The AT TIME ZONE feature arrived in SQL Server 2016. Here is a simple two-step example that converts US East Coast time to West Coast time.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
How to Kill User Sessions (SPID) in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #141
How do you Kill User Sessions (SPID) in SQL Server? First ask why you want to, since killing busy sessions rarely helps. Then here is the script.
SQL SERVER – The Operating System Returned the Error 21(The Device is Not Ready.) While Attempting ‘GetDiskFreeSpace’ on ‘A:\’
While testing SQL Server 2017, I found Error 21 (the device is not ready) in the ERRORLOG for GetDiskFreeSpace on drive A. Here is why it shows up.
SQL SERVER – New DMV in SQL Server 2017 – sys.dm_os_enumerate_fixed_drives. A Replacement of xp_fixeddrives
SQL Server 2017 adds sys.dm_os_enumerate_fixed_drives, a new DMV that shows free space on each drive and replaces xp_fixeddrives. Here is the query I use.
SQL SERVER – FIX: Msg 5123, Level 16 – CREATE FILE Encountered Operating System Error 5
This blog is about another common error reported by many DBA to me. He faced error related to create file in OS.
Here is the text of the message.
SQL SERVER – 7 Important Things to Remember While Taking Effective Backup
An effective backup needs a tested restore plan as well as a schedule. I keep these seven reminders in recovery discussions.
SQL SERVER – Login Failed – Error: 18456, Severity: 14, State: 38 – Reason: Failed to Open the Explicitly Specified Database
Error 18456 State 38: failed to open the explicitly specified database. The login worked and the database did not. The four usual causes.
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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.

