It’s important to choose the right datatypes when designing a database. Greg Larsen explains the differences between CHAR, VARCHAR and VARCHAR(MAX).… Read more
SQL Server provides two ways to include an incrementing number in a table. Greg Larsen explains how to replace an identity column with a sequence number.… Read more
Developers can work with multiple range values at once using sp_sequence_get_range. Greg Larsen explains how to return multiple sequence numbers with sp_sequence_get_range.… Read more
SQL Server sequence objects have several properties that control how they behave. Greg Larson explains the options of using SQL Server sequence objects.… Read more
SQL Server sequence objects can be used in place of identity columns. In this article, Greg Larsen explains how to set up and use sequence objects.… Read more
SQL Server identity columns are easy to add to a table, but you must understand how they work to use them effectively. In this article, Greg Larsen explains the nuances of SQL Server identity columns.… Read more
The SQL Server identity column is used to populate a column with incrementing numbers on insert. In this article, Greg Larsen explains how it works.… Read more
DBAs can control many aspects of SQL Server’s behavior with trace flags. In this article, Robert Sheldon explains how to enable SQL Server trace flags.… Read more
The SQL Server transaction log must be managed to keep a database running and performing well. In this article, Greg Larsen explains how to manage the transaction log size.… Read more
The transaction log file for a SQL Server database critical for for maintaining database integrity. In this article, Greg Larsen explains SQL Server transaction log architecture.… Read more
DBAs must make sure data is highly available, and there are many SQL Server high availability options. Pamela Mooney discusses those options in this article.… Read more
Understanding SQL Server security is a critical skill. Greg Larsen explains SQL Server authentication methods, logins, and database users in this article.… Read more
In this article of the series, Pamela Mooney explains the architecture of SQL Server under the hood, including some query anti-patterns to avoid.… Read more
Mastering TempDB is a critical skills for SQL Server DBAs. In this article, Monica Rathbun explains the basics of TempDB including configuration.… Read more
SQL Server tech interview questions must be well crafted to make sure the candidate actually knows the topic. In this article, Sergey Gigoyan provides his favorite questions for interviewing SQL Server developers.… Read more
There are a handful of options when backing up SQL Server databases. A DBA must understand the differences and come up with a plan that protects the organisation’s data. In this article, Pamela Mooney explains service level agreements, recovery models, and some strategies to ensure that the data can be restored quickly.… Read more
Securing data is not always easy to do, but it should be the top responsibility for database administrators. From protecting the physical servers to preventing copies of backups files from getting into the wrong hands, there is a lot to consider. In this article, Pamela Mooney covers what DBAs need to think about when securing their organisation’s data.… Read more
Tables that return the value of the data in the table at a particular point of time have been with us since the first relational database, but have always required special queries and constraints, and can be tricky to get right. System-versioned Temporal Tables, new in SQL Server 2016, make such tables behave like any other. How do you create one, or modify an existing table? How can you get an In-Memory Optimized OLTP table to be Temporal? Alex Grinberg shows how. … Read more
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