How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Cumulative Updates
Cumulative updates are not to be feared; the cautionary text accompanying them will soon be a thing of the past.
Cumulative updates are not to be feared; the cautionary text accompanying them will soon be a thing of the past.
I reveal details about the changes to Availability Groups that will ship in the next major version: SQL Server 2016.
I highlight a handful of Connect items aimed at improving SQL Server showplan diagnostics and query tuning in general.
I walk through a solution that allows you to achieve some of the benefits of partitioning, without the Enterprise Edition price tag.
I share a few of the queries I use to quickly hone in on changes that have been implemented between SQL Server CTPs.
I list out the changes to In-Memory OLTP ("Hekaton") that will make the feature even more appealing in SQL Server 2016.
SQL Server has released SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 3. You can download here and see some other details here. Build number is 11.0.6020.0 37 fixes (see the full list in KB #3072779) SP3...
Tip : Phase out CONTEXT_INFO() in SQL Server 2016 with SESSION_CONTEXT()
I highlight three Connect items that will address some pretty important shortcomings in SQL Server statistics.
For this T-SQL Tuesday, I treat some of the most memorable data modeling sins from over the years.
Tip : Advanced JSON Techniques in SQL Server 2016 – Part 2
Tip : SQL Server 2016 Advanced JSON Techniques – Part 1
I show some interesting maintenance opportunities for Service Broker queues available in the next version of SQL Server.
I talk about new arguments to SERVERPROPERTY() that make @@VERSION even more obsolete (and changes that make @@VERSION problematic).
Tip : Build a cheat sheet for SQL Server date and time formats
I show the most efficient way to return a running MAX or MIN aggregate in a grouped SQL Server query.
Tip : Cleanly Uninstalling Stubborn SQL Server Components
I explain how SQL Server 2016 improves tempdb configuration and performance.
Tip : Search all string columns in all SQL Server databases
I share my deck and sample code from my most recent SQLSaturday appearance.
Microsoft has released Cumulative Update #8 for SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 2. KB Article: KB #3082561 24 fixes total (23 fixes listed publicly at time of publication) Build number is 11.0.5634 Relevant for...
I add a few tidbits to follow up on a popular post on default cursor options in SQL Server.
I share my slide deck and sample code from a recent 24HOP presentation, and address audience questions from the session.
Tip : SQL Server 2016 Always Encrypted
Tip : SQL Server 2016 Row Level Security Limitations, Performance and Troubleshooting
How I worked around a recent problem with Windows 10 and its not-so-administrator administrator account.
Tip : SQL Server 2016 Row Level Security Introduction
Tip : Understand the Limitations of SQL Server Dynamic Data Masking
Microsoft has released Cumulative Update #9 for SQL Server 2014. See this blog post for more information. KB Article: KB #3075949 30 fixes listed publicly at time of publication (31 total) Build number is...
Microsoft has released Cumulative Update #2 for SQL Server 2014 Service Pack 1. See this blog post for more information. KB Article: KB #3075950 46 fixes listed publicly at time of publication (51 total)...
I follow up on Always Encrypted posts from T-SQL Tuesday with improved code and more information on performance and space usage.
Tip : Identify Candidate Tables for SQL Server 2016 Stretch Databases
I investigate the observable overhead involved with using a new SQL Server 2016 security feature, Always Encrypted.
For this T-SQL Tuesday, I talk about a few of the limitations of Always Encrypted.
I discuss a couple of potential problems that can occur when you are inconsistent about case sensitivity.
These two things stop me in my tracks whenever I try to install SQL Server on a new VM.
Tip : Prepare for an Upgrade with the SQL Server 2016 Upgrade Advisor
I suggest a different approach to providing more data about service packs and cumulative updates than messing with @@VERSION.
Microsoft has released Cumulative Update #7 for SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 2. This update has 38 fixes, including the QFE security fix from MS15-058. If you've installed MS15-058 (either the QFE – 11.0.5613...
Well, it's that time again: Patch Tuesday. SQL Server hasn't had a security update since August, but today we're giving the hotfix download servers a run for their money. Both GDR and QFE fixes...
I look at the tempting All Features With Defaults installation choice for this T-SQL Tuesday.
Tip : Use Dynamic Data Masking in SQL Server 2016 CTP 2.1
I share the settings file for the dark theme I use for presentations in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
I compare multiple date formatting techniques, demonstrating again that FORMAT() is not worth the convenience.
I show the ins and outs of a new function that appeared in SQL Server 2016 CTP 2.1 this week: sys.dm_exec_function_stats.
Microsoft has released Cumulative Update #1 for SQL Server 2014 Service Pack 1. See this blog post for more information. KB Article: KB #3067839 121 fixes listed publicly at time of publication (141 total)...
Microsoft has released Cumulative Update #8 for SQL Server 2014. See this blog post for more information. KB Article: KB #3067836 38 fixes listed publicly at time of publication (40 total) Build number is...
For T-SQL Tuesday #67, I describe a new way to track backup and restore operations using Extended Events in SQL Server 2016.
I take a quick look at a couple of things you should be careful about when calling natively-compiled Hekaton stored procedures in SQL Server 2014.
Tip : Protecting Yourself from SQL Injection in SQL Server – Part 2