What is a trace flag, how do you turn one on, and how do you keep it after a restart? A beginner’s introduction, including the startup parameter option.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL Domain Controller – Interview Question of the Week #072
SQL domain controller questions: can SQL Server run on one? Five interview answers, checked against Microsoft’s current guidance, one corrected.
SQL Server 2016 – Introducing AutoGrow and Mixed_Page_Allocations Options – TraceFlags
A reader asked if trace flags 1117 and 1118 work for user databases. SQL Server 2016 turns them into the AutoGrow and Mixed_Page_Allocations options.
Counting Partitions per Table and Spotting Empty Ones
A quick count said 8 partitions, but the table has 4. Here is where the extra rows came from and how to spot empty partitions.
SQL SERVER – Handling XML Documents – Notes from the Field #125
Stuart Ainsworth shares a client case of importing XML documents into a staging table and what he learned about using XQuery methods in SQL Server.
SQL SERVER 2016 – Management Studio Highlighting Current Line Option
Something felt odd in SSMS 2016: the current line highlight. Here is the option that controls Highlighting Current Line and how to change it.
Comparison – Logical Architecture between Oracle and SQL Server
Continuing my Oracle vs SQL Server series, I compare the Logical Architecture of both, using simple analogies to map what you know to what you don’t.
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.
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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.
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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.

