After some recent SQL Server performance tuning, I noticed that one of my large core tables (important) has a column with a text data type. I had no idea that this table had a BLOB (binary large object) data type. After running some quick queries on the
In this tip we look at using Performance Monitor to capture other specific SQL Server information.
In this tip we look at how to get a graphical query plan when running a trace using SQL Server Profiler.
Within my SQL Server T-SQL stored procedures and scripts I need to find out the files in a specific directory. What are some approaches to do so? I need some flexibility to capture the file names and general information for subsequent processing. What
Every time I try to execute an executable (*.exe) file that I copied from a Windows 2003 File Server to my SQL Server running Windows 2003, I am unable to access the file. It works without a problem on the original Windows 2003 File Server and I am able
Setting up Database Mail should be straight forward, but sometimes the setup hangs and in this tip we show how to resolve the issue.
One old adage that has stood the test of time is you will never know until you try. I would have to say that is the case with a disaster recovery plan. I would be surprised to hear any company relying on IT does not have a disaster recovery plan. Som
Learn how to improve processing time when using data queues by using SQL Server READPAST and UPDLOCK hints to eliminate blocking and other issues.
In this tip we look at how to use STATISTICS IO and STATISTICS TIME to get additional insight when tuning queries.
One very important design aspect when creating a new table is the decision to create or not create a clustered index. We will take a look at a few points to help with the decision.
Learn about various aspects of locking in blocking in SQL Server with these various interview question and answers.
Managing database security should be part of every DBAs job. With SQL Server you have the ability to use either SQL Server and Windows or Windows only security. The advantage of using Windows security for your SQL Servers is that you can take advantage
In this tip we look at various commands to use to make sure your SQL Server databases are being backed up.
Learn about best practices to safeguard your SQL Server backups to protect your data.
In your earlier tip (Die Sucker - Killing SQL Server Process Ids (spids)) you outlined an option to kill spids (system process ids) to perform database restores or database maintenance when exclusive use of the database is needed. Do any other options ex
Learn how to use the SQL Server KILL command to stop a SQL Server process from running.
I need to migrate an instance of SQL Server 2000 due to a hardware issue that I am having. What are the steps that I should take before, during and after the process? What pit falls should I watch out for?
In this tip we look at how to retrieve data related to SQL Server Agent jobs, schedules, history and more using system tables, views and stored procedures.
When a failure occurs you need to act quickly to possibly restore your database. In this tip we look at how to quickly generate restore scripts from your latest backups.
In this article, we look at finding and fixing constraint issues within a database using DBCC CHECKCONSTRAINTS.
I have T-SQL code that I cannot have run on my production SQL Server. How can I be sure that it does not run in production by mistake from a programmatic perspective? If the code ran in production, it would take us hours to get back up and running. The
I am looking for items that I should address on a daily basis on my SQL Servers. As such, what are the critical aspects of SQL Server that should I check on a daily basis? Should I perform additional checks on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis? How can
Databases have two primary storage needs; data pages and index pages. Understanding and viewing the actual data in your tables is pretty straightforward by running some sample queries to get an idea of what columns are being used as well as what type of
At a recent Northern Virginia SQL Server user group meeting, a debate was held about the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional : Database Administrator being a 'must-have' for all SQL Server DBA