Rodney Landrum

Rodney Landrum went to school to be a poet and a writer. And then he graduated so that dream was crushed. He followed another path, which was to become a professional in the fun filled world of Information Technology. He has worked as a systems engineer, UNIX and network admin, data analyst, client services director and finally as a database administrator. The old hankering to put words on paper, while paper still existed, got the best of him and in 2000 he began writing technical articles, some creative and humorous, some quite the opposite. In 2010 he wrote SQL Server Tacklebox, a title his editor disdained, but a book closest to the true creative potential he sought; he still yearns to do a full book without a single screen shot, which he accomplished in 2019 with his first novel, Chronicles of Shameus He currently works from his castle office in Pensacola, FL as a senior DBA consultant for Ntirety, a division of Hostway/Hosting.

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20 June 2019
20 June 2019

A MongoDB to SQL Server Migration: Data Typing and Un-nesting

Importing data from one system to another is a common task for database professionals. It’s possible to spend a lot of time figuring out what the schema should be for the target table. In this article, Rodney Landrum demonstrates an interesting solution to automatically figure out the data types and un-nest delimited data.… Read more
17 January 2018
17 January 2018

Ready Player Tattoo

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I am sitting in my hotel room in Nashville getting ready for #SQLSatNash as I write this. I know there are a lot of #SQLFamily here at this and I look forward to seeing them again.  It is snowing outside. This is perfect weather for a Florida boy to contemplate his life and pen a … Read more
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14 February 2017
14 February 2017

Scaling out SSRS on SQL Server Standard Edition

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The ability to scale out SSRS, so that multiple report server instances can access a single report server database, is an Enterprise Edition-only feature. So when Rodney Landrum was tasked with implementing a scale-out solution, with failover, for SSRS on SQL Server Standard Edition, it required some creative thinking. This article describes his solution, its merits and drawbacks.… Read more
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26 September 2013
26 September 2013

SSRS Reports as a Data Source in Excel 2013

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DBAs are expected to know how to administer the technologies that are available with and peripheral to SQL Server. To properly administer them, it certainly helps to understand the technology from the point of view of the user. By using an existing SSRS report as a data feed for Excel, Rodney Landrum explains how these users can now take advantage of development efforts in new ways.… Read more
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03 January 2013
03 January 2013

2013 and the Impossible Challenge

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I am consistently amazed when I read on twitter the exploits of DBAs who compete in marathons, endure triathlons, or simply run every single day. For me: impossible. The furthest I have ever run in one go was 3 miles. I was 9 years old, barefoot, and being chased by a Doberman. Older now, and … Read more
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14 April 2010
14 April 2010

Consolidating SQL Server Error Logs from Multiple Instances Using SSIS

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SQL Server hides a lot of very useful information in its error log files. Unfortunately, the process of hunting through all these logs, file-by-file, server-by-server, can cause a problem. Rodney Landrum offers a solution which will allow you to pull error log records from multiple servers into a central database, for analysis and reporting with T-SQL.… Read more
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21 January 2010
21 January 2010

Managing Data Growth in SQL Server

'Help, my database ate my disk drives!'. Many DBAs spend most of their time dealing with variations of the problem of database processes consuming too much disk space. This happens because of errors such as incorrect configurations for recovery models, data growth for large objects and queries that overtax TempDB resources. Rodney describes, with some feeling, the errors that can lead to this sort of crisis for the working DBA, and their solution.… Read more
24 November 2009
24 November 2009

Eating SQL Server Installations for Breakfast

Here you will find wholesome SQL Server installations on the menu, complete with Express, Continental and Deluxe breakfast choices, depending on your application's appetite. This is the article where your new SQL Server installation is completely yours, having not as yet been turned over to the general populace of developers or users. Enjoy it while you can: From the SQL Server Tacklebox … Read more
04 August 2009
04 August 2009

SQL Server Tacklebox Free eBook

As a DBA, how well-prepared are you to tackle issues such as backup failure due to lack of disk space, or locking and blocking that is preventing critical business processes from running, or data corruption due to a power failure in the disk subsystem? If you have any hesitation in your answers to these questions, then Rodney Landrum's SQL Server Tacklebox is a must-read.… Read more
31 July 2009
31 July 2009

The DBA as Detective: Troubleshooting Locking and Blocking

In this article, taken from Chapter 5 of his great new book, SQL Server Tacklebox, Rodney describes in his own unique style how he, as a working DBA, goes about troubleshooting problem queries, and investigating various types of locking and blocking problems. In the process, he  passes on valuable tips learned from practical, and sometimes stressful, experience.… Read more
15 July 2009
15 July 2009

SQL Server Tacklebox

Inside the SQL Server Tacklebox you'll find day-to-day tools, scripts and techniques to automate and standardize SQL Server installation, document and report on your servers, migrate data and manage data growth, troubleshoot performance issues, receive notifications of impending issues, secure access to your servers and fight off the data corruption monster… Read more
05 August 2008
05 August 2008

SQL Server eBook Download – SQL Server Tacklebox

The SQL Server Tacklebox contains a collection of practical tools and techniques to automate and standardize SQL Server installation, document and report on servers, migrate data and manage data growth, troubleshoot performance issues, receive notifications of impending issues, secure access servers and fight off the data corruption.… Read more