Quick note: From time to time I blog about the Bible here. I try to keep those posts on my personal blog – Open Mike – but sometimes it makes sense for a quick cross post over here. I always tag those posts with the Bible category and you are free to read or ignore … Read more
In this continuing series, I’m blogging about Free tools for SQL Server DBAs. You can check the whole series out, here. This week we’re talking about and old standard – SQL Sentry Plan Explorer. SQL Sentry Plan Explorer I hope you look at SQL Server execution plans. If you do this in management studio using … Read more
Fair warning. I’m in a sentimental mood. I’m tired. I’m caffeinated. I have my “nice headphones” on listening to my eclectic collection on shuffle but somehow it turned into “With or Without You” from U2 on repeat a few times. . . And I just went to change into bedtime clothes. I tried to put on the rattiest … Read more
I can’t do a series on free SQL Server DBA tools without including the SQL Server First Responder Kit put out by Brent Ozar and his company (and the SQL Family who helped)! This is that post. A couple weeks ago, I was inspired to start this blog series because of an amazing PowerShell module … Read more
When we do a SQL Server Health Assessment, we quickly dive into SQL Server performance and Windows/Physical/Virtual resource usage counters. During our kick off interview we always ask if you have a SQL Server baseline from the past to compare. Usually the answer is no, unfortunately. Like monitoring and alerting, many of the tools vendors make automated baseline collection tools. Also like alerting, though, … Read more
Last week I bragged about an amazing PowerShell module I’ve recently fallen in love with. Today I’m going to talk about the script that, in a roundabout way, made me discover that tool. This is a great script from an extremely knowledgeable and helpful member of the SQL Server family, Robert Davis. Free SQL Server … Read more
It was February of 2012 when I made an announcement to the world. I had joined forces with some brothers who started a company with a vision, a dream and a disruptive business model. I told you all about this change in a blog post. I had actually joined Linchpin People a bit before this announcement … Read more