Get to the system_health file target a little easier
Access the system_health file target without tedious string parsing gymnastics.
Category: SQL Server
Index and Partition Space Usage – Part 3
This series shows how I determine the amount of data distributed across indexes, files, filegroups, and partitions.
Heaps, LOBs, and aggregates : A bad combination
Dig into an intermittent stack dump involving an aggregate query against a heap with a LOB column.
Bad Habits to Kick : Relying on undocumented behavior
Discover some undocumented or unsupported behavior you might not even realize you're relying on.
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.
Happy Cinco de Mayo and Happy Taco Tuesday!
See a quick T-SQL script for determining how often Cinco de Mayo falls on Taco Tuesday.
Index and Partition Space Usage – Part 2
I continue a series where I dig into how data is distributed across indexes, files, and filegroups.
"0 to 60" : Switching to indirect checkpoints
I talk about a recent change where I started turning on indirect checkpoints across all user databases.
Removing the default trace – Part 3
I finish up my series on replacing the default trace with views to simplify consumption and a caveat about reports in SSMS.
File and Filegroup Space Usage – Part 1
See the stored procedure I wrote to help me put all file, filegroup, and index information in one place.
Removing the default trace – Part 2
I continue my series on replacing the default trace with a more efficient and more complete Extended Events session.
Illogical errors can be a factor of the plan
See a quick example where plan shape can cause errors that really shouldn't happen.
Changing a function's interface but staying backward compatible
In this tip, see ways you can change how a function is called without having to modify all calling code at the same time.
Attaching / restoring databases inside a container
Need to get data, log, or bak files into your container's file system? See how, with docker cp.
Removing the default trace – part 1
I start a series explaining how I evaluated the default trace and decided to replace it with a slimmer Extended Events session across all of production.
SQL Server Checkpoint Monitoring with Extended Events
See how you can use Extended Events to find your worst performing checkpoints.
Use caution with sys.dm_db_database_page_allocations
In this tip, I talk about a concerning behavior in the dynamic management function, sys.dm_db_database_page_allocations.
Fun with (columnstore) compression on a very large table – part 3
I continue my series on large table compression with results from row and page compression as well as a process involving scheduler manipulation.
How soft deletes can slow ghost record growth in Availability Groups
In this tip, I show how soft deletes and a filtered index can help minimize the cost of ghost records in an Availability Group.
Fun with (columnstore) compression on a very large table – part 2
I continue my series on investigating compression for a 1TB table, honing in on clustered columnstore and partitioning.
Using metadata to troubleshoot metadata
I show how I tried to chase down a very unexpected issue with SQL Server metadata. Spoiler: it didn't end the way I thought it would.