Inspect an unfamiliar SQL Server with read-only queries for version, uptime, database size, waits, backup history, and settings.
![SQL SERVER - Unable to Launch SQL Server Configuration Manager. Error: Cannot Connect to WMI Provider. [0x80070422]](https://blog.sqlauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/sscm-err-02.jpg){kind=small}
SQL SERVER – Unable to Launch SQL Server Configuration Manager. Error: Cannot Connect to WMI Provider. [0x80070422]
SQL Server Configuration Manager would not open on my VM: Cannot connect to WMI provider [0x80070422]. I share what caused it and how I fixed it.
How to STOP the Usage of SELECT * For Views? – Interview Question of the Week #193
How do you stop people from using SELECT * in views? A slow query in a Health Check came from SELECT * over a wide view, so here is one way to prevent it.
Checking Optional Features Installed on an Instance From T-SQL
A 1 in SERVERPROPERTY does not mean the feature runs. Here is how I line up the flag, the setting and the service in one query.
SQL Server – Formatted Date and Alias Name in ORDER BY Clause
Format a date with CONVERT, then use its alias in ORDER BY, and the rows come back in a different order. Here is a simple example of this formatted date surprise.
Asynchronous Statistics Updates: When They Help and When They Hurt
Evaluate asynchronous statistics updates against compile latency, data-change timing, and low-priority metadata locking in SQL Server.
Index Key Size Limits: 900 and 1,700 Bytes Explained
Check index key size against the 900-byte clustered and 1,700-byte nonclustered limits, then narrow keys without losing query semantics.