Inspect query variants and dispatcher plans in Query Store, compare skewed parameter values, and read the boundaries selecting each plan.
SQL SERVER – System Stored Procedures I Use to Get Started
System Stored Procedures remain part of my troubleshooting toolbox. I use these familiar entry points before moving to more detailed views.
SQL SERVER Installation – FeatureUpgradeMatrixCheck (SQL Server 2016 Feature Upgrade) setup rule failed
SQL Server Installation failed on rule FeatureUpgradeMatrixCheck: the edition upgrade from Enterprise to Evaluation is not supported. Here is why and the fix.
How to Find Outdated Statistics? – Interview Question of the Week #081
How do you find outdated statistics? The honest answer is that ‘outdated’ is subjective. I explain why, and how I look at statistics instead.
SQL SERVER – Network Servers List is Empty in SQL Server Management Studio
A client clicked Browse for more in SSMS and the Network Servers tab was empty. Here is how we narrowed it down and what caused it.
SQL SERVER – Install Error – Could not Find the Database Engine Startup Handle
Install error: Could not find the Database Engine startup handle. This error has many causes, and here is one I found while helping a client.
Reading the system_health File Target With Plain T-SQL
Locate the system_health file target, read its retained events with T-SQL, and inspect serious errors, connectivity records and waits.