I know what I am waiting for. I know exactly what every SQL Server instance in my care is waiting for. Why? Because it’s my job to make SQL Server go faster. Identifying what your SQL Server Instance is waiting on will show you exactly where to look in order to make your server go [...]
Posts under ‘Performance Tuning’
How to Get a Head Start on Performance Tuning
The problem with performance tuning is that it is commonly considered as secondary to the task at hand rather than as an essential element of it. Unfortunately all too often performance is not even a consideration until there is actually a problem to be fixed. I know I’ve certainly experienced this in the field and [...]
5 Things Every DBA Should NOT Do
Earlier in the month I shared with you 10 Things That Every DBA Should Do and so it only seems natural to also consider some things that every Database Administrator should NOT be doing right. I’m going to let you in on a little secret here, I have actually done some of these things myself once [...]
10 Things Every DBA Should Do
Recently I spoke about how The Best Database Administrators Automate Everything, as well as Document Everything and this got me to thinking in general about things that every Database Administrator (DBA) should be doing. No two Database Administration jobs are the same that’s for sure but there are definitely things that I believe every DBA [...]
How to Provide Great Feedback
As a DBA you will encounter processes, code and design decisions within your environment that require change for the better. The most common driver for such change is performance improvement. Oftentimes the changes you wish to drive will require design and implementation by someone other than yourself. Proposing changes(improvements) to an authors existing code/process/design can [...]
The Politics of SQL Server Performance
Like most DBA’s I’m sure you often find yourself delivering information to the business concerning the performance of your SQL Server platform but have you ever stopped to consider the wider implications of your actions? As a SQL Server Database Administrator you are responsible for the overall health and well being of your SQL Server [...]
The Definitive Introduction to SQL Server Indexes
It normally is not my style to write a blog post solely about a particular article someone else has published. Typically I just go ahead and add quality resources to the SQL Server Resources area of this site that I have either found myself or had recommended to me. In this case however an exception [...]
SQL Server Index Defrag Script: Update
Michelle Ufford (aka SQLFool) has released an update to her excellent index optimisation script. If you are not already using something similar to simplify your index optimisation database maintenance processes then you will find this to be extremely useful. Check it out here: Index Defrag Script, V3.0 Michelle Ufford (aka SQLFool) has released an update [...]
Generate a random number in SQL Server
What is the best way to efficiently generate a random number in SQL Server? One of my favourite SQL Server authors, Michelle Ufford recently posted her method for generating a random number, in the post Random Number Generator in T-SQL. This got me thinking and I decided to do a little investigation of my own [...]
Performing fast SQL Server delete operations
There have been quite a few queries on the forums this past week with regard to performing fast delete operations on large tables and I wanted to share some of the possible solutions here with you. Fast ordered delete using a view To perform a fast ordered delete, take a look at the article Fast Ordered [...]
