Heaps, LOBs, and aggregates : A bad combination
Dig into an intermittent stack dump involving an aggregate query against a heap with a LOB column.
SQL Server Cumulative Updates Delayed
Cumulative Updates for SQL Server 2019, SQL Server 2017, and SQL Server 2016 SP2 have been pushed back a month or more due to our current health crisis.
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.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #20
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #20 is available, with 40 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3294.2.
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.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #4
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #4 is available, with 50 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4033.1.
Blogging is for more than just traffic
See how blogging can benefit both the author and the reader in this short opinion piece.
A minor office reorg – part 3
Phase 3 of my home office – doors! – couldn't have happened at a better time.
Please help with STRING_SPLIT improvements
I want to push for improvements to STRING_SPLIT in the next version of SQL Server. See how you can help!
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.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #3
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #3 is available, with 56 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4023.6.
Additional Tips for Working From Home
With the increasing number of office closures, I share some tips about working from home.
Measure Delayed Durability impact in SQL Server 2016 and later
In this tip, I show how to measure the positive effects of delayed durability, in cases where a small amount of data loss is acceptable.