SQL Aloha

An Introduction to Data Compression in SQL Server 2008

This is an excerpt from my free eBook, Brad’s Sure Guide to SQL Server 2008.
There is one thing every DBA knows with certainty, and that is that databases grow with time. MDFs grow, backups grow, and it never stops. The more data we have, the more work SQL Server has to perform in order ...read more

Taking Advantage of SQL Server Tools

Reprinted from my editorial in Database Weekly.

An important question I think you should be asking yourself, when it comes to your professional development, is "Are You Taking Full Advantage of the SQL Server Tools Available to You?" I think it’s important enough that, when I make presentations at conferences or user groups, I often add ...read more

Speaking in Cambridge, England March 24, 2010

If you are near Cambridge, England, I will be speaking at the Cambridge SQL Server Users Group on Wednesday, March 24, 2010.

SQL Server 2005 & 2008 SP Release Dates

Microsoft has announced that Service Pack 2 for SQL Server 2008 will be released in the third quarter of 2010, and that Service Pack 4 for SQL Server 2005 will be released in the fourth quarter of 2010. Find out more here.

Free SQL Server Training Webinar Series

SQLServerCentral.com, PragmaticWorks, and Wrox Press are sponsoring a series of free SQL Server webinars in February. Called the SQL Server 101 Series, the sessions include:

Introduction to Managing a SQL Server Database with Jorge Segarra
Beginning T-SQL with Patrick LeBlanc
The Modern Resume with Steve Jones
How to Become an Exceptional DBA with Brad McGehee
Fundamentals of SQL Server Integration ...read more

Searching for Objects or Text Strings Using SQL Search

As a DBA, at one time or another, you will need to quickly find an object within a database, such as a table, view, or stored procedure. In other cases, it is handy to be able to search objects to locate specific text strings. Depending on which version of SQL Server you are using, you ...read more

Questions About SQL Server Backups

SQL Server backups are a “funny” topic to talk about. If you are talking with experienced DBAs, the topic of backups rarely surfaces, as this is a fundamental skill most DBAs learn early in their career. On the other hand, there are thousands of part-time, accidental DBAs who are tasked with making backups, and they ...read more

But We Have Always Done It That Way

I recently ran across the following scenario. A SQL Server instance had been upgraded from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008. At the same time, the older physical hardware had been replaced by newer hardware. The DBA who had set up and configured the older server was no longer at the organization, and a ...read more