SQLServer-QA.net - Knowledge Sharing Network (SSQA.net) : best practice

How fast you can obtain information about missing indexes? Its easy and quick!

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:26:00 GMT

On the subject line the process to find the answer is not a short one! By design SQL Server engine takes care when the query optimizer generates a query plan, it analyzes what are the best indexes for a particular filter condition. If the best indexes...(read more)

Microsoft Advisory Services Engagement Scenario - SQL Server Performance

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:19:00 GMT

Attaining SQL Server performance is not a black magic, you need to asses and implement the scenarios effectively. The following pages were recently modified. Source: Knowledge Base Product: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise Edition & SQL Server...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP - refer to documentation to know what's new!

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:32:00 GMT

In response to the SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP post I have had flurry of emails asking what more they can learn on 'What's New' compared to the existing SQL Server 2008 RTM which has celebrated its first birtday! As a general recommendation I always...(read more)

Cumulative update package 3 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:57:00 GMT

It seems I'm missing to monitor the release of Cumulative Updates for SQL Server 2008 version, in the series of last one Cumulative Update Package 2 for SQL Server 2008 SP1 we have Cumulative Update package 3 in the list for testing. KBA971491 talks...(read more)

SQL Server to address compliance needs of your environment

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:38:00 GMT

Common Criteria (CC) Certification is required for any environment and SQL Server is no compromise or exception in this case. I would like to highlight a brief introduction to this requirement (as per my experience), in the recent times many changes to...(read more)

Update your local copies of SQL Server 2008 books Online - May 2009 release

Tue, 26 May 2009 09:02:00 GMT

Here is the quick update for you to refresh your local copies of SQL Server 2008 Books OnLine (aka BOL) May 2009. Why you need to do it? It is one of the best practice that will enable you to keep up with latest information about recent feature release...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 Cumulative Update 2 for SP1 - support the concept of Locked Pages for Standard Edition

Mon, 25 May 2009 12:43:00 GMT

During the keynote session of European PASS 2009 Bob Ward from Microsoft CSS team has announced about standard SKU for SQL Server 2005 and 2008 version to enable 'Locked Pages in Memory' privilege that will allow the hardware resources to use...(read more)

Here you go to test and install another Feature Pack for SQL Server 2008, april 2009 update!

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:35:00 GMT

I have received a good feedback about number of blogs posted about SQL Server Feature Pack, in this regard recent post about Do you know how many tools are included in SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack? here is another update for you to test & deploy the...(read more)

Do you know how many tools are included in SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack?

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:45:00 GMT

Hmm, interesting to know when you have been asked about such a 'stupid' question! What is a Feature Pack? Feature Packs are a set of collection that are designed to enhance the managing/developing/designing the SQL Server 2008 usability along...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 CTP

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:33:00 GMT

Its over half-year that SQL Server 2008 has been RTM'd and now it is time to test the CTP (Community Technology Preview) aka beta version of Service Pack 1 for this version. Absolutely right, for those of you waiting to try SQL Server 2008 until SP1...(read more)

Find out deprecated features within SQL Server 2008 using PROFILER

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:18:00 GMT

When I had a task to look for the method to find out what features are Deprecated (which means that feature will not included in next release of SQL Server) in the engine. As a first point of resource I referred through BOL to find the list of deprecated...(read more)

January 2009 update for SQL Server 2008 Books Online aka BOL

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:05:00 GMT

Here comes another update that you need to concentrate, a newest update to the SQL Server 2008 Books OnLine. MSDN site specifically refers that the following categories have had new topics added or existing topics updated with significant changes in the...(read more)

MS08-067 Security alert - Win32/Conficker.B/Downadup infections

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:07:00 GMT

Here is the email I got from Microsoft about actions on protecting from Downadup virus, MS08-067 notification. Based on feedback from MVPs and other sources, we are concerned about the rise in reported infections due to the worm Win32/Conficker.B also...(read more)

SQL Server - Publish your database along with data in a few simple steps?

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 08:44:00 GMT

It comes very handy for every SQL Server user to publish the database that will help the needs of developer/user to deploy a local database from the Development machine to a hosting environment (remote machine) with few simple steps.You may be aware that...(read more)

Cumulative Update 3 for SQL Server 2008, another one in the series

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Here comes another instalment of Cumulative Update package 3 for SQL 2008 version and this contains hotfixes for the issues that have been fixed since the release of SQL Server 2008. As usual the Microsoft guidance refers that this is a supported cumulative...(read more)

Using SQL Server FORCESEEK table hint to solve PARAMETER SNIFFING issues

SqlServer-QA.net — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:57:00 GMT

Let us talk about few HINTS that can help to optimize the performance of a query, but bear in mind when using an INDEX hint it forces the query optimizer to use only the specified indexes to access the data in the referenced table or view in the query...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 Policy Based Management - managing and troubleshooting policy failures

SqlServer-QA.net — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:40:00 GMT

Policy Based Management (PBM) is an effective system for DBAs to manage one or more instances of SQL Server. Just to give a brief overview of what it consists, it consists 3 components: Policy management for Administrators to create policies Explicit...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Technical Reference Guide

SqlServer-QA.net — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:44:00 GMT

What is the most required task when a DBA required to perform upgrade from previous versions? Complete understanding of the databases that are required to upgrade. Technical reference of upgrade path from previous version to the current one. Testing of...(read more)

Cumulative Update Package 1 for SQL Server 2008

SqlServer-QA.net — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:26:00 GMT

First one in the series of SQL Server 2008 version, here it comes Cumulative Update package 1! What kind of fixtures are available in this CU1 package? Cumulative Update 1 contains hotfixes for the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 issues that have been fixed...(read more)

Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for July 2008 - what is it now?

SSQA.net — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:07:00 GMT

I believe it has been a while that we have seen the security hotfix from Microsoft Security team on SQL Server (alone). The latest security bulletin has announced important security patches that are related to SQL Server in addition to Windows operating...(read more)