When does a Snapshot Transaction Really Begin?
Category:
isolation-levels
, sql-server
They say, “never read the comments” on the internet, but I’m lucky to get lots of interesting points and questions in my comments.
When does physical reads include read-ahead reads in SQL Server?
Category:
query-performance
, sql-server
SQL Server has more than one way to pull pages in from disk for your queries. SQL Server can do a physical read of an 8KB page, or an extent of 8 of those 8KB pages.
Top 5 Misleading SQL Server Performance Counters
Perfmon counters are an excellent tool for monitoring and sometimes troubleshooting Microsoft SQL Server. But some counters can get you into trouble, because they don’t mean what many people think. Learn what to look out for in the world of widely-used perfmon counters.
Register for Upcoming Free Webcasts on Indexes, Stats Maintenance, Query Tuning, and More
Category:
query-performance
I’ve got a whole bunch of free, live webcasts scheduled on SQL Server training! I’d love for you to join me for these sessions.
Database Mirroring Counters Missing from Perfmon?
Category:
monitoring-troubleshooting
, sql-server
Collecting perfmon counters from SQL Server databases where you are using database mirroring is a little tricky
The counters won’t behave “normally” until after you set up mirroring for a database.
Why I am Inspired to Start Up Live Webcasts Again
Category:
database-administration
For a while now, I’ve been indulging in what feels like a huge guilty pleasure: an almost meeting-free existence. I’ve been living life scheduled on my own terms. I commit to appointments for workouts, volunteering, haircuts, and medical appointments, but not much else. I’ve been publishing pre-recorded videos and online courses which I can make whenever it feels right.
Finding Queries that Cause Wait Stats in SQL Server
Category:
monitoring-troubleshooting
, sql-server
You’ve got some troubling wait stats in SQL Server. How can you tell which queries are causing those waits?
Learn the pros and cons of different techniques to track down the cause of both common and tricky waits in SQL Server, including CXPACKET, PAGEIOLATCH, LCK, RESOURCE_SEMAPHORE, and THREADPOOL waits.