A function was causing CPU spikes. How many times was that function called, and at what cost? The SQL Server 2016 DMV dm_exec_function_stats shows it.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – FIX – Error – Msg 4928, Level 16, State 1. Cannot Alter Column Because it is ‘Enabled for Replication or Change Data Capture’
Msg 4928 blames Replication or Change Data Capture on a database that has neither. Reproduced on SQL Server 2025, with the flags to check and the fix.
What is Memory Grants Pending in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #103
What is Memory Grants Pending in SQL Server? A short interview-style answer: what the counter shows, what value you want to see and why it matters.
SQL SERVER – SqlServerWriter Missing from an Output of VSSadmin List Writers Command
Third party backups failed because SqlServerWriter was missing from the output of VSSadmin List Writers. Here are the possible reasons and what to check.
SQL Server – PowerShell Script – Getting Properties and Details
A retail client runs 1500+ databases with fewer than 10 DBAs, so automation matters. Here is a PowerShell script to get SQL Server properties and details.
SQL SERVER – Testing Database Performance with tSQLt and SQLQueryStress
Database testing is often skipped until there is a problem. Here is my approach to testing database performance with tSQLt and SQLQueryStress.
SQL SERVER – CLONEDATABASE: Generate Statistics and Schema Only Copy of the Database
CLONEDATABASE can Generate Statistics and schema-only diagnostic copies without copying table rows. I use that distinction when investigating optimizer behavior.
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.

