Insights & Resources
Expert guidance on backup strategy, ransomware defense, and Azure cloud protection — written by engineers who live inside SQL Server every day.
Parameter sniffing occurs when SQL Server creates an execution plan based on the specific parameters used during the first compilation of a stored procedure — causing severe degradation when other parameters require a different strategy.
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When troubleshooting Windows authentication and permission issues, xp_logininfo allows you to quickly identify what Active Directory groups a user belongs to — and how those memberships translate into SQL Server permissions.
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Creating a linked server from SQL Server to Microsoft Azure Fabric Database or Datawarehouse enables seamless cross-platform querying. The key is using an ODBC bridge with a service principal account for secure authentication.
Read articleThe HOBT_ID field in SQL Server represents the Heap or B-Tree ID — uniquely identifying the allocation unit associated with a specific table or index. Here is how to use it for storage analysis and troubleshooting.
Read articleSQL Server and Azure SQL expose missing index data through DMVs. This query surfaces all table index recommendations ranked by their improvement measure — showing exactly which indexes will have the most impact.
Read articleA simple query you can run within the master database on any Azure SQL Server to view all server connections that failed — with enough detail for a DBA to generally find the root cause.
Read articleA collection of essential query tools for gaining insight into the current activities of your Azure Synapse, Dedicated SQL Pool, or Data Warehouse — sessions, blocking, longest-running queries, and distributed query plans.
Read articleA versatile query every SQL Server DBA should have in their toolbox. Lists all connections and blockings for a SQL Server — similar to the Activity Monitor in SSMS but more customizable.
Read articleEssential T-SQL queries for managing SQL Server database backups: list the last backup date for every database on a server, view backup history, and execute full, differential, and transaction log backups.
Read articleDeadlocks in Azure SQL Database can be challenging to diagnose. This guide covers how to detect them using the ring buffer, extract deadlock XML, visualize the deadlock graph in SSMS, and resolve the root cause.
Read articleGet your SQL Server backups audited and protected — by engineers who know T-SQL as well as they know English.
