Mike Walsh

Mike loves mentoring clients on the right Systems or High Availability architectures because he enjoys those lightbulb moments and loves watching the right design and setup come together for a client. He loves the architecture talks about the cloud - and he's enjoying building a Managed SQL Server DBA practice that is growing while maintaining values and culture. He started Straight Path in 2010 when he decided that after over a decade working with SQL Server in various roles, it was time to try and take his experience, passion, and knowledge to help clients of all shapes and sizes. Mike is a husband, and father to four great children and lives in the middle of nowhere NH.

Memory Prices Changed – Have Your SQL Servers?

February 27, 2013 by Mike Walsh

Psst – My services are likely more expensive than the memory your SQL Server needs and wants. Your CIOs and Directors need to stop thinking they are buying servers and components in 2004, or even 2010. I do all sorts of consulting gigs for all different reasons, but a lot of tuning gigs and wellness … Read more

SQL Server Join Syntax: It’s Changed!

July 16, 2016November 26, 2012 by Mike Walsh

Alright so maybe that was a little misleading of a title… SQL Server join syntax changed awhile ago, when ANSI-92 joins became the norm. And Microsoft was threatening to remove it for awhile. The older outer join syntax just doesn’t work in SQL Server 2012. We All Knew SQL Server Joins Were Changing… I know… … Read more

Thankful – And I Didn’t Build It

July 16, 2016November 21, 2012 by Mike Walsh

Thanksgiving is upon us once again. I’ve been blogging here since early December 2008 – that’s crazy – and I’ve blogged a quick blurb about Thanksgiving and Easter each time one has come up while I’m blogging. So this year won’t be any different. I have a lot to be thankful for. Only problem is … Read more

Take Your Kids to SQL Saturday Day

November 12, 2012 by Mike Walsh

I’ve been mostly away from twitter lately – so busy! – but I’m really glad I checked in to do a little bragging tonight. I just sent a simple tweet out “Taking my daughter to an upcoming SQL Saturday.. Will be her first time in this city and her first SQL Saturday!” What followed was … Read more

PASS Summit 2012 – Birds of a Feather Lunch

November 1, 2012 by Mike Walsh

Going to the SQL PASS Summit this year? I sure hope you are! This year, like in 2009, 2010 and 2011 I helped out in getting the Birds of a Feather lunch organized for one of the days. PASS may never ask me back after this year seeing as how the Summit is next week … Read more

Listen, we need to talk

September 4, 2012 by Mike Walsh

SAN Administrators and DBAs… Developers and DBAs… Project Managers and DBAs… The… the… the business users and DBAs… Oh, my… It seems like everywhere we look there is some group that us DBA types seem to have a problem with. I know we all don’t… But it’s one of those relationship issues we are -supposed- … Read more

Well Meaning Isn’t Enough

July 16, 2016August 23, 2012 by Mike Walsh

Your company’s data is pretty darn important. Your ability to interact with and glean insights from this data is key to your business in just about every industry. Whether that data is patient care records, the “recipe” for the MES processes manufacturing your drug, your customer list or sales trends this holds true. You probably … Read more