Inventory deprecated TEXT, NTEXT and IMAGE columns, convert to MAX types, move small values in row, and measure logging and space costs.
Compatibility Level 170: What SQL Server 2025 Turns On
Move to compatibility level 170 on SQL Server 2025 with feature checks, Query Store baselines, plan comparisons, and a rollback plan.
Trying New SQL Server Features Without Risk
Trying New SQL Server Features safely takes a separate instance, a controlled data copy, and before and after measurements.
Deprecated Features and Breaking Changes: Plan Your Upgrade
Breaking Changes are only one of four kinds of change that an upgrade brings. This guest post by Nakul Vachhrajani explains the four kinds, how to find deprecated feature use with Extended Events and the Deprecated Features counters, and a checklist for planning the upgrade.
Upgrading With Log Shipping for a Short Cutover
Upgrading with log shipping stages a newer secondary with NORECOVERY, applies logs in order, and leaves a short, rehearsed final cutover.
End of Support: What Actually Stops Working
End of Support does not shut down SQL Server, but it changes security updates, fixes, and help; plan an exit before risk grows.
Replaying a Production Workload After Distributed Replay
Capture a production workload with Extended Events and replay it on a restored copy using WorkloadTools or ostress after Distributed Replay.