I received a call for help today. A Developer called to say that they had “killed a query, but it just won’t stop”. Actually, it wasn’t the Developer responsible, but his colleague, but that’s irrelevant. “can you take a look”? As a DBA, killing a SQL Server query is generally used a last resort.…
I had a SQL Server that needed to be uninstalled. It hadn’t been used for some time. It had been Disabled, but not removed. The first thing I had to do was to check when the SQL Instance was last used. In most cases, you can find this out by checking the DateTime of the…
Over time, things come along that you think “that would have been so useful” in the past. Data Compression is one of those features within SQL Server. Data Compression has been around for a few years. It was introduced in SQL Server 2008. I remember a conversation with Tony Rogerson (UK SQL Server User…
A rather special episode of Brent Ozar Office Hours, brought to you today by nigelDBA.
I’m fortunate enough to be able to run or walk some of my daily commute. This leaves me with some time to listen to Podcasts – think of them as specialist Radio Shows that you can schedule yourself. Some of them are just about SQL Server. To listen to a Podcast, you…
I have previously spoken about the issues caused by Shrinking Data Files in SQL Server, but also some genuine reasons why you might need to do this, and how. Shrinking Log files is a different matter. Log files can grow enormously for a few reasons, quite often by accident. A common pattern occurs when someone…
Sponsors play a huge part in SQL Server events. These are companies that provide funding that pays for the venue hire, meals and parties. Many of the Sponsors also take a stall at the event, providing an opportunity for you to meet them, learn about their Products or Services with a view towards understanding how they can help…
When Moving a Database between Servers – e.g. migrating to a new Production Server, how can you be absolutely sure that the Backup that you restored is the correct one? The nature of the DBA role dictates a certain amount of OCD. Most people work in a methodical manner – using a specific Folder for…
I recently had a situation where I needed to access a SQL Server that I didn’t have permissions to. This was a bit inconvenient and always in such a situation, the SQL Server was experiencing difficulties that needed a quick resolution. An Application had been installed by someone with Domain Administrator privileges. The Application Installed…
There are times when you need to do things that you’re told not to do. Scan the Internet, and you’ll find a lot of advice on Shrinking Database files. Generally, it’s “Don’t”. Paul Randal – “Don’t do it”, Pinal Dave – “Shrinking Database is bad”, Brent Ozar – “Don’t touch that dial”. In many cases,…
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