XML document could not be created, error 6624, on a server with 300 GB free. What OPENXML really costs, measured, and why XQuery is the fix.
Finding Hard-Coded Passwords in Stored Procedures
A short regular expression can list the procedures that hide a password, without printing it. Here is the scan, its false alarms and its blind spots.
Random Password Procedure in SQL Server with CRYPT_GEN_RANDOM
A random password procedure for SQL Server should use CRYPT_GEN_RANDOM, skip lookalike characters and guarantee every kind of character. This post builds one with a length and character switches, then tests 1,000 passwords. It also covers errors and safe handling.
Generate a Random Password in SQL Server Using T-SQL
To generate a random password in T-SQL, draw bytes from CRYPT_GEN_RANDOM, pick characters from a safe pool and shuffle them. This post builds one procedure that guarantees upper case, lower case, a digit and a symbol, skips look-alike characters, and proves it on 1,000 passwords. It also explains why ABS(CHECKSUM(NEWID())) can fail with an overflow error.
Startup Stored Procedures in SQL Server: Uses and Risks
Startup stored procedures run every time SQL Server starts, which makes them useful and easy to forget. This post covers good uses, the risks, a wait that gives up instead of looping forever, and how to list and remove the startup stored procedures already on a server. The setup steps are in a separate post.
SQL SERVER – Execution Plan Ignores Tabs, Spaces and Comments
Many teams skip comments in stored procedures, fearing bigger execution plans. My demo shows SQL Server ignores tabs, spaces and comments when it builds a plan.
How to Estimate Space Saved by Data Compression in SQL Server? – Interview Question of the Week #167
How to estimate space saved by data compression in SQL Server? Use the built-in sp_estimate_data_compression_savings procedure. Here is a quick example.