Tips

  • Parent-child dimensions in SQL Server 2005

    Retrieving a hierarchy with recursive relationships in SQL can get difficult to manage -- very quickly. Learn how to easily implement this type of relationship with a parent-child dimension using M...

  • Can you shrink your SQL Server database to death?

    In an effort to free up disk space, SQL Server DBAs often turn to shrinking the database as part of their SQL Server maintenance plan. When doing so, the database often needs to grow again to accom...

  • SQL Server database design disasters: What not to do

    Would you be embarrassed if an outsider took a good look at your SQL Server database design? Is it possible to implement a foreign key constraint in your tables? Are you using the right data types ...

  • Using datetime functions GETDATE, DATENAME and DATEPART

    Part three in our series on datetime in SQL Server describes functions for retrieving the current date and time, or individual parts of a DATETIME or SMALLDATETIME value. Learn how to extract the d...

  • Performance tuning through memory and CPU

    Part two of our series on tuning the hardware that supports your SQL Server system, Denny Cherry examines memory allocation and CPU processing and how their configurations impact performance. Learn...

  • Get log shipping functionality without Enterprise Editi

    Log shipping provides great high availability and disaster recovery, but only after paying the hefty licensing costs for SQL Server Enterprise Edition.

  • Change data capture feature in SQL Server 2008

    The change data capture feature in SQL Server 2008 allows you to update your data warehouse or data mart in near real time based on changes in the source transactional system. SQL Server BI expert ...

  • SQL Server 2008 backup compression pros and cons

    Backup compression is a shiny new feature in SQL Server 2008, but what are the drawbacks? Here, SQL Server expert Roman Rehak examines some tradeoffs, such as increased CPU processing time.

  • Steps to create a linked server from SQL Server to DB2

    Many SQL Server environments run DB2 servers, too, and often the two servers must be linked. Here's a step-by-step process that shows how to create a SQL Server linked server using Microsoft's DB2 ...

  • How to use SQL Server 2008 hierarchyid data type

    SQL Server 2008 offers the new hierarchyid data type – an improved method for storing and querying data. Stored procedures can dynamically find their way up the employees' management tree but...

  • Tuning performance via disk arrays and partitioning

    As a DBA, much of your focus is on tuning SQL Server for peak performance. But have you spent any time tuning the hardware that supports your SQL Server system? Are you using the optimal disk array...

  • Upgrade to SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008?

    Even though SQL Server 2005 was released almost three years ago, many companies haven't upgraded yet. With last week's release of SQL Server 2008, it's time to put some serious thought into an upgr...

  • Two methods for converting T-SQL date/time values

    T-SQL supports two built-in methods for converting date/time data to character data and vice versa. SQL Server expert Robert Sheldon takes you through a step-by-step process for using each method -...

  • Using full-text search for symbols in SQL Server

    When querying exact SQL phrases that include symbols, you need to add your own logic with SQL Server's full-text search feature, as it does not index non-letters. Options include incorporating a WH...

  • Monitor database mirroring and replication after upgrad

    Part five in this series describing the case history of a database upgrade to a Windows Server 2003/SQL Server 2005 Active/Active cluster examines how to monitor database mirroring and replication ...

  • Basics for working with DATETIME and SMALLDATETIME in S

    Understanding date/time data types in SQL Server can be difficult, especially when you add TIMESTAMP into the mix. In this tip, you'll learn how data is stored within DATETIME and SMALLDATETIME and...

  • Configuring Database Mail in SQL Server 2005

    Sending mail via SQL Server has become a much more reliable process. Here, SQL Server expert Roman Rehak explains how to configure Profiles and Accounts within the Database Mail architecture for se...

  • Virtual database storage for SQL Server: Friend or foe?

    With careful management, virtualized storage offers amazing flexibility when migrating data between disk drives. Yet, without careful monitoring, this same flexibility can make life a lot harder fo...

  • Upgrading live applications to SQL Server 2005

    Part four in this series takes you through the stages of maintaining live applications. Find out how to push live data from one cluster to another using a conversion database and replication techni...

  • How to use ranking functions in SQL Server 2005

    SQL Server 2005 T-SQL includes a set of functions that let you rank the rows in your result set. SQL Server expert Robert Sheldon defines and gives examples of how to use the four ranking functions...