Columnstore Indexes and Computed Columns in SQL Server 2016
You can’t do everything with a columnstore index – but SQL Server’s optimizer can get pretty creative so it can use a columnstore index in ways you might not expect.
Tracing Deadlock Graphs: Extended Events or Server Side Trace
Deadlock graphs are incredibly helpful for figuring out why queries are getting automatically killed off by SQL Server.
Collecting the Blocked Process Report (XEvents and Server Side Trace)
I’m a big fan of the built-in Blocked Process Report in SQL Server. It’s come in handy for troubleshooting blocking situations for me many times.
Actual Time Statistics in Execution Plans: Elapsed CPU Time and more
One of the coolest things to come to SQL Server Management Studio in a long time might be hard to see at first: it’s tucked away in the Properties Window.
But once you see it, it might just be something that you use all the time.
Limiting Downtime for Schema Changes (Dear SQL DBA Episode 25)
You need to release schema changes while the SQL Server is in use. Learn why code generation tools write odd scripts and how to stay sane amid rapid releases in this 28 minute video… or scroll down to read a summary.
Index Create and Last Modified Dates in SQL Server
In many environments, it’s useful to know exactly when an index was created or modified.
Did that last code release help performance, or hurt it? It’s really helpful to know exactly when the code was deployed to prove that your change made something better. Or that you might need to roll it back.
It takes a little preparation to track changes to your indexes, but it’s easy to implement.
Does Truncate Table Reset Statistics?
Short answer: the SQL Server optimizer will know that the table was truncated, but statistics might not update when you expect.
For the long answer, let’s walk through an example using the WideWorldImporters sample database.
When Did SQL Server Last Update That Statistic? How Much Has Been Modified Since? And What Columns are in the Stat?
Whether I’m working as a DBA, a consultant, a teacher, or just answering questions in my inbox, I always end up needing a script to inspect statistics one way or another.
Here are some freshly written scripts for a classic DBA question: what’s going on in my stats?
Signs Your SQL Server is Running with Scissors (Dear SQL DBA Episode 24)
Does your team know what it’s doing with SQL Server?
Learn what a consultant looks for when assessing a team, and signs that SQL Server may be badly configured.
Learn to Tune Indexes in Lisbon on March 9, 2017
Want to learn to tune indexes in SQL Server? I’ll be teaching a day-long pre-conference session in Portugal in March. Hope to see you there, or at SQL Saturday Lisbon (free!) the following weekend.