Something for the Weekend – SQL Server Links 15/04/11

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Ah this time last week we were all having too much fun at SQLBits 8. For a chance to reminisce the magic or to see what you missed out on check out these SQLBits posts:

• SQLBits 8 – That’s a Wrap – My post from earlier in the week.
• Reflections on SQLBits 8 – Fantastic behind the scenes footage shared courtesy of SQLBits presenter and budding director Jamie Thomson(Blog|Twitter).
• Quick Recap of SQL Bits 8 – from Aaron Bertrand (Blog|Twitter).
• SQLBits 8–My review of an awesome event – by Dirk Hondong (Blog|Twitter), who I had the great pleasure to meet with in person.
• SQLBits 8 in Photos –  shared courtesy of Alex Whittles (Blog|Twitter).
• SQLBits by the Sea a.k.a. Nerds on a Beach! – from Ashley Burton (Blog|Twitter)
• SQLBits Attendance Breaks Previous Records – by Brad McGehee (Blog|Twitter)

New User Group Announcement: I’m delighted to announce the start-up of another new SQL Server User Group this year. Brought to you courtesy of organiser James Boother (Blog|Twitter) I give you SQLHerts! This is fantastic news, offering a great opportunity for those interested in SQL Server in the Hertfordshire area to get together, learn and socialise. The first event plays host to SQL celebrities such as performance tuning legend Christian Bolton(Blog|Twitter) and BI expert Jen Stirrup (Blog|Twitter). To find out more visit SQLHerts User Group Website and be sure to reserve your place.

Here’s your weekly roundup of SQL Server Blog Posts, News and Techie Stuff. Enjoy!

SQL Server Links

• How to examine IO subsystem latencies from within SQL Server – SQL Server internals from Paul Randal (Blog|Twitter) this time looking at extending the information returned from the DMVs to provide more valuable insight.
• SQL University: Index Usage – Walking us through the usage of the various DMVs at our disposal in this area it’s Grant Fritchey (Blog|Twitter).
• The power of T-SQL’s APPLY operator – Humour and T-SQL don’t mix right? Wrong! Rob Farley (Blog|Twitter) takes a further look at the APPLY operator.
• What’s the difference between a filter on the ON and the WHERE clause? – A simple but important difference nonetheless, highlighted courtesy of Jim McLeod (Blog|Twitter).
• Does Index Fragmentation Matter with SSD’s? – Excellent detailed and exploratory analysis via Extended Events from Jonathan Kehayias (Blog|Twitter) this week.
• T-SQL Tuesday #17: Using Apply to Demystify Deadlocks – Brilliant and novel use of the APPLY operator here, shared with us by Robert L. Davis(Blog|Twitter). The APPLY operator was the theme for this months T-SQL Tuesday in case you had not noticed. Normally I try to avoid sharing multiple posts from the same topic pool but this week there was just too much good content that it would be wrong to deny you of it.
• Advanced performance troubleshooting: waits, latches, spinlocks – More SQL Server Internals goodness from Paul Randal (Blog|Twitter).
• SQL U Class 3 – Objections to Cloud Computing – Attacking adversity head on, Buck Woody (Blog|Twitter) answers the common cloud objections.
• To TOP or not to TOP an EXISTS – Find out in this T-SQL performance tuning walk-through from Gail Shaw (Blog|Twitter).
• SQLU VLDB Week – Index Maintenance – Another fantastic post from Robert L. Davis(Blog|Twitter). I’m really enjoying the series of posts on working with VLBDs as I see these types of issues frequently.
• AlwaysON – HADRON Learning Series: – How does AlwaysON Process a Synchronous Commit Request – More SQL Server Denali magic to look forward to, brought to life from those clever folks over on the CSS SQL Server Engineers (Blog).
• T-SQL Tuesday #017: APPLY: It Slices! It Dices! It Does It All! – More APPLY operator goodness, explained with the masterful clarity we have come to expect from Mr Brad Schulz (Blog).