Learning never stops when you are a consultant. While doing my recent Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check my client asked an interesting question. He informed that he is not able to see SQL Server Agent node in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). What could be the possible cause? I was able to provide him answers and sharing it here. First, let us understand what he meant.  If you look closer at two SSMS connection. Do you notice a difference? Yes. As the title says – SQL Server Agent is missing in the second image. So, what are the possible causes?
Data Privacy – Are Your Database Processes Fully Compliant?
This year has been filled with data privacy and protection concerns. From the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the exposure of data breaches at Cambridge Analytica, Facebook and Under Armour, to new legislation springing up in the US, including New York’s Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act (SHIELD) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Stories about the value of data – and the risks associated with it – are everywhere. As data professionals, the pressure is there to achieve a balance between compliance and the need to deliver faster than ever.
SQL SERVER – 5061: FIX Error: ALTER DATABASE failed because a lock could not be placed on database ‘Database Name’. Try again later.
Every consulting engagement is different and I get to learn new things. In this blog post, I will share what I learned during my recent Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check. During health check to demonstrate one of the scenarios we had created a test database in our environment. However, after the test was complete we wanted to take the database offline so we eventually can drop it or bring it online if needed, however, as soon as we ran the command to take database offline, it gave is an error related to alter database failed because a lock could not be placed on database.
SQL SERVER – OLE DB Provider ‘Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0’ for Linked Server ‘(null)’ Returned Message ‘Unspecified Error’
There are many situations where you have to create a linked server to Microsoft Excel and read data from there. While doing that, I encountered an error and in this blog, we would discuss how to fix OLE DB provider ‘Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0’ for linked server ‘(null)’ returned message ‘Unspecified error’
How to Grow All Files in a File Group Equally? – TRACE FLAG 1117 – Interview Question of the Week #201
Question:Â How to Grow All Files in a File Group Equally?
Answer: If you are a regular reader of this blog, you would have read my earlier blog post writing about this subject over here: SQL Server 2016 – Introducing AutoGrow and Mixed_Page_Allocations Options – TraceFlags. However, let us try to get an answer to our question in this blog.
SQL SERVER – Huge Size of SSISDB – Catalog Database SSISDB Cleanup Script
In recent past, while doing Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check I encountered an interesting issue. In this blog, I am sharing my knowledge about how to clean up the SSISDB database using the script.
Before you try this, make sure you have gone through below blog to check the symptoms.
SQL SERVER – Finding User Who Dropped Database Table
Though I mainly focus on SQL Server Performance Tuning as my primary consulting engagement, there are moments when I am asked questions from my regular clients which are not related to SQL Server Performance and they still expect me to answer. I think it is totally fair, no one wants to go to find a new consultant for some simple questions. Recently my customer wanted to know who dropped the database table from their primary database.
Feedback of #PASSSummit 2018 for My Performance Tuning Sessions
Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to present on SQL Server Performance Tuning at the largest gathering of the SQL Server Professionals in Seattle. I was fortunate to present a day-long pre-conference training and 75 conference sessions. I was truly thankful to you when I received overwhelmingly positive feedback.Â
SQLBits 2019: Pre-Con – 21 Essential Scripts: Performance Tuning for EVERYONE
If you are going to go to SQLBits 2019, you want to come to my pre-con about 21 Essential Scripts: Performance Tuning for EVERYONE. This pre-con contains best of my material and goes beyond what you conventionally know about any topic. It is no-nonsense, direct to demonstration and fast-paced advanced class where we discuss 21 essential scripts for SQL Server Performance Tuning.
SQL SERVER – Results of Dynamic SQL Into A Variable
The other day during Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, I was asked if there is a way to store results of dynamic SQL into a variable. This is a very popular question and let us see the answer to this question in this blog post.