Row store vs column store, explained simply. A Columnstore Index can make searches much faster, but it is not for every table. Learn where each one fits.
Searching Every Error Log for Slow I/O Warnings
The warning you need may be in an archived log. Here is a short loop that searches every retained error log and tells you which ones it could not read.
SQL Server Wait Stats: eBook to Download on Kindle and My Answer to Free PDF Requests
SQL Server Wait Stats was my first book experiment. Here is how I answered readers who asked for a free PDF, and what the Kindle offer looked like in 2011. Prices and offers are from that time.
What to Check When You Are Woken at Three in the Morning
Use a DBA on call checklist to establish impact, inspect blocking and disk space, review failed jobs, and choose a safe next step during incidents.
POC Index: Supporting Window Functions Without a Sort
Is a Sort slowing down your running totals? Build an index in partition, order, covering order and watch the Sort disappear from the plan.
Lost Updates: Optimistic Concurrency With a rowversion Column
Prevent lost updates with optimistic concurrency and a rowversion token, detect zero-row conflicts, and compare short locking transactions.
Caching Query Results in the Application
Caching query results in the application can reduce repeated reads when ownership, expiry, invalidation, and memory cost are clear.