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.
Month: September 2024
Understanding Kerberos Authentication in SQL Server
Kerberos, named after the mythical three-headed dog guarding the gates of the underworld, is a security protocol that enables secure authentication in network environments. It offers a significant improvement over older protocols like NTLM by allowing the delegation of credentials across multiple machines, making it ideal for distributed computing environments.
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.
Ensuring Smooth SSRS Subscriptions in an Always On Availability Group
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) is a powerful tool for managing and delivering reports in an enterprise environment. When configuring SSRS within a SQL Server Always On Availability Group, it’s essential to take specific steps to ensure that SSRS subscriptions continue to function properly during failovers. This blog outlines the key actions required to maintain seamless SSRS operations in such a setup.