Give A Round of Applause for Microsoft System Center!
Updated: 2012-04-30 16:12:00
Check out this collection of useful engineering blogs from the Microsoft System Center team....(read more)
Query Optimizer Deep Dive - Part 4
Updated: 2012-04-30 14:36:00SQL SERVER – A Brief Introduction to expressor Studio 3.6
Updated: 2012-04-30 02:30:16
Data is powerful. Data drives businesses. Data supports decision making and fuels progress. But managing data—making data work for us—isn’t inherently easy. And if there is one thing that is certain, it’s change—meaning that data systems created yesterday will need to be adapted to fit ever evolving needs. Since we can’t design our databases, data [...]Query Optimizer Deep Dive – Part 3
Updated: 2012-04-29 08:30:00
: THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web Welcome to SQLblog.com The SQL Server blog spot on the web Sign in Join Help in Paul White : Page Free Space Entire Site Search Home Blogs Downloads Opml Paul White : Page Free Space Technical stuff about SQL Server from the Kāpiti Coast , New Zealand Query Optimizer Deep Dive Part 3 This is the third part in a series of posts based on the content of the Query Optimizer Deep Dive presentations I have given over the last month or so at the Auckland SQL Users’ Group and the SQL Saturday events in Wellington , New Zealand and Adelaide , Australia You can find the first part of the series here and the second part here Storage of Alternative Plans We saw in part 2 how optimizer rules are used to explore logical alternatives for parts of the query tree , andSQL SERVER – Microsoft Certification – SQL Server 2012
Updated: 2012-04-29 02:30:34
Microsoft has recently introduced few changes in how the certification works. I have tried to simplify the same thing over here. The new certification line is called Microsoft Cloud-built Certifications. The mapping of the certifications is here. Microsoft Certifications Microsoft Colud-build Certifications MCM (Master) MCSM (Solutions Master) MCITP (IT Professional) MCPD (Professional Developer) MCSE (Solutions Expert) MCSD (Solutions [...]Query Optimizer Deep Dive – Part 2
Updated: 2012-04-28 05:56:00
: THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web Welcome to SQLblog.com The SQL Server blog spot on the web Sign in Join Help in Paul White : Page Free Space Entire Site Search Home Blogs Downloads Opml Paul White : Page Free Space Technical stuff about SQL Server from the Kāpiti Coast , New Zealand Query Optimizer Deep Dive Part 2 This is the second part in a series of posts based on the content of the Query Optimizer Deep Dive presentations I have given over the last month or so at the Auckland SQL Users’ Group and the SQL Saturday events in Wellington , New Zealand and Adelaide , Australia You can find the first part of the series here Cost-Based Optimization Overview The input to cost-based optimization is a tree of logical operations produced by the previous optimization stages discussed in partSQLAuthority News – Migration Guide: Migrating to SQL Server 2012 Failover Clustering and Availability Groups from Prior Clustering and Mirroring Deployments – Part 1
Updated: 2012-04-28 02:30:37Migration is always a challenge. How many times we have stayed away from migrating product to another server or next version because we are worried what will happen once we migrate. There are two main reasons we stay away from migration 1) Everything is working fine at this moment. 2) Fear of everything will not [...]A cautionary tale about grandfathering CAL licenses in SQL Server 2012 Enterprise
Updated: 2012-04-27 17:05:00
I've tried to keep this post to a minimum, but there's a lot to say. Please bear with me. I know there has been a lot of griping about the new licensing model in SQL Server 2012. I understand the outcry; folks on high-end processors are going to end up paying much more for the same licenses, and some are even bypassing the upgrade because of it. My feeling is that we've had a relatively easy ride since hyper-threading was first stable enough to trust with SQL Server. I also feel that it is fair for...(read more)Query Optimizer Deep Dive - Part 1
Updated: 2012-04-27 15:38:00
: THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web Welcome to SQLblog.com The SQL Server blog spot on the web Sign in Join Help in Paul White : Page Free Space Entire Site Search Home Blogs Downloads Opml Paul White : Page Free Space Technical stuff about SQL Server from the Kāpiti Coast , New Zealand Query Optimizer Deep Dive Part 1 This is the first in a series of posts based on the content of the Query Optimizer Deep Dive presentations I have given over the last month or so at the Auckland SQL Users’ Group and the SQL Saturday events in Wellington , New Zealand and Adelaide , Australia Introduction The motivation behind writing these sessions is that I have found that relatively few people have a good intuition for the way the optimizer works , partly because the official documentation is ratherSQLMag = SQL Server Pro. Goes all-digital!
Updated: 2012-04-27 14:30:00
I was recently chatting with Megan Keller, my long-time editor for the Tool Time column and Executive Editor at SQL Server Pro , DevProConnections , and SharePoint Pro . I've subscribed to SQLMag ever since it was first put to print back in the late 1990's. (That's a pic of me, on the right, in the shirt given my by SQLMag's first publisher way back in the day). I have many bookshelves in my office, but SQLMag consumes more than half of the shelf closest to my desk. It's that good. Some of my personal...(read more)SQL SERVER – Introduction to Discovering XML Data Type Methods – A Primer
Updated: 2012-04-27 02:30:42
This blog post is inspired from SQL Interoperability Joes 2 Pros: A Guide to Integrating SQL Server with XML, C#, and PowerShell – SQL Exam Prep Series 70-433 – Volume 5. [Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle] | [IndiaPlaza] What are XML Data Type Methods The XML data type was first introduced with SQL Server 2005. This data [...]FIX: DQS Won't Work after upgrading to CU1 - SQL Exception 0x80131904
Updated: 2012-04-26 23:51:00Geek City: Build a Big Table with a Columnstore Index
Updated: 2012-04-26 19:18:00SQLPeople at SQLBits
Updated: 2012-04-26 16:05:00SQL SERVER – Introduction to SQL Error Actions – A Primer
Updated: 2012-04-26 02:30:47
This blog post is inspired from SQL Programming Joes 2 Pros: Programming and Development for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 – SQL Exam Prep Series 70-433 – Volume 4. [Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle] | [IndiaPlaza] Introduction to SQL Error Actions Most people believe that when SQL Server encounters an error severity level 11 or higher the remaining [...]Implementing Lookup Logic in SQL Server Integration Services
Updated: 2012-04-26 01:00:00With SSIS, you can perform a lookup on data in the course of a task, using referenced data from any OLE DB source. It is a useful feature that enables you to check on the validity of data, or interpret it before proceeding. Robert Sheldon explains.SQL Server Transaction Log Fragmentation: a Primer
Updated: 2012-04-26 01:00:00Generally, you will have no need to worry about the number of virtual log files in your transaction log. However, if you use the default settings for 'auto-grow', you can end up with such 'fragmentation' in your transaction log as to affect performance noticably. How can this be avoided? How can you tell it's a problem? What do you do about it? Greg explains.New White Paper: SQL Server Extended Events and Notifications
Updated: 2012-04-25 14:13:00Smartphones and data plans
Updated: 2012-04-25 14:07:00SQL SERVER – Introduction to Basics of a Query Hint – A Primer
Updated: 2012-04-25 02:30:32
This blog post is inspired from SQL Architecture Basics Joes 2 Pros: Core Architecture concepts – SQL Exam Prep Series 70-433 – Volume 3. [Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle] | [IndiaPlaza] Basics of a Query Hint Query hints specify that the indicated hints should be used throughout the query. Query hints affect all operators in the statement [...]SQL SERVER – Introduction to Hierarchical Query using a Recursive CTE – A Primer
Updated: 2012-04-24 02:30:21
This blog post is inspired from SQL Queries Joes 2 Pros: SQL Query Techniques For Microsoft SQL Server 2008 – SQL Exam Prep Series 70-433 – Volume 2. [Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle] | [IndiaPlaza] What is a Common Table Expression (CTE) A CTE can be thought of as a temporary result set and are similar to [...]SQL Server Performance Tuning and Optimization in Jacksonville, FL on April 27th
Updated: 2012-04-23 14:15:00Successful upgrade to SQL Server 2012
Updated: 2012-04-23 08:38:00Utility Queries–Column Metadata
Updated: 2012-04-23 04:57:39SQL SERVER – Introduction to SQL Server Security – A Primer
Updated: 2012-04-23 02:30:45This blog post is inspired from Beginning SQL Joes 2 Pros: The SQL Hands-On Guide for Beginners – SQL Exam Prep Series 70-433 – Volume 1. [Amazon] | [Flipkart] | [Kindle] | [IndiaPlaza] Let’s get some basic definitions down first. Take the workplace example where “Tom” needs “Read” access to the “Financial Folder”. What are the Securable, [...]New updated maintenance plan scripts from Ola Hallengren
Updated: 2012-04-22 07:21:00SQLAuthority News – Fast Track Data Warehouse Reference Guide for SQL Server 2012
Updated: 2012-04-22 02:30:19
I have always enjoyed learning about Fast Track Data Warehousing Technology. The goal of a Fast Track Data Warehouse reference architecture is to achieve an efficient resource balance between SQL Server data processing capability and realized component hardware throughput. Recently Fast Track Data Warehouse Reference Architecture is updated for SQL Server 2012. Here are the changes [...]SQL SERVER – Working with FileTables in SQL Server 2012 – Part 3 – Retrieving Various FileTable Properties
Updated: 2012-04-21 02:30:27Read Part 1 Working with FileTables in SQL Server 2012 – Part 1 – Setting Up Environment Read Part 2 Working with FileTables in SQL Server 2012 – Part 2 – Methods to Insert Data Into Table In this third part of the series, we will see how we can retrieve various information from the FileTable database. Identify Directory [...]Presenting at Ohio North SQL Server User Group 1 May 2012!
Updated: 2012-04-20 16:01:00SQL SERVER – Performance Tuning – Part 2 of 2 – Analysis, Detection, Tuning and Optimizing
Updated: 2012-04-20 02:30:33This second part of Performance Tuning – Part 1 of 2 – Getting Started and Configuration. I suggest you read the first part before continuing on this second part. Analysis and Detection If you have noticed that configuration of the data source and profile is a very easy task and if you are familiar with the tool, [...]Seacoast SQL Users Group : What's New in SQL Server 2012
Updated: 2012-04-19 22:16:00SQL SERVER – Performance Tuning – Part 1 of 2 – Getting Started and Configuration
Updated: 2012-04-19 02:30:05Performance tuning is always a complex subject whenever one has to deal with it. When I was beginning with SQL Server, this was the most difficult area for me. However, there is a saying that if one has to overcome their fear one has to face the fear first. So I did exactly this. I [...]An Important Consideration for SSIS and SQL Server 2012 Business Intelligence Edition
Updated: 2012-04-18 12:00:00
I saw some recent email about SSIS and SQL Server 2012 Business Intelligence Edition. I thought I would share what I have learned. It is very easy to misinterpret what one sees in SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT – the new BIDS). When you open SSDT all SSIS components are available, whether or not those components are allowed in your edition of SQL Server. In addition, SSDT will allow you to use and execute these components in the SSDT Environment at design time. SSIS 2012 BI Edition is Not SSIS 2012...(read more)Adelaide's SQL Tuesday
Updated: 2012-04-18 09:36:42SQLAuthority News – Select the Best SQL in Sixty Seconds Episode – Help us Improve
Updated: 2012-04-18 02:30:02It has been more than 3 months since we have started experimenting with a new concept in SQL in Sixty Seconds. Every Wednesday, we putt a fresh new interesting concept out via video. Rick Morelan, Vinod Kumar and myself – the three of us decided to do something new and something exciting. We decided to create a short video which [...]
The Rest of the Story: Co-existing VS2010 and SSDT database projects
Updated: 2012-04-17 23:00:00: Home Syndication Log in The Rest of the Story : Co-existing VS2010 and SSDT database projects After my last adventure , I thought it would be interesting to try the upgrade path with SSDT and older Database Projects i.e . Visual Studio for Database Professionals , or whatever the last name was before we went to the nice SSDT acronym , I always called them Data Dude projects after Gert Drapers the original Data Dude Note first-off that when you have both VS2010 and SSDT projects installed into Visual Studio , there are two main menus , one called SQL and the other called Data In case you can't guess , Data is the one that goes with the older projects it contains an entry for Data Compare a feature that SSDT doesn't have yet And SQL is the SSDT project menu . There's a few dualing toolbarsAdventures in autodeploy: SQL Server 2012, SSDT, and SQLCLR
Updated: 2012-04-17 22:06:00: , Home Syndication Log in The Rest of the Story : Co-existing VS2010 and SSDT database projects Adventures in autodeploy : SQL Server 2012, SSDT , and SQLCLR I'm the kind of person that doesn't often always use Visual Studio autodeploy that is , the Deploy Solution option for SQLCLR projects . It's always been missing things like ALTER ASSEMBLY and never quite kept up with the newer things you could do with SQLCLR e.g . ordered table-valued functions , multiparameter aggregates But every once-in-a-while , especially while I'm teaching and writing example assemblies on-the-fly , its a useful way to get things cataloged fast without writing DDL . So when I installed SQL Server 2012 and the SQL Server Data Tools on top of an existing VS2010 installation , I was not entirely surprised that ,SQL SERVER – Cheatsheet – Released for SQL Server 2012 Edition
Updated: 2012-04-17 02:30:59SQL Server Cheatsheet has been extremely popular download from my blog. There are plenty of request for me to update it with SQL Server 2012 features. I have finally upgraded the cheatsheet with SQL Server 2012 features. The new cheatsheet has following updates SSMS Shortcuts Columnstore Index SQL Server 2012 Datetime Functions SQL Server Ranking [...]New cumulative updates for SQL Server 2008 R2 (RTM & SP1) are available!
Updated: 2012-04-17 01:06:00Demos from March-April European events posted
Updated: 2012-04-16 20:51:00As I'm getting ready for my week-long SQLskills Immersion Event in Chicago next week, I got word that the demos from my events in Europe in late March/early April have been posted on the Resources part of the SQLskills website. I got to catch up with a lot of old friends and make a lot of new ones at these events. Hope you liked the talks. @bobbeauchSQLAuthority News – Presenting at Great Indian Developer Summit 2012 – SQL Server Misconception and Resolutions
Updated: 2012-04-16 02:30:35
Earlier during TechEd 2012, I presented a session on SQL Server Misconception and Resolutions. It was a pleasure to present this session with Vinod Kumar during the event. Great Indian Developer Summit is around the corner and I will be presenting there once again with the same topic. We had an excellent response during the [...]SQL Saturday 111: Manhandling Parallelism - Demos
Updated: 2012-04-16 02:30:00SQL SERVER – Working with FileTables in SQL Server 2012 – Part 2 – Methods to Insert Data Into Table
Updated: 2012-04-15 02:30:57Read Part 1 Working with FileTables in SQL Server 2012 – Part 1 – Setting Up Environment In this second part of the series, we will see how we can insert the files into the FileTables. There are two methods to insert the data into FileTables: Method 1: Copy Paste data into the FileTables folder First, find [...]SQL SERVER – Working with FileTables in SQL Server 2012 – Part 1 – Setting Up Environment
Updated: 2012-04-14 02:30:12
Filestream is a very interesting feature, and an enhancement of FileTable with Filestream is equally exciting. Today in this post, we will learn how to set up the FileTable Environment in SQL Server. The major advantage of FileTable is it has Windows API compatibility for file data stored within an SQL Server database. In simpler words, FileTables remove a [...]SQLAuthority News – Social Media Series – LinkedIn and Professional Profile
Updated: 2012-04-13 02:30:25
Pinal Dave on LinkedIn! It seems like a few year ago, there was a big “boom” in social media websites. All of a sudden there were so many sites to choose from. MySpace or Orkut? Blogging websites for your business or a LinkedIn account? The nature of the internet is to always be changing, but [...]The TSQL of CSV: Comma-Delimited of Errors
Updated: 2012-04-13 01:00:00
Despite the neglect of the basic ODBC drivers over the years, they still afford a neat way of reading from, and writing to, CSV files; and to be able to do so in SQL as if they were tables is somewhat magical. Just to prove it is possible, Phil creates a CSV version of AdventureWorks as a linked server.Big Data is Just a Fad
Updated: 2012-04-13 01:00:00The Term 'Big Data' is nothing more than a fad, and we'll soon be cringing with embarrassment at the thought that we ever used it. However, the data, and the challenges to processing it that it presents, will stay with us. If jargon like 'Big Data' helps us focus on the problems, then let’s use it: temporarily, perhaps.SQLAuthority News – Social Media Series – YouTube and Movies
Updated: 2012-04-12 02:30:54
Pinal Dave on Youtube! Some people might not know it, but YouTube is actually more than a place to watch funny cat videos and people singing their favorite pop songs – it’s actually a social media site. When you are a member of YouTube you can follow people who regularly post videos, post video responses [...]SQL SERVER – Installing AdventureWorks Sample Database – SQL in Sixty Seconds #010 – Video
Updated: 2012-04-11 02:30:56SQL Server has so many enhancements and features that quite often I feel like playing with various features and try out new things. I often come across situation where I want to try something new but I do not have sample data to experiment with. Also just like any sane developer I do not try any of [...]Partial Backup and Restore
Updated: 2012-04-11 01:00:00In this sample chapter from his book SQL Backup and Restore, Shawn McGehee discusses partial backups, how they're used, and how to avoid potential problems when restoring from a partial backup.SQLAuthority News – Social Media Series – Facebook and Google+
Updated: 2012-04-10 02:30:20
Pinal on Facebook and Google+ Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few years, you know that Facebook is the first and last word in social networking. Everyone has a Facebook account – from your local store to the 10-year old school child. Because of this ability to be completely connected [...]SQLAuthority News – Social Media Series – Twitter and Myself
Updated: 2012-04-09 02:30:37
Pinal Dave on Twitter! Frequent readers of my blog might know that I am trying to get more involved in all social media sites, both professionally and personally. Readers might also know that I have often struggled with finding the purpose of some social media sites – Twitter especially. One of the great uses of [...]SQLAuthority News – Download SQL Azure Labs Codename “Data Explorer” Client
Updated: 2012-04-08 02:30:51Microsoft SQL Azure labs has recently released Data Explorer client. I was looking forward to visualizing tool for quite a while and I am delighted to see this tool. I will be trying out this tool in coming week and will post here my experience. I have listed few of the resources which are related to Data [...]SQL SERVER – DMV sys.dm_exec_describe_first_result_set_for_object – Describes the First Result Metadata for the Module
Updated: 2012-04-07 02:30:46Here is another interesting follow up blog post of SQL SERVER – sp_describe_first_result_set New System Stored Procedure in SQL Server 2012. While I was writing earlier blog post I had come across DMV sys.dm_exec_describe_first_result_set_for_object as well. I found that SQL Server 2012 is providing all this quick and new features which quite often we miss to learn it [...]SQLAuthority News – Reliving TechEd with Vinod Kumar at Bangalore User Groups
Updated: 2012-04-06 02:30:43TechEd India 2012 was held in Bangalore last March 21 to 23, 2012. Just like every year, this event is bigger, grander and inspiring. Here is my blog post reviewing the event SQLAuthority News – #TechEdIn – TechEd India 2012 Memories and Photos. For me this is family event – I get to meet my friends who [...]