As professional DBAs, we’re often tasked with balancing query performance against resource consumption. While SQL Server’s query optimizer generally does an excellent job at selecting execution plans, there are times when we need more control. This is where query hints come into play. These hints provide a powerful way to override the default behavior of the query optimizer, allowing us to directly influence how queries are executed to solve performance bottlenecks. In this post, we will explore how query hints can be leveraged to address common performance issues and fine-tune your SQL Server workloads.
Author: Stephen Planck
Efficient Batch Insertion in SQL Server Using ADO.NET and C#
When dealing with large datasets, the efficiency of database operations becomes crucial. Inserting records one by one into a SQL Server database can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Fortunately, ADO.NET provides a solution in the form of the SqlBulkCopy class. This tool allows for batch insertion of records, significantly improving performance and reducing overhead. In this post, we’ll explore how to use SqlBulkCopy in C# to efficiently insert large volumes of data into SQL Server.
The Hidden Costs of Data Type Decisions in SQL Server
When designing a SQL Server database, the choice of data types is one of the most fundamental decisions that will have a lasting impact on both performance and storage efficiency. Each data type in SQL Server has specific characteristics that determine how data is stored, how much space it consumes, and how it performs in various operations such as indexing, querying, and sorting. Understanding these characteristics and making informed decisions about data types can lead to significant improvements in both the speed and the efficiency of your database systems.
Why SQL Server Provides Value for the Enterprise: A Comparative Look at PostgreSQL
Selecting the right database management system (DBMS) is a significant decision for any enterprise. Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL are two leading options, each with distinct strengths. While PostgreSQL is appealing due to its open-source nature and lower initial costs, SQL Server offers several advantages that justify its higher price, particularly for large organizations with complex data needs.
Enhancing Scalability with Geographic Sharding in SQL Server
Geographic sharding is a strategic approach that enhances performance by distributing a database into smaller, manageable pieces (shards) across various geographic locations. This methodology not only improves data access speeds but also facilitates efficient load distribution and scalability by aligning data physically closer to end-users. This blog takes a look at implementing geographic sharding in SQL Server.
A Look at Non-Buffer Latches in SQL Server
In SQL Server, latches are lightweight synchronization mechanisms that keep in-memory data structures consistent and safe. They are key to managing access when multiple threads are working with these structures at the same time. SQL Server uses two main types of latches: buffer latches and non-buffer latches. While buffer latches protect pages in the buffer pool, non-buffer latches are for other internal memory structures. This post focuses on non-buffer latches, explaining what they are, why they’re important, and what excessive non-buffer latch waits might mean.
Configuring Your SQL Server Instance via PowerShell
Managing a SQL Server instance can involve various tasks, including setting configuration options to optimize performance and resource usage. Using PowerShell to configure SQL Server instances can provide significant advantages, such as automation, consistency, and the ability to easily script and repeat tasks across multiple servers. This guide will walk you through a PowerShell script that connects to a local SQL Server instance, retrieves current configuration settings, updates these settings, and applies the changes.
Creating SQL Server AGs on Linux: Part 3 – Pacemaker Resources and Constraints
Welcome to the third part of our series on setting up SQL Server availability groups on Linux. In the previous post, we focused on enabling High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) on SQL Server and setting up the availability group. This post will guide you through configuring Pacemaker resources and constraints to manage the availability group effectively.
Creating SQL Server AGs on Linux: Part 2 – Enabling HADR on SQL Server
This is part of a series on setting up SQL Server availability groups on Linux. It details how to enable High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) on SQL Server, including creating master keys, certificates, and availability groups. Clear instructions are provided for configuring SQL Server and Pacemaker to ensure data redundancy and high availability. Follow these steps to enhance the reliability of your SQL Server instances on Ubuntu 20.04.
Creating SQL Server AGs on Linux: Part 1 – Installing and Configuring Pacemaker
This post is the first part of a series on setting up SQL Server availability groups on Linux. It covers the installation and configuration of Pacemaker on Ubuntu 20.04, creating the Pacemaker cluster, and configuring essential cluster properties. Designed for SQL Server DBAs with limited Linux experience, this guide lays the foundation for a robust high availability environment.