Max server memory set too low can stop SQL Server from answering normal connections. This post shows how to connect through the Dedicated Administrator Connection, raise the value with sp_configure and start the service when it will not start.
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distributor_admin Login: Why Renaming It Is a Bad Idea
Do not rename the distributor_admin login on a server that uses replication. This post shows how to check whether replication uses it, and a loopback demo with a throwaway login that shows what a rename breaks.
SQL SERVER – List of Trace Events
sys.trace_events lists available SQL trace events rather than only default-trace collection. Readers asked after my creation-date article.
SQL Express Size Limits for SQL Server 2025 and Earlier Versions
SQL Server Express Size limits depend on the engine release. The 2021 article 10 GB answer does not cover every current version.
When a Table Was Created: Find It With Metadata and Traces
To find when a table was created, read create_date from sys.tables. This post adds the default trace and an Extended Events session for the question of who created it, and tests what a rename or an ALTER does to the date.
NOCHECK CONSTRAINT: Loading Data and Trusting Foreign Keys Again
Use NOCHECK CONSTRAINT carefully, distinguish enabled from trusted foreign keys, validate old rows, and restore optimizer assumptions.
A Unique Constraint That Allows Many NULLs
Allow many NULLs while enforcing unique non-NULL values with a filtered SQL Server index, required SET options, and tested queries.
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