Apply SQL Server column-level permissions, test DENY and SELECT behavior, inspect explicit grants, and compare views with data masking.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
Cross-Database Ownership Chaining: Why It Is Off and What to Use
Understand cross-database ownership chaining, inspect its scope, and use signed procedures for narrow access between SQL Server databases.
Finding Oversized Data Files With Lots of Free Space
Identify oversized data files with FILEPROPERTY, separate internal free space from disk capacity, and review one-time shrink choices.
VLF Growth Rules: How Many Virtual Log Files One Growth Adds
The VLF growth rules say how many virtual log files one log growth adds: one up to 64 MB, eight up to 1 GB, sixteen above. This post measures them on a demo database, shows a log with 68 VLFs from 1 MB steps, and repairs it by shrinking and growing once.
Log File Growth and Instant File Initialization: The 64 MB Rule
The 64 MB rule says log file growth can skip zeroing when instant file initialization is on, but only up to 64 MB. Two trace flags make the SQL Server error log show a 64 MB growth skipping the zeroing and a 65 MB growth zeroing in full. The last section says what to change.
statement_start_offset: Showing the Exact Statement Running Now
A stored procedure runs for forty minutes and you need the busy line. Here is how to pull it out of the batch text without the usual off-by-two mistakes.
SQL Server: How to Display Row Numbers in Query Editor for Efficient Query Editing
Let us learn how to Display Row Numbers in Query Editor for Efficient Query Editing. Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check
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.

