Minimizing PAGELATCH_EX waits in SQL Server 2019
In this tip, I show how you can evaluate a new index option in SQL Server 2019 aimed at reducing PAGELATCH_EX waits: OPTIMIZE_FOR_SEQUENTIAL_KEY.
T-SQL Tuesday #140 : What have you been up to with containers?
For T-SQL Tuesday #140, Anthony Nocentino asks us what we have been up to with containers.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #25
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #25 is available, with 19 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3401.7.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 3
I explain why you should eliminate the data types text, ntext, and image from your environment.
Bad Habits and Best Practices
An index of over a decade's worth of posts and videos involving bad habits and best practices in SQL Server.
SQL Server 2019 Adventures on CentOS 7.5
After thinking setting up SQL Server 2019 on CentOS 7.5 was going to be a piece of cake, I explain how my team helped resolve a TLS issue preventing remote connections.
How to USE a Calendar Table – Part 3
For the last part in my series on using a calendar table, and with some help from Itzik Ben-Gan, I describe how you can solve complex scheduling problems.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #11
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #11 is available, with 62 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4138.2.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #24
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #24 is available, with 30 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3391.2.
How to USE a Calendar Table – Part 2
In this part of my "using a calendar table" series, I talk about filling gaps and identifying gaps and islands.
How to USE a Calendar Table – Part 1
It seems a lifetime ago I wrote about creating a calendar table; now I've started a new series showing how to use the calendar table. In the first installment, I deal with business day problems.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #10
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #10 is available, with 63 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4123.1.
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #17
SQL Server 2016 SP2 Cumulative Update #17 is available, with 20 enhancements. The build number is 13.0.5888.11.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 2
I use a real-world example showing why you shouldn't use deprecated functionality like SQL Server Profiler.
My two least favorite data types
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, I talk about my two least favorite data types: money and datetimeoffset.
When does SQL Server think YYYY-DD-MM is a valid date?
In this tip, I talk about cases where SQL Server will interpret YYYY-MM-DD as YYYY-DD-MM, which is less than optimal.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 1
I talk about one scenario where the system table sys.sysprocesses almost led us down the wrong path.
Enforcing unique constraints where order doesn't matter
After seeing this question pop up on forums multiple times, I wrote a quick tip about enforcing unique constraints where order doesn't matter.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #9
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #9 is available, with 140 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4102.2.
Performance of sys.partitions
After a question on #sqlhelp, I dug into what could be making sys.partitions slow, and how they might get the required information in a more efficient way.
Maybe you do want to collect database name in Extended Events
While I previously promoted a way to stop storing database name in your Extended Events sessions, there's an upside to collecting it: the ability to filter. Read on for more info.