The System Procedure sp_tables_ex lists table metadata from an existing linked server. I check its provider and login mapping separately.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
ROWCOUNT and PAGECOUNT: Faking a Big Table to Test Plans
You can tell the optimizer a three-row table has 10 million rows and watch the plan change. Here is how, and how to undo it.
SQL SERVER – Different Methods to Know COMPATIBILITY LEVEL of a Database
Different methods to find the compatibility level of a database, from sp_helpdb to sp_dbcmptlevel, with a quick note on what the setting means.
SQL SERVER – Alternative to DBCC INPUTBUFFER – sys.dm_exec_input_buffer
DBCC INPUTBUFFER shows very little. In SQL Server 2016, the new sys.dm_exec_input_buffer function gives far more details about the last statement sent.
What does Keyword STATS Indicates in Backup Scripts in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #138
Many DBAs add STATS to their Backup Scripts without knowing why. It prints percent complete messages while the backup runs. Here is how it works.
Rename MDF File Extension in SQL Server, Step by Step
To rename MDF file extension values safely, take the database offline, tell SQL Server the new file name, rename the file on disk, and bring the database online. This post walks through the four steps on a demo database. It also explains the RECOVERY_PENDING state you see when the two names don’t match.
SQL SERVER – How to Install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) From Command Line?
Want to install SQL Server Management Studio silently from the command line, say with SCCM? Here is the one line batch command I shared with a reader.
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