Error 4214 stops a log backup because SQL Server has no full backup to build on. It shows up after a switch from Simple to Full recovery, or on a database that never had a full backup. Take one full backup, and the log backup works.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Generate Report for Index Physical Statistics – SSMS
SSMS has a standard report for Index Physical Statistics at the database level. Right click the database, open Reports, and see index details at a glance.
SQL SERVER – Out of the Box – Activity and Performance Reports from SSSMS
SSMS 2008 has built-in activity and Performance Reports most people never open. Right click the server, go to Reports, Standard Reports, and pick one.
SQL SERVER – Fix : Error : 8501 MSDTC on server is unavailable. Changed database context to publisherdatabase
Error 8501 says MSDTC on server is unavailable, often while configuring replication. Start the Distributed Transaction Coordinator service to fix it.
datetime: Read Its Fractional-Second Rounding
datetime does not preserve every millisecond despite displaying three fractional digits. These typed conversions show its legacy rounding alongside the original datetime2 text.
SQL SERVER – Enumerations in Relational Database – Best Practice
Marko Parkkola from Finland shares a best practice for enumerations in relational database design: the right way to store them and one clearly wrong way.
SQL SERVER – Fix : Error : 3117 : The log or differential backup cannot be restored because no files are ready to rollforward
A reader restored a full backup, then hit Error 3117: the log or differential backup cannot be restored. Here is why it happens and what to do.
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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.

