A client’s maintenance plan failed with Integration Services evaluation period has expired in the job history. Here is why it happened and the fix.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
The Tipping Point: Why SQL Server Skips Your Nonclustered Index
Find the tipping point where key lookups cost more than a scan, then compare covering and filtered indexes with measured reads.
Linting T-SQL: Rules Worth Automating in a Build
Use linting T-SQL to flag repeatable code risks, review catalog-based candidates, and automate confirmed rules without false certainty.
SQL SERVER – SQL Server Agent Not Starting – Failed to Initialize SQL Agent Log (Reason: Access is Denied).
SQL Server Agent would not start in my lab: Failed to initialize SQL Agent log (reason: Access is denied). Here is what I found in the log folder and the fix.
SQL SERVER – All the Features not Listed While Installing SQL Server
Analysis, Reporting and Integration Services were missing from the Features page while installing SQL Server. The cause was missing MSI files in my setup media.
SQL SERVER – Always On Replica Disconnected After Changing SQL Server Service Account
After I changed the SQL Server service account in my lab, the Always On secondary replica went disconnected. Here is why the endpoint rejects the new account.
How to Enable Files & Folders Level Auditing in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #176
Files kept vanishing from a client’s SQL Server Binn folder. SQL Server cannot track that, so here is how to enable Files and Folders Level Auditing in Windows.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

