The importance of backups
I have been selected to present a second session for the PASS Summit in November this year. I wrote a few weeks ago about the Linux Learning Path and being a part of that, so… The importance of backups
All the signs were there, but we didn’t understand them: an essay on gatekeeping in IT
This is the first in a series of posts about gatekeeping in Information Technology and other fields. I am not the first — nor will I be the last — to say that the terminology… All the signs were there, but we didn’t understand them: an essay on gatekeeping in IT
Better SQL Server memory defaults in 2019
In 2016 I created the Max Server Memory Matrix as a guide for configuring the maximum amount of memory that should be assigned to SQL Server, using an algorithm developed by Jonathan Kehayias. SQL Server 2019… Better SQL Server memory defaults in 2019
Better SQL Server CPU defaults in 2019
SQL Server 2019 is still in preview as I write this, but I wanted to point out a new feature that Microsoft has added to SQL Server Setup, on the Windows version. On the Database… Better SQL Server CPU defaults in 2019
The third time’s the charm
Thank you to Microsoft for awarding me a Microsoft Data Platform MVP for the third time in a row. Unlike previous posts on this topic, I have very little to say except “thank you.” It’s… The third time’s the charm
SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 is end of life on 9 July 2019
Next month, Microsoft is ending five years of extended support on SQL Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 R2. This follows five years of mainstream support before that. You really should be upgrading to SQL… SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 is end of life on 9 July 2019
What is a container anyway?
Recently there was a thread on Twitter which established that a lot of IT people didn’t know the difference between virtual machines and containers. |￣￣￣￣￣￣￣|| CONTAINERS || ARE NOT | | VIRTUAL || MACHINES ||… What is a container anyway?
Containers and data: you gotta keep ’em separated
There was an interesting conversation on Twitter recently, between Grant Fritchey (blog | twitter), Kenneth Fisher (blog | twitter), Anthony E. Nocentino (blog | twitter), Vicky Harp (twitter), and me about containers and SQL Server.… Containers and data: you gotta keep ’em separated
My IT department installed an antivirus with SQL Server
Time for another short blog post, and this one combines two topics I am very passionate about: security, and SQL Server performance. Let’s start by talking about “antivirus” and what that means in today’s world.… My IT department installed an antivirus with SQL Server
SQL Server containers no longer being updated in the Docker registry
In October 2018, Microsoft announced a change to the source of their Docker containers. You should be using the new Microsoft Container Registry (MCR) as the source for official Docker container images for Microsoft products.… SQL Server containers no longer being updated in the Docker registry
Speaking at PASS Summit 2019
I am delighted to announce that I have been selected to speak at the largest Microsoft Data Platform conference in the world, PASS Summit 2019, in Seattle WA, USA. As our database community has extended… Speaking at PASS Summit 2019
Proposed SQL Server defaults: max server memory
(This post was updated on 1 August 2022.) A few months ago I suggested that the following settings should be the default for most SQL Server instances: Set cost threshold for parallelism to 50 Disable… Proposed SQL Server defaults: max server memory
The easy way to handle UTF-8 in a .NET application when dealing with SQL Server 2019
A short post this week. On a mailing list recently, someone noticed that a .NET application writing to SQL Server did not have the expected behaviour with UTF-8 collation and data types. To refresh our… The easy way to handle UTF-8 in a .NET application when dealing with SQL Server 2019
A short Azure SQL Edge explainer
On Thursday May 2nd, 2019, Microsoft announced a new edition of SQL Server targeting Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices. That means SQL Server can now run almost anywhere. From the Venturebeat article: It supports… A short Azure SQL Edge explainer
The case of scalar UDF inlining, where context is everything
Here’s an interesting story for you this week. As part of the new Intelligent Query Processing improvements introduced in the upcoming SQL Server 2019, we find a new feature called scalar UDF inlining. This post… The case of scalar UDF inlining, where context is everything