Azure Storage Throughput
Hot on the heels of DTUs from earlier this week, today we’re going to switch focus a little, while staying with Azure, and have a quick look at storage speeds on SQL Server running on Azure…
Database Throughput Units
Last time we briefly touched on the metric that Microsoft uses to keep your Azure SQL Database in check: the DTU, or database throughput unit. It uses a combination of CPU, I/O and log flushes/second, using…
Azure SQL Database Limits
Let’s talk briefly about resource limits with Azure SQL Database. Because we have to share resources with other users, and because Microsoft doesn’t want us affecting others dramatically, they have implemented some limits. If for…
Planning matters
It’s the 2016 PASS Summit at the end of this month, and I’ll be attending for my third year. Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I’ll also be writing bonus posts for the month of…
On clustered indexes, clustering keys and primary keys
Many smart people have spoken about clustering keys and primary keys before, so here’s a less smart take on the topic. Let’s define some things first: Clustered Index – the column (or columns) by which…
A dalliance with distance
During a recent engagement, I was tasked with making a query faster. Since I signed an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement), I can’t go into detail, but it made extensive use of the STDistance() function of the…
The Data Migration Assistant
I’ve written quite a lot about Azure SQL Database recently, but that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten about the on-premises version of SQL Server. What could be better than Microsoft announcing a new tool for upgrading…
Max Server Memory Revisited
Some time ago, I added a free resource to this site to help DBAs know how much max server memory should be assigned to SQL Server, based on an algorithm by Jonathan Kehayias. On 19…
Importing a BACPAC into Azure SQL Database
In our final look at migrating a database to Azure SQL Database, we will import a BACPAC file. From previous weeks we know that a BACPAC file contains the full schema, as well as the data…
Moving a database to Azure SQL Database
This week we will actually move a database into Azure SQL Database, using the first of two of Microsoft’s recommended methods. The main thing to keep in mind is that SQL Server (on-premises, or “earthed”)…
Should I move my on-premises database to Azure SQL Database?
This week is a shorter post than last week, but it answers a very important question: Should I move my on-premises database to Azure SQL Database? The short answer is: It depends. Firstly, why do…
An Introduction to Azure SQL Database
It’s the second half of 2016, and Azure is the new hotness. I’ve raved about Blob Storage, virtual machines, AzCopy, and all those good things. When the dust settles, though, this blog is about managing…
Backup Retention Policies
Today’s post is just a bunch of questions, but they are very important questions, all around the main topic of a Backup Retention Policy. How long do you keep backups for every database in your environment (including…
What is physical storage anyway?
My friend Jason asked me about his MySQL database export file last week, whether it was sufficient to create a new database. I replied saying that he would have to set up the database separately,…
PSA: Check Your Backups
This post comes to you from the Spanish countryside. I travel a lot these days, sometimes even for work. The best part about travelling, apart from food, is knowing that my backups are in good…