When the Netflix series Black Mirror began in 2011, I watched a few episodes. Recently, I “binge-watched” more to catch up. If you’re not familiar with the series, each episode is about technology, and how people must deal with it when it goes awry. For the most part, the technology featured in the series doesn’t … Read more
Database table constraints such as foreign keys and default values ensure reliability of the data. In this article, Phil Factor demonstrates a way to find any data that breaks the build so it can be corrected before deployment.… Read more
Comments are helpful when programming in any language, and PowerShell is no exception. In this article, Greg Moore demonstrates how to use comments to document code and to add prerequisites in PowerShell with #Requires.… Read more
You can use a host of time-intelligence functions in DAX to calculate everything from simple year-to-date totals to moving averages and average opening and closing balances. In this article, Andy Brown shows how to model various scenarios with calendars and dates, and how to get around some of the issues you may encounter. … Read more
T-SQL window functions simplify solving many complex queries. In this article, Edward Pollack demonstrates how the functions can be used to find gaps and islands in a dataset. … Read more
According to Microsoft, DevOps is “the union of people, process, and products to enable continuous delivery of value to our end users.” The definition doesn’t mention any frameworks or specific tools, and it’s more about communication and culture than any technology. That said, automation and tooling are critical components of DevOps as it helps organizations … Read more
Protecting data is not easy, but it is critical. In this article, David Poole discusses database security and the behaviors needed to build secure systems.… Read more
As many companies consider moving data to NoSQL, Cassandra may be the choice. In this series, Shel Burkow discusses design considerations for porting a SQL Server schema to Cassandra. The first article explains the Cassandra primary key.… Read more
PowerShell is a widely used tool for administrators. In this article, Allen White shows how to export objects using CLIXML and work with those objects without being connected to the original servers.… Read more
Developers probably spend as much time debugging as they do writing code. In this article, Lance Talbert demonstrates how to use the debugging features in Unity. … Read more
Kubernetes can be used to deploy, scale, and manage containers. In this article, Mircea Oprea builds on the previous example in the series to show you how deploy your contains in the Elastic Kubernetes Service in AWS.… Read more
Many jobs in technology, especially those that involve writing code, take concentration and focus. It’s often called being “in the zone.” For me, it feels like I’m inside a bubble where time goes at a different pace than the rest of the world. In fact, the rest of the world seems to disappear when I’m … Read more
Every DBA should have basic PowerShell skills. In this article, Greg Moore explains how to write a PowerShell script that can create a window for a countdown timer.… Read more
Understanding all the storage options available today is not easy. In this new series, Robert Sheldon will explain what you need to know to make sure that you get the right storage for your servers.… Read more
The logic for referential integrity can be implemented in application code, but to make sure that it is enforced, include foreign key constraints in the database design instead. In this article, Joe Celko talks about the history of references in SQL and the options available today. … Read more
Automation of server builds minimizes human error, ensures that environments are identical, and saves time building servers. This article from Mircea Oprea demonstrates provisioning one server or multiple load-balanced servers in AWS with code.… Read more
Accelerated Database Recovery is new with SQL Server 2019 and Azure SQL Database and used to decrease the time for rolling back large operations and database recovery. In this article, Forrest McDaniel explains how it works. … Read more
The other day, a friend asked me if Microsoft is discontinuing SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) now that Power BI is the premier MS reporting and dashboarding tool. It seems like more organizations are finding fewer reasons to use SSRS due to the ease of use and features of Power BI. Despite all the news … Read more
The choices found when provisioning storage in Azure can be overwhelming. In this article, Monica Rathbun explains the options to help your organization research which storage might be right for your solution. … Read more
Compliant Database DevOps
Standardize team-based development
Automate database deployments
Monitor performance and availability
Protect and preserve data
