Please Don’t Do This! Default Index Fill Factor

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Please, please, please Admins do not leave your default index fill factor at 0. This means you are telling SQL Server to fill the page 100% full when creating indexes. This also means you are forcing it to a new page when additional inserts are done. These are called PAGE SPLITS which can take time to perform and is a resource intensive operation. Having a high fill factor will cause more index fragmentation, decrease performance and increase IO. If you find that this is how your system is configured, all is not lost. You can correct this by changing the… Continue Reading

System-Versioned Temporal Tables

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Every once in a while, I like to take a moment and learn something new about the latest SQL Server gizmos and gadgets. Today I came across system-versioned temporal tables and it peeked my interest, so I figured I’d investigate and share my finding with you. How many of you have need to track data changes over time? I’ve needed this many times for things like auditing, investigating data changes, data fixes, and trend analysis of values over time. Having to do this is the past has been a very daunting task at times and sometimes nearly impossible. This is… Continue Reading

VLFs the Forgotten Foe

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How many of you check the amount of Virtual Log Files (VLFs) your transaction logs have? Working as a consultant now, I see this as something that is often ignored by DBAs.  This is an easy thing maintain and yet so many don’t know how to. Keeping these in check can give you a performance boost not only on startup but with your insert/update/delete as well as backup/restore operations. SQL Server performs better with a smaller number of right sized virtual log files.  I highly recommend you add this to your server reviews. What is a VLF? Every transaction log… Continue Reading

TIL: Microsoft Azure Part 2

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Last week I started a multi-part series on Today I Learned (TIL) about Microsoft Azure.  This is part two of what I am learning in Azure. Today’s topic is simply about Tenants, Subscriptions, Subscription Roles, Resource Groups, and Tags. It’s Always Good to Start with Pictures Here is a glimpse of how these topics relate. I will define and explain each below. What is a Tenant? In simplest terms, a Tenant is container for multiple subscriptions. An example of two subscriptions would be Azure and Office 365. They would be owned by one account, an individual or a company. A… Continue Reading

TIL: Microsoft Azure Part 1

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I thought maybe it would be a good idea to start a multi-part series on Today I Learned (TIL) about Microsoft Azure. As part of my new job I am currently learning as much about Azure as possible. As I learn things, I will blog to share what I am learning. It will cover beginner level things initially and gradually progress to more advanced topics. Today’s topic is simply…. What the heck is Azure, how do I get to it, and what is the difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS? What is Azure? According to Microsoft. “Microsoft Azure is a growing… Continue Reading

Blogging at SQLPerformance.com

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I am honored to be a Guest Blogger at SQLPerformance.com. As a member of the SentryOne Product Advisory Council (PAC) I will be writing occasionally for the site. You can catch my first blog post It’s Not You It’s Me (I/O Troubleshooting) through simple changes. SQLPerformance.com is about providing innovative and practical solutions for improving SQL Server performance. Whether you are running a 3rd party application database where very little can be changed, or you are a DBA at a site where getting the application developers to change anything is next to impossible, they cover both the “how” and the “why.” Continue Reading

Time for a Change

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I am ecstatic to say I have joined Denny Cherry and Associates Consulting. Lone No More I am happy, excited, and nostalgic to announce that I am hanging up my Lone DBA hat and becoming a consultant. Yep, you read that correctly, I’ve decided after 16 years that I am going to change things up a bit. I am switching gears and will be helping those who are Lone DBAs and others by lending them a hand with their work loads. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love being a Lone DBA. So, I will continue to speak on the… Continue Reading

Among Giants

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Since becoming a Database Administrator I’ve always looked at Microsoft MVP’s as the giants in our field.  I never once thought I could be among them. I am very humbled to be recognized as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP for 2017. Thank you to those that deemed me worthy enough to nominate me. What is an MVP? According to Microsoft, the MVP Award is an annual award that recognizes exceptional technology community leaders worldwide who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with users and Microsoft. Microsoft MVPs represent a highly select group of experts. MVPs share a deep… Continue Reading

Lone DBA Podcast

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I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on a Podcast episode with the SQL Data Partners Carlos Chacon (B|T) and Steve Stedman (B|T).  If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of my sessions on Survival Tips for the Lone DBA, this is great insight into it. I share via questions and answers how it is to be a Lone DBA. http://sqldatapartners.com/2017/03/28/episode-89-lone-dba/ Continue Reading

Trouble Shooting Little Jewel -Windows PSR (Problem Steps Recorder)

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I didn’t know about this little gem, so I shared it with my team and they didn’t know about it either. Then I tweeted about it and found others who didn’t know about it, so I decided I should write a short little blog. Denny Cherry (B|T) posted a blog on twitter telling everyone to blog as much as possible no matter how small the topic, so I figured why not do this one. So What Is It? Windows PSR “Problem Steps Recorder”.  It’s a nifty tool that helps you trouble shoot a computer problem by recording step by step… Continue Reading