Changing the default folder does not move a single existing file. Here is how to read the defaults and spot databases that ignore them.
Columnstore Data Types: What Compresses Well and What Is Blocked
A great compression number means little if the index rejects one column. Here is how to test both questions on your own server.
Why a Second Log File Does Not Make Anything Faster
Adding a second log file feels like a speed fix, but it is only a spare room. Here is how to watch it work and how to retire it.
What Is Big Data? A Simple Explanation for Database People
What Is Big Data? It is the point where data outgrows one machine, and the fix is to scale out. This post explains the failures of one server and walks through 40 TB split across 8 nodes.
Reclaiming Space Quiz: Does Deleting Rows Shrink the File?
This Reclaiming Space Quiz asks what happens to the data file after you delete half the rows of a big table. The file keeps its size, and the space stays free inside it. A tested script shows the numbers, then what a shrink costs.
Fill Factor Quiz: Is 0 Different from 100?
This Fill Factor Quiz asks whether an index with fill factor 0 leaves more free space than one with 100. It does not: both build full pages. A tested script shows how a fill factor of 70 changes the pages and why it only applies at build time.
Piecemeal Restore Quiz: What Happens to Tables Not Restored Yet?
This Piecemeal Restore Quiz asks what happens when a query reads a table whose filegroup is still offline. The answer is an error for that table only, while everything else keeps working. A tested script shows the error and then brings the last filegroup online.