SQL Server Storage Engine & Tools (SSQA.net)

RML Utilities (READTRACE/OSTRESS) now supports SQL Server 2008

2008-11-13T08:00:00Z

In continuation to SQL Server - Precision Performance techniques using RML Utilities and SQL Server troubleshooting tools PSSDiag, SQLDiag, SQLNexus, RML Utilities and ReadTrace: which one to choose? posts here it will be a wonderful news for DBAs to hear that Microsoft Development team developed an update for the RML Utilities which now includes support for SQL Server 2008 product too. Not only that there are few intertesting stuff surrounding this support to 2008 version and all those facts &...(read more)

Recover a database with no transaction log file - SQL Server 2005!

2008-11-11T07:16:00Z

Have you ever been in a situation that one of the database has been giving hard time! It may be the times that every DBA might go through this path without realising the root cause of the issue. The issue could be out of space on the drive where that database is located and further you might see the errors (may familiar to you): 2008-11-08 20:30:12.06 spid95 Error: 17053, Severity: 16, State: 1. 2008-11-08 20:30:12.06 spid95 C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\tempdb.mdf: Operating...(read more)

SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 - public beta for your action

2008-10-30T15:48:00Z

As promised by SQL Server Developmen team about SQL Server 2005 SP3 the public beta is now available for your action and set of tasks for your 2005 environment. So what this public beta provides, this is a rollup Quick Fix Engineering that will have all the work including from SP2 as well as addresses critical issues reported through the SQL Server community. More tasks important for you is as per the revised servicing strategy this SP3 will not have or no introduction of any new features to SQL...(read more)

SQL Server Migration Assistant - what are the conversion rules between Oracle and SQL Server during the migration?

2008-09-09T07:46:00Z

This was the big question posed by the users when a migration project is initiated at one of client's place. SQL_Server_Migration_Assistant is a must tool to asses the issues when you have a mammoth task of data migration between SQL Server and other data sources such as Oracle & SYBASE. You may not know that not all Oracle database objects have direct equivalents in SQL Server. There are many additional objects are created while this tool is executed that will provide a proper phase of emulation...(read more)

SQL Server 2000 and 2005 versions: set databae option Page_Verify Option to CheckSum, to be or not to be?

2008-09-04T08:00:00Z

Recently we had a discussion at work place about setting up the PAGE_VERIFY option to CHECKSUM for few databases on one of the SQL Server 2005 instance (dedicated) that is being used extensively by an application that has very limited maintenance window in terms of 24/7 usage. By default you can enable of disable this PAGE_VERIFY option by using ALTER DATABASE statement [ Set the PAGE_VERIFY Database Option to CHECKSUM ] that can be affected per database level, the main advantage of this option is...(read more)

Cumulative Update 9 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2 - another update package in line

2008-08-29T20:58:00Z

In continuation to the CumulativeUpdate package posts here for SQL Server 2005 SP2 we have another set of cumulative update package no.9 ready for testing. TO obtain this read the notes from Microsoft: .... Apply it only to systems that are experiencing these specific problems. This cumulative update package may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by any of these problems, we recommend that you wait for the next SQL Server 2005 service pack that contains the hotfixes...(read more)

How to handle PRAGMA AUTONOMOUS TRANSACTION mode within SQL Server?

2008-08-28T08:01:00Z

The question on the subject was asked by one of the Data Integration project developers, which is initiated to migrate a database from Oracle to SQL Server. The process of transactions should be handled from Application and when it comes to the data migration you have the tools such as SQL Server Migration Assistant (SSMA) for all other data sources. Just to the topic of data migration I would like to refer the resources to see how SSMA automates, streamlines, and simplifies data migration and helps...(read more)

Working with DateTime data types in SQL Server, guidelines and explanations!

2008-08-26T07:41:00Z

Just a bit of basics about DateTime datatype in SQL Server, it has two different date/time columns. They are DATETIME and SMALLDATETIME and the difference between these two SQL Server date/time data types. SQL Server has a number of default formats it expects raw date and time data to be in when inserting dates into a DATETIME, or SMALLDATETIME columns. If you attempt to insert a date that does not match one of the default date formats, then SQL Server will reject the date/time value. If your raw...(read more)

SQL Server Auditing and Logging - SSIS Audit Transformation comes handy for you in database platform

2008-08-21T08:40:00Z

If you work in Financial based Enterprise then Sarbanes-Oxley is not a new concept for you as per American law that regulates the accountability of publicly owned companies. Just to talk about t he main purpose of the law it to make sure the financial statement that a company reports is legitimate and that there’s no room for someone to manipulate it. DBAs will see this law as Data Audit information management, in terms of capture the data and present as and when they are queried. The Audit transformation...(read more)

SQL Server 2008 Books OnLine (BOL), latest and updated

2008-08-19T07:32:00Z

Ok its time to update your local copies of SQL Server 2008 Books OnLine (BOL) too, as we have RTM version in hand. You may have installed it during CTP releases and even during short-time of RC0 release, but as always it is a good practice to update as the current installation is latest and updated. MSDN Developer Center page provides wide range of users to download the BOL as follows: Download Books Online from the Download Center English Chinese (Simplified) Chinese (Traditional) French German...(read more)

SQL Server 2005 supportability on virtual environment

2008-07-30T08:39:00Z

Virtualization and Consolidation is still a hot topic and revising SQL Server consolidation and virtualization - hot topic in the industry related post here that you can easily manage the resources by using virtual machine technology that enables multiple operating systems to run on a single computer at the same time. I believe there might be many installations (production) are managed on Virtual Environment to cut down the costs, then it comes to the important factor of suportability to the software...(read more)

SQL Server data and log files initialization, think multiple files, backup & restore performance!

2008-07-25T11:01:00Z

Whenever you perform a database creation, add a data or log file to database, AUTOGROW process is intiated or restore of database will trigger the file initialization if that is created afresh. In addition to this when you talk about files intialization you must consider the hardware such as RAID, as the software data block size is computed for optimal performance by SQL Server and should not be altered which is set to a maximum 64KB blocksize. Say if you are writing to disk or to tape (high-speed)...(read more)

Cumulative Update 8 package for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack2

2008-07-16T09:50:00Z

I felt like somehow I missed to post the availability of Cumulative Update package releases here and referring the last CU7_Update package blogpost now we have CU8 available for download if the specified problem occurs in your platform as per the KBA 951217 here. Obviously this is for the installations that will have SQL Server 2005 SP2 and includes 50 Resolved Issues & 39 Unique Customer Requests, thats a lot. As usual the best practice note from Microsoft and industry is Cumulative Updates...(read more)

SQL Server 2005 - How to compare content of tables without using third party tools?

2008-07-04T08:36:00Z

You may be aware about using Third party tools to compare the data between 2 tables. Using SQL Server 2005 you need not entirely dependant on such requirement, TABLEDIFF utility is the new addition to the SQL Server. This utility enables you to compare the table contents by giving consistent information such as whether data is same, are they different and also give what data in the table different. From the command prompt where the SQL Server is installed you can run TABLEDIFF -? to get list of supported...(read more)

SQL Server Express - get sample kits in express way

2008-06-30T08:30:00Z

For every new user in SQL Server world and experienced users to get used to newer version of SQL Server, having sample kit will definetly help out. In this scenario I often get emails asking about any samples or documentation (procedures) to get more about the latest release of SQL Server, in the same fashion thanks to Microsoft learning that such sample kits are available to download for free. The following links source is from Microsoft site: Teacher Starter Kit The Teacher Starter Kit is a rich...(read more)