You should be running on SQL Server 2022
It’s me again with my apparently semi-annual blog post. This time we’re going to talk about which version of SQL Server you should be on, now that we’re at the end of 2023. Which version…
Your next step in the cloud
Over the last nine months I’ve presented (virtually) eleven times on a variety of topics relating to SQL Server and the Microsoft Data Platform. Long-time readers will know I have some experience as a high…
System-versioned ledger tables: things you can’t do
This is the third post in the series about system-versioned ledger tables, a new feature introduced in Azure SQL Database. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven’t already. Every choice we…
System-versioned ledger tables: the next step
In the first post of this series, we learned about a new type of system-versioned table that also works at the database level and introduces a mechanism that demonstrates whether your database has been tampered…
Introducing system-versioned ledger tables
As long-time readers of this blog know, I’m a big fan of temporal tables, also known as system-versioned temporal tables. Until recently, temporal tables were synonymous with system-versioned tables, but all that changed a short…
A summary of new features in Azure SQL Database
It has been some time since I last wrote about Azure SQL Database. Although it has been more than three years since SQL Server 2017 was released, Microsoft have not been resting on their laurels.…
Microsoft presents: MySQL and PostgreSQL?
For the longest time, MySQL has been the recommended database platform for blogs and other websites. It’s free. It’s available on every version of Linux, which is the most common web server platform. If you…
A look back, and a look forward
Time flies. My father used to wear a t-shirt that claimed, “When you’re over the hill, you pick up speed.” I’m turning 40 in a few days. I still feel like a teenager in many…
Look, Ma, No Surprises
Last week I demonstrated at least 30% performance improvement by switching to memory optimised table-valued parameters on SQL Server 2016. This week I will demonstrate the same test using Azure SQL Database, on the Premium…
Should I upgrade SQL Server 2012, or migrate to Azure?
[Last updated February 27, 2020] Brent Ozar Unlimited runs a website called SQL Server Updates which comes in really handy for keeping your on-premises SQL Server up to date. Of interest is that extended support…
Temporal Tables in Azure SQL Database
In the latest Microsoft Azure newsletter I received last week was this most excellent news: Azure SQL Database Temporal Tables generally available Temporal Tables let customers track the full history of data changes in 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…
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…