To find who dropped a table, read the transaction log for the DROPOBJ transaction and look up the login behind its security ID. This post runs that search on a demo database, shows the default trace as a second source when the log has been truncated, and explains what to do when everyone shares one login.
SQL SERVER – Creating a Login and Database User Without Automatic Sysadmin Grants
To Create a Login and User, I separate the instance identity from database access. Database ownership and sysadmin membership have different scopes.
SQL SERVER – FIX: Msg 22004 – The Log File is Not Using Unicode Format
The SQL Server Agent log would not open in SSMS and showed Msg 22004, the log file is not using Unicode format. Here is the setting that fixed it.
How to Find Last Full Backup Time and Size for Database? – Interview Question of the Week #173
Too many DBAs I meet have no recent backup. Here is a script that shows when each database had its last Full Backup and how big that backup was.
DBCC CHECKDB Running Slow? Check the MAXDOP Option
DBCC CHECKDB running slow can trace back to the MAXDOP option. A CHECKDB with no MAXDOP option uses the server’s max degree of parallelism, and one with its own option overrides it. This post times CHECKDB on a 2 GB database with four settings, adds PHYSICAL_ONLY, and lists the other causes to rule out.
SQL SERVER – How to Find Free Log Space in SQL Server?
Free Log Space is reusable capacity inside an allocated transaction log. I measure disk space and file size separately.
Restore Database Wizard Slow to Open in SSMS
The Restore Database Wizard reads the backup history stored in msdb before it opens. When that history has grown for years, the wizard is slow. This post counts the history, deletes it in monthly steps with sp_delete_backuphistory, shows how to clean one database’s history, and sets up a regular cleanup so the wizard stays fast.