I showed before how to set single user mode with T-SQL before a backup. You can also set single user mode using SSMS, from the database properties page.
How to Practise SQL Without a Real Database
You can practise SQL with small invented tables, generated rows, and repeatable exercises without access to a company's production database.
Recording Table Row Counts Every Day
Recording table row counts each day creates a useful SQL Server trend when a scheduled job, history table, and change review support it.
Replaying a Production Workload After Distributed Replay
Capture a production workload with Extended Events and replay it on a restored copy using WorkloadTools or ostress after Distributed Replay.
SQL SERVER – History of SQL Server Database Encryption
Michael Coles, co-author of Expert SQL Server 2008 Encryption, let me share his history of SQL Server database encryption, starting from SQL Server 2000.
Setting MAXDOP and Cost Threshold Sensibly
MAXDOP and cost threshold work together to shape parallel plans; inspect current values, test a change, and watch real workload effects.
SQL SERVER – Information Related to DATETIME and DATETIME2
A reader comment explains the precision issue between DATETIME and DATETIME2: values lose precision when converted between types. Here is the workaround.