Backing up to Azure blob storage with SQL Server requires scoped SAS credentials, block blob targets, tested striping, and a real restore drill.
Sizing nvarchar Columns: How Long Should a Name Be?
A name fits the web form but fails in the table. Measure real lengths in characters and bytes before you choose a size.
Watching Live Data With the XEvent Profiler
XEvent Profiler in SSMS offers live Standard and T-SQL event views; a focused Extended Events session serves repeat investigations.
SQL SERVER – Tools for Proactive DBAs – Central Management Server – Notes from the Field #024
Tools for proactive DBAs: after many AlwaysOn Availability Group projects, John Sterrett hears the same two questions and answers both in this Notes from the Field episode.
Running, Runnable, Suspended: The Life of a Query in sys.dm_exec_requests
Read running, runnable, and suspended SQL Server requests, inspect task states, and compare scheduler queues before diagnosing CPU pressure.
Loan Amortization Schedules With a Recursive CTE
Why does the last loan payment leave a few cents behind? A recursive CTE, a rounding rule and a final reconciliation fix it.
Target Server Memory vs Total: Is SQL Server Still Growing
A big gap between target and total memory is often just room to grow. Here is how to check it before you call a server starved.