The puzzles are interesting and in most cases, if we try to play around a little bit more, many more interesting extensions can be added. A couple of weeks back, I wrote a round – SELECT One by Two – Why Does SELECT 1/2 Returns 0 – Interview Question of the Week #067. It brought some good interactions as comments over the blog and I was happy we were all excited about something as simple as this.
Understanding Database Scalability – Vertical and Horizontal
Since I have started my consulting engagements with customers around the world, I have been asked interesting queries from time to time. In a recent customer call, the customer insisted I assist them in taking a call on if they need to buy one server with 64 cores or if they need to buy 2 servers of 32 cores. I had to explain that it is always not that simple to answer the same. After close to 30 mins of conversation they understood finally what I was talking. I took a moment to blog about this engaging conversation about database scalability.
Hey DBAs – What Are You Assuming/Missing Today? – Notes from the Field #122
[Note from Pinal]: This is a 122nd episode of Notes from the Field series. This story about Shepherd DBA, Teacher and Mentor. If you know Mike Walsh, he is an amazing person to meet and know. He is a technical expert, but along with that he is a true life coach. I am fortunate to be his friend. Every single time I meet him, I learn something as a human. In this episode of “Hey DBAs” Mike explains one of the most important things any DBAs should learn, which is to say “I Don’t Know”.
SQL SERVER – Computed Column and Conditions with Case Statement
When I do not find anything on my blog, I write a blog post about it, so next time I do not have to recreate the scripts from the beginning. Just another day, I was doing performance tuning for an organization, I had to create a computed column with CASE statement and I suddenly realize that I do not have such a script on my blog so I decided to write a blog post on this subject.
SQL SERVER – Identify Table Where Clustered Index is Not a Primary Key – DMV
Let us first see script which will return us tablename with schema where clustered index is not a primary key.
SQL SERVER – What is WRK file in Log Shipping?
Several customers use log shipping for disaster recovery across a remote data center. If you are reading this blog, I would assume that you already know SQL Server log shipping If you don’t, then please go through online resources to read the basics. Here is an interesting fact which I learned recently about the WRK file in log shipping. I know some of these are around as theory, but there is no concrete way to understand the nuances of what these files actually mean.
What is Difference Between HAVING and WHERE – Interview Question of the Week #068
I do a performance tuning consulting to earn my livelihood. Once in a while, I end up customer who wants to interview me to check if I know SQL. I absolutely have no problem with the interview. This is a good thing and it gives me confidence that they are serious with their project. With said that once in a while the senior guys on the other side are so busy they end up having my interview with junior (novice) experts. I often struggle with this interview question and answer with beginners because my answers are based on experience and they often do not match what they have learned in school/collage.