(Last updated 2020-01-07) This is more for my own reference than anything. On newer versions of Windows desktop and Windows Server, we may find that… Read More »Configuration Manager Shortcut on Windows 10 and Server 2016
Conventional wisdom tells us that when Microsoft releases a new version of any server product, we should wait until Service Pack 1 before deploying it… Read More »Wait For Service Pack 1
[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… Read More »Should I upgrade SQL Server 2012, or migrate to Azure?
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.… Read More »Database Throughput Units
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… Read More »The Data Migration Assistant
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… Read More »Should I move my on-premises database 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.… Read More »An Introduction to Azure SQL Database
Last week I wondered whether a log backup chain would survive a database migration. Unsurprisingly, the answer is “yes”. I also asked if a log… Read More »The Transaction Log Is Very Resilient
Much has been written about the log backup chain in SQL Server, where we are able to restore a database to a point in time using… Read More »The Resilience of the Log Backup Chain
IT departments get a lot of flak because members are accused of saying no to what staff think are perfectly reasonable requests. In this second… Read More »Career Limiting Moves – Saying No
Since 27 January 2016, Microsoft recommends that Cumulative Updates be installed with the same confidence as Service Packs, and installed as they become available. The… Read More »Cumulative Updates Are First Class
SQL Server 2005 will no longer be supported by Microsoft as of 12 April 2016. One of the services I offer my customers is an… Read More »What is your SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Plan?
Last edited on 17 November 2016. As you know, SQL Server 2005 is now over ten years old. Microsoft has helpfully provided a list of ten reasons… Read More »Time to upgrade your SQL Server 2005 instance
Five months from now, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP. As Tim Rains points out, running Windows XP after this date will effectively be an… Read More »End of Life for Microsoft Windows XP and Server 2003: Six-One or Up