Troubleshooting SQL Server RESOURCE_SEMAPHORE Waittype Memory Issues
This tip describes memory pressure issues that can arise from the RESOURCE_SEMAPHORE Waittype and how to find which query or transaction is causing the memory pressure.
Encryption Not Restriction
Encryption keys for services in the cloud should be maintained by the customer, according to Steve Jones. It's actually a good idea for all of your data.
Free Webinar: Statistics in Oracle and SQL Server
In their third live 'Oracle vs. SQL Server' discussion, Jonathan Lewis (Oracle Ace Director, OakTable Network) and Grant Fritchey (Microsoft SQL Server MVP) will look at statistics in Oracle and SQL Server. Expect a lively debate on Oracle vs. SQL Server from two leading RDBMS experts on Jan 23, 2013.
SQLServerCentral Runs sp_Blitz - Performance Part 1
The third article that examines the output of the sp_Blitz script™ run against SQLServerCentral's database servers.
Hypothetical Indexes on SQL Server
Sometimes, you have to test out alternative indexing strategies, but the task of creating the candidate indexes would just take too long. Is there another way? Well, yes, why not use the same method the DTA (Database Tuning Advisor) uses, and take the tedium out of the job.
Antipathy for Entity Attribute Value data models
EAV models have their uses but the costs are often hidden and if not hidden, more than anticipated.
The Data Scientist
Phil Factor on why Data Science is about much more than just clever visualizations and big data.
The Optimists
A develop should be a glass-half-full kind of guy, at least according to Steve Jones. This editorial was originally published on April 15, 2008. It is being re-run as Steve is on holiday.
VARCHAR (MAX), NVARCHAR (MAX) and NTEXT Data Types
Despite NTEXT and TEXT being deprecated in SQL Server for some time they are still both used in production systems. In this article, I will briefly demonstrate the difference between a VARCHAR (MAX), NVARCHAR (MAX) and the NTEXT data types, and the impact on performance from using NTEXT/TEXT.
Blogs
Learn Better: Pause to Review More
By Brian Kelley
If you want to learn better, pause more in your learning to intentionally review.
Azure SQL Managed Instance Next-Gen: Bring on the IOPS
By John
If you’ve used Azure SQL Managed Instance General Purpose, you know the drill: to...
SQL, MDX, DAX – the languages of data
By DataOnWheels
Ramblings of a retired data architect Let me start by saying that I have...
Forums
Two foreign keys to the same table. Can't cascade deletes.
Not sure if this is really a relational theory question but it seems about...
Connecting Power BI to SSAS and effective user not working
Hi everyone, Below is a consolidated summary of what we validated Architecture & data...
High Availability setup - has anyone seen this method?
Hi all, I recently moved to a new employer who have their HA setup...
Question of the Day
Encoding URLs
I have this data in a SQL Server 2025 table:
CREATE TABLE Response ( ResponseID INT NOT NULL CONSTRAINT ResponsePK PRIMARY KEY , ResponseVal VARBINARY(5000) ) GOIf I want to get a value from this table that I can add to a URL in a browser, which of these code items produces a result I can use? See possible answers