Securing linked servers requires explicit login mappings, limited RPC settings, remote privilege checks, and dependency ownership.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Difference Between Index Scan and Index Seek
What is the difference between Index Scan and Index Seek? I explain how SQL Server uses search predicates to decide which index operation a query gets.
What TDS Is and Why It Matters to You
What TDS is becomes practical when a SQL Server connection fails: it carries login and query traffic, packet settings, and encryption negotiation.
Index Usage Snapshots: Reject Invalid Counter Deltas
Index usage snapshots require a valid counter window. Keep missing rows and lifecycle gaps visible. The guarded example rejects invalid pairs before calculating any activity delta.
SQL SERVER – Remove Duplicate Entry from Comma Delimited String – UDF
A simple UDF from reader Ashish Jain that removes duplicate entries from a comma delimited string by turning it into a table and using DISTINCT.
SQL SERVER – Find Number of Rows and Disk Space Reserved – Using sp_spaceused Interesting Observation
sp_spaceused shows the row count of a table and the disk space reserved. Here is why its numbers looked wrong on AdventureWorks and how @updateusage fixed them.
SQL SERVER – Find Row Count in Table – Find Largest Table in Database – T-SQL
A quick script using sys.dm_db_partition_stats that lists the row count of every table and shows the largest table in database right at the top.
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.

