SQL Server 2008 treats sysadmin as the modern home for the old sa account rights. Here is what changed and why sa now needs a password.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
REVERSE: Keep Trailing Spaces in String Reversal
REVERSE changes character order while keeping supplied spaces. Use visible boundaries and byte counts to distinguish empty and missing inputs.
SQL SERVER – 2008 – Introduction to SPARSE Columns
A quick introduction to SPARSE Columns in SQL Server 2008, which take almost no space for NULL and zero values. Learn the basics and the 100,000 column limit.
SQL SERVER – 2008 – Two Convenient Features Inline Assignment – Inline Operations
Two convenient SQL Server 2008 features: inline assignment with DECLARE @idx INT = 0, and inline operations like SET @idx += 1. Fewer lines than before.
SQL SERVER – Find Space Used For Any Particular Table
Running out of drive space is a common reason SQL Server stops. sp_spaceused shows the Space Used by any table, with its row count and index size.
SQLAuthority News – Thank You to Awarding Author SQL MVP
Thank you for all the wishes on my SQL MVP award. It belongs to every reader here. Send me your ideas and I will publish them with your name on this blog.
SQL SERVER – 2008 – Introduction to Row Compression
Row Compression in SQL Server 2008 stores zero and null values without using disk space. Check the savings first with sp_estimate_data_compression_savings.
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.
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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.
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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.

