Find SQL Server tables whose names contain a specific string, handle literal underscores, and include schemas without a date filter.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Reads per Execution: Ranking Queries by Average I/O
The query with the most total reads is not always the one to tune first. Here is how to rank by cost per call and read the spread.
SQL SERVER – FIX – Error 3201 – Cannot open backup device. Operating system error 3
BACKUP DATABASE failed with Error 3201, cannot open backup device, operating system error 3. The cause was a missing default folder. Here is the fix.
Top N per Group: Three Ways and Which Is Fastest
Compare top N per group with ROW_NUMBER, APPLY and a correlated subquery, define tie behavior, and measure plans with a supporting index.
SQL SERVER – The Basics of the SSIS Script Task – Notes from the Field #065
SSIS expert Andy Leonard explains the basics of the SSIS Script Task, where to start with it, and how a new developer can learn to configure and use it.
Finding Near-Duplicate Rows With REGEXP_REPLACE
Find near-duplicate rows with SQL Server 2025 normalization, group matching labels, rank survivors, and preserve originals for review.
SQL SERVER – How to Know Backup History of Current Database?
An updated script to see the backup history of the current database: who took each backup, its type, and the recovery model and compatibility level at the time.
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.

