The Death of SQL Server Service Packs
SQL Server Service Packs are going away, starting with SQL Server 2017. I talk about why I think this is a good thing, and discuss Cumulative Updates, Service Packs, and the process of updating SQL Server.
IO Patterns for Index Seeks: There May be a Lot of Read Ahead Reads
I received a question recently asking about disk access patterns for index seeks in SQL Server. The question suggested that index seeks would have a random read pattern.
Is this necessarily the case?
Love and Hate for SSMS
People have strong feelings about SQL Server Management Studio: they love it AND they hate it. In this week’s episode, I talk about why people have such conflicting feelings about SSMS, and how to work it all out.
New Free Webcasts for November and December 2017
I’ve just scheduled a whole batch o' free webcasts! Webcasts are held on Thursdays at 9 AM Pacific / noon Eastern / 4 pm UTC. Here’s the upcoming slate of topics: Oct 5 – RCSI and Snapshot Isolation Oct 19 – Pressure Testing Memory Oct 26 – What’s REALLY in That Index? Nov 9 – Filtered Columnstore Indexes Nov 16 – Defragging: Reorg or Rebuild? Nov 30 – In-Memory Indexes & Isolation Dec 7 – Indexing for Windowing Functions Dec 14 – Serializable & Repeatable Read I can’t wait to put together these presentations, and I hope to see you on Thursdays!
How Do I Analyze a SQL Server Execution Plan?
A query is slow, and you figure out how to collect the query execution plan. Now what?
In this video, I talk “big picture” about what execution plans are, what “cost” is, why to collect “compiled for” values, and the steps I take to analyze execution plans while performance tuning queries.
The Case of the Rowgroup Deadlock in a Columnstore Index
I came across a fun deadlock when writing demos for my session on the Read Committed isolation level this week. (It’s OK to call it “fun” when it’s not production code, right?)
I was playing around with a nonclustered columnstore index on a disk-based table. Here’s what I was doing:
Do I Need to Master PowerShell?
As a SQL Server DBA, do you need to be a master of PowerShell scripts?
In this 9 minute episode, I talk about how much you need to know about PowerShell, and examples of ways I personally use (and struggle with) PowerShell.
SSMS Shortcuts & Secrets - Live Webcast Edition (video)
Last week, I had a great time giving a webcast for the terrific DBA Fundamentals Virtual Chapter. If you like free online training, check them out and sign up for future events.
SQL PASS Summit 2017: Tips on Attending
I’ll be attending and presenting at the SQL PASS Summit in Seattle Washington this year from Oct 31-Nov 3. In this week’s 19 minute episode, I share why I’m excited about going and why I’ve purchased a seat for a pre-conference session. I also give my tips on how to get the most value out of a big conference like the PASS Summit.
Shortcut Update: Toggling Intellisense in SSMS
I like to use the keyboard whenever I can in SQL Server Management Studio. It’s not always easy to remember every shortcut though– especially when those shortcuts change!
Since around the SQL Server 2012 era, you’ve been able to switch Intellisense on or off on SSMS with the shortcut chord: CTRL + Q, CTRL + I. I remembered this as “Control Quacky Intellisense.”