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Implicit Conversions and Avoiding Them With Computed Columns

March 25, 2013 by John Sansom 6 Comments

Production execution plan

I recently encountered an interesting performance issue (due to implicit conversions) that I was able to solve using a lesser known technique and I wanted to share it with you here.

Filed Under: Performance Tuning, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: Computed Column, Implicit Conversion

What Are You Waiting For?

May 17, 2011 by John Sansom 3 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: Administration, Performance Tuning, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication Tagged With: DMV, DMV Queries, Wait Types

How to Get a Head Start on Performance Tuning

March 1, 2011 by John Sansom 3 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: Performance Tuning, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

How to Provide Great Feedback

July 1, 2010 by John Sansom 13 Comments

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 […]

Filed Under: Performance Tuning, Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

The Politics of SQL Server Performance

June 30, 2010 by John Sansom 11 Comments

Super DBA

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 […]

Filed Under: Administration, Performance Tuning, Professional Development, SQLServerCentral Syndication, SQLServerPedia Syndication

The Definitive Introduction to SQL Server Indexes

June 29, 2009 by John Sansom Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Administration, Index Optimisation, Performance Tuning Tagged With: Indexes

SQL Server Index Defrag Script: Update

June 25, 2009 by John Sansom Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Administration, Index Optimisation, Performance Tuning

Generate a SQL Random Number in SQL Server

June 5, 2009 by John Sansom 2 Comments

One of my favorite SQL Server authors, Michelle Ufford recently posted her method for generating a sql 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 to identify what is indeed the best method to generate a random number in SQL Server. What is […]

Filed Under: Performance Tuning, SQL Server Tips Tagged With: Random Number

How to identify the most costly SQL Server queries using DMV’s

May 15, 2009 by John Sansom 14 Comments

I was investigating a performance issue recently and so thought I would share the T-SQL query that I created with you. There’s nothing new or magic here, the code snippet simply identifies the top 20 most expensive queries (currently cached) based on the cumulative CPU cost. The query returns both the SQL Text from the […]

Filed Under: Performance Tuning Tagged With: CPU, DMV

What is SQL Server Parameter Sniffing

May 6, 2009 by John Sansom Leave a Comment

Have you ever come across a stored procedure that utilises parameters and performs like a dream the majority of the time but for some reason crawls along on some other occasions? Well the chances are that this is down to SQL Server Parameter Sniffing. I was re-reading through the white paper Batch Compilation, Recompilation, and […]

Filed Under: Performance Tuning Tagged With: Parameter Sniffing, Query Optimisation

Whitepaper: Troubleshooting Performance Problems in SQL Server 2008

April 16, 2009 by John Sansom Leave a Comment

No doubt you already know that I love nothing more than getting my hands on excellent technical resources for SQL Server. Well hot off the press is the latest Whitepaper offering from Microsoft that looks at troubleshooting performance problems in SQL Server 2008. Naturally you may already be familiar with some of the techniques and […]

Filed Under: Administration, Performance Tuning

The SQL Server Buffer Pool and Buffer Cache Hit Ratio

March 31, 2009 by John Sansom 3 Comments

Buffer Cache Hit Ratio

There seems to be some confusion surrounding Buffer Cache Hit Ratio and the SQL Server Buffer Cache. Having answered several queries concerning this over the last few weeks on a variety of forums I thought I would post here in order set the record straight. What is the SQL Server Buffer Cache? The Buffer Cache […]

Filed Under: Administration, Memory, Performance Tuning Tagged With: Buffer Cache

Automate SQL Server Index Defragmentation,Optimisation

March 20, 2009 by John Sansom Leave a Comment

This week I came across what could quite possibly be, the best SQL Server index defrag script I have seen. This little beauty is fully customisable and is freely available courtesy of Michelle Ufford (aka SQL Fool) on her blog SQLFool.com As you know, it is just not practical to use a SQL Server Maintenance […]

Filed Under: Administration, Disaster Recovery, Index Optimisation, Performance Tuning, Tools

Performance Comparison of (SELECT TOP 1) Verses MAX()

February 26, 2009 by John Sansom 19 Comments

I recently came across a post on Stackoverflow regarding the performance of using a SELECT TOP 1 query in comparison to using the MAX() function. My initial thoughts on this were that the MAX() function would provide the best performance however, in order to be absolutely certain and prove my initial hypothesis I decided to […]

Filed Under: Administration, Index Optimisation, Performance Tuning, Tools Tagged With: MAX()

Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins

January 16, 2009 by John Sansom 1 Comment

No matter how good a T-SQL programmer you think you are, it is always good to revisit the basics every once in a while and to ensure that you keep your high quality coding standards in check. One of my favourite series of articles regarding good T-SQL coding practices is by Jeff Moden over at […]

Filed Under: Performance Tuning Tagged With: Query Optimisation

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