Is XP_CMDSHELL enabled on your server? I recommend avoiding it for security. Here are two ways to check and turn it off, starting with T-SQL.
SQL SERVER – CONCAT function and NULL values
The CONCAT function and NULL values: CONCAT in SQL Server 2012 simply ignores NULL, while the + operator returns NULL. Here is a simple example.
SQL SERVER – Login Failed For User – Reason Server is in Script Upgrade Mode
Login failed for user because the server is in script upgrade mode? It happens after patching while upgrade scripts run. Here is what it means and what to do.
SQL SERVER – The Basics of the File System Task – Part 2 – Notes from the Field #075
Andy Leonard returns with part 2 on the basics of the File System Task in SSIS, useful whenever your data moves to and from flat files.
SQL SERVER – Introduction to Policy Management
Policy Management, added in SQL Server 2008, is an underappreciated feature. Here is an introduction to its building blocks and how the pieces fit.
SQL SERVER – What is Filtered Statistics?
Filtered statistics, added in SQL Server 2008, help the optimizer estimate rows when data is correlated. Here is a small demo with Employee and Sales tables.
SQL SERVER – Transaction Log Backup Failing After Rebuilding Database Log File
A DBA at a Delhi conference asked why the transaction log backup kept failing after rebuilding the database log file. Here is why it happens.