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 official announcement was posted on 24 March 2016 (their emphasis):… Cumulative Updates Are First Class
This is part two of a short series of posts about how I assign efficient data types when designing a new table or database. Use less space with BIGINT Last week, I spoke about a… Data Efficiency in SQL Server: DECIMAL
This is the first in a short series of posts about how I assign efficient data types when designing a new table or database. Use less space with DATETIME2 We all know that the DATETIME column… Data Efficiency in SQL Server: DATETIME
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 upgrade from any* version of SQL Server to the latest… What is your SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Plan?
This post has nothing to do with SQL Server, but if you like performance tuning, stick around. I learn technology by using it, pushing it to its limits, finding out how it breaks. I jokingly… Lazy Loading and Tries
Last week, I wrote about what should have been a fast system but was performing very poorly, weighing heavily on tempdb I/O performance. Our original changes did not make much of a difference, but now… The ongoing saga of a slow tempdb on a fast server
During a recent engagement, the customer explained that the performance on their relatively small system was especially slow on Monday morning, but generally bad that entire day. The SQL Server 2008 R2 instance, which runs… 98% of I/O is taken up by tempdb
Working from home, consulting with companies all over the world, has changed how I interact with customers. The last time I was physically on site was seven months ago. We deal almost exclusively with each… Professionalism doesn’t mean a collared shirt and tie
When we perform diagnostics on an existing SQL Server instance, or if we are setting up a new machine, it’s very important to make sure that we change the Max Server Memory setting to an… Max Server Memory Matrix
Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services are taking over. Last week, a client approached me to migrate their complex environment in two phases from two physical data centers, first to Azure VMs, and ultimately to… Forecast: Azure Skies Over the Amazon
Blob Storage Sync tool updated During a SQL Server migration this month, I found some inconsistencies in my Azure Blob Storage Sync tool, so I made several improvements, and fixed an outstanding bug. As you… Update to Azure Blob Storage Sync and Restore
One of the new features in SQL Server 2016 Standard Edition, which may appeal to users of the deprecated Database Mirroring feature, is Basic Availability Groups, a variation of Availability Groups found in the Enterprise… Basic Availability Groups in SQL Server 2016
I worked on four films in 2015, three shorts and one feature-length movie, all shot in Calgary where I live. That has resulted in seven IMDb credits for me, someone who earns a living as… Filmmaking as a Metaphor for the DBA
Instead of a survey or a technical post, I will take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy new year. 2015 was a good year for me, although it was a bit slow during the summer.… Happy New Year
This week I am continuing with the simple survey series. Today my question is, do you prefer using a dark or light background when writing code? I like a light background with dark text (usually… Survey: Light or Dark