In the SQL Server database management, gathering fragmentation statistics can be kind of a black box: it’s time-consuming, and you have no idea how far along it is. Enter Live Insight, a game-changer within Minion Reindex that provides real-time visibility into the process. Live Insight gives you progress every step of the way. Yup, yup, […]
Minion Reindex Live Insight: How’s my SQL index maintenance going? Read More »
From my many years in the field, many interviews conducted, many tragedies experienced and averted, many hours spent in extra-vocational activities, I can absolutely distill everything I want you to know down to one simple thing: Test your knowledge.
The best way to be a brilliant DBA? Test your knowledge! Read More »
Quite a lot of data folks are reasonably concerned with the possible security holes that xp_cmdshell could introduce. Unfortunately, all the wrong things get all the attention. In this article, we cover what you really need to understand and secure xp_cmdshell, with a nice summary at the end.
OVER allows you to get aggregate information without using a GROUP BY. In other words, you can retrieve detail rows, and get aggregate data alongside each. Let’s look at examples!
T-SQL Tip: OVER and PARTITION BY Read More »
Solutions to age-old problems are often very hard to see. It takes a new, visionary perspective to see the issue clearly and to find a solution that’s better, easier, and kinder. Learn the process of being a SQL visionary here!
5 steps to become a SQL visionary Read More »
There are daily reports of data leaks and ransomware attacks that maim companies in the public eye. What is it you’re supposed to do? Live in audit mode!
Dear Leadership: your SQL security stinks Read More »
When you’re restoring log backups, you can put the database in STANDBY (read-only) mode, query the database, then continue restoring log backups. Here’s a quick overview of STANDBY and how to use it!
Restore SQL Database WITH STANDBY (read-only and restorable!) Read More »
The top nine ways to conduct a terrible phone screen fall into three categories: common courtesy, professionalism, and OH NO, JUST NO. Let’s list them, shall we?
The 9 worst things you can do to a phone screen candidate Read More »
You’ve heard xp_cmdshell is a security hole, right? It is NOT. The true danger to any SQL Server shop is unchecked SQL administrator rights!
xp_cmdshell is not the problem Read More »
Fast backups mean fast restores. SQL Server native backup compression makes that happen! Read on for the pros, the cons, and the how-tos.
Speed up SQL Server backups with one word Read More »