Take a tail-log backup before an approved restore, understand NORECOVERY and damaged-database options, and rehearse the full recovery chain.
Refreshing a Test Database From Production Safely
Plan refreshing a test database with isolated restores, safe paths, user repairs, data replacement, disabled outbound actions, and a log.
A Performance Counter Baseline Saved to a Table Every 15 Minutes
Save a performance counter baseline every 15 minutes, calculate interval rates, detect resets, and compare a defined week with last month.
Finding Dead Code: Stored Procedures Nobody Calls
Investigate dead code with cached procedure statistics, dependency checks and retained snapshots, then quarantine candidates before removal.
Test Data That Looks Like Production
Test data that looks like production matches distributions, relationships, and volume without copying sensitive values into development.
Autogrowth Settings: Why 1 MB and 10 Percent Still Hurt
Inspect autogrowth settings across database files, review retained growth events and VLFs, and choose tested fixed-size increments.
Checking That a Patch Really Installed
Checking That a Patch Really Installed means comparing full versions, reading Setup summary logs, and confirming the startup error log.