part series intent on demystifying and making more accessible SQL Server extended properties
Generating Random Numbers in SQL Server Without Collisions
From time to time, I see a requirement to generate random identifiers for things like users or orders. People want to use random numbers so that the "next" identifier is not guessable, or to prevent insight into how many new users or orders are being generated in a given time frame, but they don't want to run into any duplicates. We can trade a bit of disk space and relatively predictable (but not optimal) performance for the guarantee of no collisions, no matter how many random numbers we've already used.
Red Gate will be exhibiting at SQL Server Live! Orlando
SQL Server Live! is coming to Orlando November 18-22. SQL Server Live! provides comprehensive education and knowledge share on SQL Server database management, data warehouse/BI model design, performance tuning, troubleshooting and more.
A Practical Guide to Microsoft Hyper-V Replica: Part II
A Hyper-V replica installation provides rapid disaster-recovery by asynchronously replicating a VM running at a primary site to a replica site. Know how to prepare for something to go wrong at the Primary Server/Site? In this article Nirmal Sharma presents the Replication options for a Replica Virtual Machine with a focus on Hyper-V Failover.
SSIS 2012 - Introduction to Windows Azure SQL Databases
When discussing SQL Server 2012 Integration Services, we have been dealing mainly with the traditional data management model, where the entire SQL Server environment resides on-premise. This once predominant paradigm is obviously changing, with hosted solutions (in the form of both private and public clouds) becoming increasingly common. In order to properly account for this trend, we turn our attention to the role that SSIS can serve in a mixed environment, where a part of the SQL Server estate is located in Windows Azure.
The Human Cost of Managing Data
There's a cost to managing data that isn't always considered: the human cost. Additional stress, work, and load can result in less than efficient management, even when you contain hard costs.
Manage SQL Server Reporting Services in Management Studio
Most maintenance for SSRS is performed either in Report Manager online or within the Report Services Configuration Manager from the desktop. The SSRS Management Studio connection is certainly no replacement for either of these tools, however, several benefits can be obtained using SSMS. First, you are able to connect to the SSRS even if you are having browser issues; second, it is often quicker to just switch from using Management Studio for the Database Engine.
Citizen Scientists
The increasing power and shrinking size of computing devices means that more and more people can gather and analyze data. Steve Jones talks about some opportunities.
Blogs
Why Database AI Agents need Layers?
By Arun Sirpal
Third part in my Ai series with databases. When building AI solutions within the...
Un-Migrating From the Cloud: T-SQL Tuesday #199
By Steve Jones
This month we have a very interesting invitation from Koen Verbeeck. He has hosted...
T-SQL Tuesday #199: Back to the on-prem
It’s the second tuesday of the month, which means T-SQL Tuesday time! This month’s...
Forums
How Do the Experts Become Experts?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Do the Experts Become...
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 4 – Preparing for Production Deployment
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
Secure Communications
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Secure Communications
Question of the Day
Secure Communications
As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?
See possible answers