SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert - SQL Authority with Pinal Dave

Is your SQL Server running slow and you want to speed it up without sharing server credentials? In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, we can work together remotely and resolve your biggest performance troublemakers in less than 4 hours.

Once you learn my business secrets, you will fix the majority of problems in the future.

Have you ever opened any PowerPoint deck when you face SQL Server Performance Tuning emergencies? SQL Server Performance Tuning Practical Workshop is my MOST popular training with no PowerPoint presentations and 100% practical demonstrations.

Essentially I share my business secrets to optimize SQL Server performance.

An Index Reduces Performance of SELECT Queries (Video)
3 Common Mistakes to Kill SQL Server Performance (Video)
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For SQL Server Emergency Help, you can reach out to me at pinal@sqlauthority.com with words URGENT in the email subject line for other services mention “Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check“.

Jul4

SQL Server Agent – Unable to start the service – The request failed or the service did not respond in a timely fashion

Pinal Dave

SQL

SQL Error Messages, SQL Server, SQL Server Agent

No Comments

Rarely, it also happens when someone becomes accidental DBA and may get stumped with simple things. This blog is result of troubleshooting which I have done for a company where I found one such DBA. I don’t say you cannot become a DBA in this manner, it is the hard work that goes behind this that needs to be understood. Let us learn about error related to SQL Server Agent.

Jul3

How to Attach MDF Data File Without LDF Log File – Interview Question of the Week #078

Pinal Dave

SQL Interview Questions and Answers

SQL Log, SQL Restore, SQL Scripts, SQL Server, SQL Server Management Studio

Just the other day I was busy during a performance tuning exercise I explained to the team of DBA that how much log file is critical and important for their performance. Once I was explaining the importance and role of the LDF file in the performance, one of the DBA from the team asked me question about what would they do if they somehow lose the LDF file or just have corrupted log file which they do not care now. Well, I though it was a very important question and I believe it can be a very good interview question as well. Let us learn about how to attach the MDF data file without LDF log file.

Jul2

SQL SERVER – Unable to cast object of type ‘System.DBNull’ to type ‘System.String’. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo)

Pinal Dave

SQL

SQL Error Messages, SQL Scripts, SQL Server

When you are driving on a highway, you look forward to the sign boards give you guidance while you are busy driving. These sign boards tell you when your exit is approaching and how you should be dealing with the same. I consider such sign boards inside SQL Server as “Error Messages”. I rely on them so heavily to give me insider information to a possible solution. Not always are these messages super easy to understand. Take for instance the following message. While trying to create a database on my lab server, I got below error related to System.DBNull:

Jul1

SQL SERVER – Script level upgrade for database master failed because upgrade step sqlagent100_msdb_upgrade.sql encountered error

Pinal Dave

SQL

SQL Error Messages, SQL Scripts, SQL Server

Sometimes I feel that one error can be caused due to multiple reasons and there are different ways to solve it. I already have two blogs for the error message. As they say, there are is no silver bullet when it comes to solving some of the issues. SQL Server might through a generic message, but it all lead to the same problem related to master database:

Jun30

How to Use Zip With SSIS? – Notes from the Field #130

Pinal Dave

SQL

Notes from the Field, SQL Server, SQL Utility, SSIS

[Note from Pinal]: This is a 130th episode of Notes from the Field series. In this episode we are going to learn something very simple but effective about SIS and Zip. This subject is not very much discussed about and hardly there are many information about this subject available. In this episode of the Notes from the Field series database expert Kevin Hazzard explains the how to use ZIP with SSIS. Read the experience of Kevin in his own words.

Jun29

SQL SERVER – Error Fix: Msg 13601 Working with JSON Structure

Pinal Dave

SQL

JSON, SQL Error Messages, SQL Server

As you new versions of SQL Server come, the amount of capabilities just increases exponentially. It is tough to keep up in pace with the innovations and learning that one needs to go through. I have in the past written few articles around working with JSON over the blogs earlier. These games of playing with the new capabilities will show up tons of errors as we are not completely aware of what is possible. These experiments lead you from learning to another.

Jun28

Recover Lost Data Using the Transaction Log Files

Pinal Dave

SQL

ApexSQL, SQL Log, SQL Scripts, SQL Server

Every now and then, experienced SQL Server DBAs as well as the SQL Server rookies find themselves in the unpleasant situation when some important data has been changed or lost with the monumental task to solve this in the most efficient way. Regardless of the change source – was it an internal or external user, the intent behind it – unintended mistake or a malicious change, or even the exact nature of the change – update, delete, drop or something else, database administrators are faced with the task to recover the lost data and enable users to continue using the database as if the recovery was never required by providing the data recovery. Let us learn about how to recover lost data using the transaction log files.

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 14 SQL Server database books and 100 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 an experienced and dedicated professional with a deep commitment to flawless customer service. If you need help with any SQL Server Performance Tuning Issues, please feel free to reach out at pinal@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.