NUMA in SQL Server came up in a lunch break chat at SQLPass, during my 42 tips session. An attendee asked what NUMA is and when SQL Server got it. Here is the answer I gave, with the history.
SQL Server Scheduler and Operating System Scheduling: Notes
The SQL Server scheduler decides which ready work gets processor time, on top of the operating system’s own thread scheduling. Tested queries on SQL Server 2025 show runnable, running and suspended tasks under load, and the permission each view needs.
Dirty Pages in Memory: Count Them Before and After CHECKPOINT
Dirty pages in memory are changed data pages that SQL Server has not yet written to disk. This post counts them with sys.dm_os_buffer_descriptors on SQL Server 2025, before and after CHECKPOINT, and explains why the same script can show nothing on newer servers.
Buffer Pool Extension and In-Memory OLTP: What Each One Caches
Buffer Pool Extension caches clean pages of disk-based tables on an SSD. Memory-optimized tables have no pages, so it cannot hold them. This post proves it on SQL Server 2025 with two tables and read-only checks.
Primary Data File Extensions: Does the .mdf Name Matter?
Can a primary data file end in something other than .mdf? I built a demo database with odd names, checked each file, then detached and attached it.
What Are Filegroups in SQL Server and When to Use Them
What are filegroups in SQL Server? A filegroup is a named container for data files, and an ordinary table or index lives in exactly one. This post builds a small demo, shows where a table lands, and gives honest advice on when extra filegroups help and when they only add work.
SQL Server Architecture Terminology: A Beginner’s Guide by Anil Kumar
SQL Server architecture terminology is easier to follow when each term can be seen in a running instance. This guest introduction by Anil Kumar covers instances, storage, memory, the transaction log and SQLOS, with tested queries on SQL Server 2025.