VAR and VARP describe sample and population variation. Keep observation count and missingness visible when reporting their results.
Checking 32-Bit Leftovers: Linked Server Providers and ODBC Drivers
Find 32-bit dependencies in linked servers, Agent steps, SSIS execution choices, and Windows ODBC drivers before a server move.
DMV Snapshot Deltas for a Query Activity Interval
DMV snapshot deltas show counter growth for cached statements that survive two observations. Compare their identities and report missing coverage before ranking activity.
Partition Stats Permissions: A SQL Server 2025 CU9 Counterpoint
A controlled SQL Server 2025 CU9 test separates partition metadata visibility from access to table rows. Compare the documented permission pair with observed grant behavior, and keep the build-specific result within its measured scope.
STARTUP_STATE: Check Whether an Extended Events Session Is Running
STARTUP_STATE controls automatic startup after SQL Server starts, while current session state tells whether an Extended Events session is running now. Compare both states and verify an event-file capture before assuming that a setting started the session.
SQL SERVER – Denali – ObjectID in Negative – Local TempTable has Negative ObjectID
On Denali I saw many negative ObjectID values in sys.all_objects. Here is how I found out that each local temp table gets a negative ObjectID.
Statistics Histograms Explained
Statistics histograms explained through steps, RANGE_ROWS, EQ_ROWS, and DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS help connect data shape to plan estimates.