So, there you are cleaning up files to make additional space and you find a file named “db.bak.” It’s a SQL Server backup file, that much is clear. But what’s in it? When was it created? Is it important? Or can it go? Why can’t people name backup files so that they describe what’s in…
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SQL Servers? Check. Important databases? Check. SQL Server DBA? Umm, no. Now what? If you’re like some companies, you’ve tasked a sys admin with keeping the SQL Servers running, in their spare time. Not optimal, but a full-time DBA is not in the budget. In an upcoming webinar, Working Without a DBA? A 10-Step Recipe…
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It was 19 F at 5:15 AM as I laced up my hiking shoes. That’s cold for my part of the world. Each morning, I walk two to four miles to get the day started. Why? I’m preparing for my next 150-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail. I put in the time now so I…
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If you haven’t already done so, the time has come to say goodbye. In just six short months, SQL Server 2012 Extended Support will come to an end. And although it’s been a good version, it’s 10 years old. And that’s old database in years. To put it into context, here are a few other…
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Here we are at the dawn of a new year. It’s a great time to pause and reflect on your personal and professional goals. How did you do in 2021? If you’re responsible for SQL Server environment, you probably included goals for the SQL Servers. Maybe you wanted to increase performance? Or, maybe you set…
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“Oh, we use VM snapshots to backup our SQL Servers.” We sometimes hear this when talking with companies, especially when we’re delivering a SQL Server Health Check Assessment. And why not? It makes sense. Companies take snapshots of their file servers. They snapshot of their web servers before upgrades. FTP servers, Citrix servers, and even…
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Do you schedule DBCC CHECKDB for all of your important databases? Scheduling database integrity checks ranks right up there with backing up your databases when it comes to glamorous activities in the life of a DBA. That is to say, it’s not glamorous at all. Integrity checks don’t bring the same internal swagger as say…
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Don’t sweat the small stuff, they say. That’s good advice. Much of the time. But with SQL Server, the small stuff is worth sweating. In fact, the small stuff can be big. Letting the small stuff go In life, the small stuff can weigh you down. Worrying about things that don’t really matter can strip…
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In Getting Started with SQL Server in a Docker Container, I shared my SQL Server Docker container configuration. I described how to copy database backup files from your host to the container and then restore them in the container. That’s my usual approach. But what if you wanted the database to reside on the host…
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You’ve probably heard of running SQL Server in a Docker container. The technology has been around for some years now. However it’s still unexplored territory for many. A SQL Server Docker container image is a lightweight and standalone package that includes everything needed to run SQL Server. It’s often used in DevOps as part of…
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