Configuring Database Mirroring
This article contains a set of instructions for configuring SQL Server mirroring, including pre-requisites. It also includes notes on how to resolve a few issues that I have encountered.
Finding lost or forgotten SQL Servers
This article will show a way to find all SQL Servers, particularly those that have been forgotten about or lost.
How to understand NoSQL Databases
Today we have a guest editorial from Phil Factor that looks at NoSQL databases.
Some Relevant PowerShell Books
Phil Factor leafs through a few of his PowerShell books in his library, and considers which are his favorites
SQLServerCentral Webinar #24: Prepare for When Disaster Strikes
Steve Jones presents some disaster stories with ideas on how you might prevent, or mitigate the effects, of those problem situations.
Using Lookup Function to Bridge Datasets in Report Builder
The report function, lookup, can be used to link two independent datesets.
VMware High Availability in SQL Server
With the massive number of servers running SQL Server within virtual machines (VMs), it's critically important for DBAs to understand the high availability options available when SQL Server is running within a VM.
PowerShell the SQL Server Way
Although Windows PowerShell has been available to IT professionals going on seven years, there are still many IT pros who are just now deciding to see what the fuss is all about. Depending on your job, you might find PowerShell an invaluable tool. Microsoft's plan is that PowerShell will be the management tool for all of its servers and platforms. For most IT pros, it's not a matter of if you'll be using PowerShell, only a matter of when.
Data Farming
Another spy story involving data that's not true, and perhaps not plausible, but it makes Steve Jones think about data shadows.
Blogs
Microsoft Build 2026 announcements
By James Serra
Once again there were a number of Microsoft Build announcements related to data and...
T-SQL Tuesday #199: Roundup
A good week ago I hosted the monthly T-SQL Tuesday blog party. I invited...
No Shortcuts for the SQLCMD Batch Terminator: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I was messing around with SQLCMD and I realized something I hadn’t known. I’ve...
Forums
Increment a number in a SQL Query based on a value
I have an issue where I have a Bill of Material list of items...
Follow Your Hunch
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Follow Your Hunch
What Happens When You Ask a Local AI to Query Your Database?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What Happens When You Ask...
Question of the Day
Detecting Characters
I have a SQL Server 2022 English default installation on a server. I want to detect if there are any upper case characters in rows and I have this code:
SELECT CustomerNameID,
CustomerName
FROM dbo.CustomerName
WHERE CustomerName = LOWER(CustomerName)
Here is the sample data I am testing with:
CustomerNameID CustomerName 1 John Smith 2 Sarah Johnson 3 MICHAEL WILLIAMS 4 JENNIFER BROWN 5 david jones 6 emily davis 7 Robert Miller 8 LISA WILSON 9 christopher moore 10 Amanda TaylorHow many rows are returned? See possible answers