Updates for all sp_Check tools – April 2026
April 30, 2026
It’s time again for our monthly updates of our FREE sp_Check stored procedures, so here are the April updates. This month we have way more updates than in March, including recommendations from the Issues section of GitHub, so thank you to all who contributed! We also have been working on the content pages referenced by
A Look at the Straight Path Ahead
January 7, 2026
I have been wavering for two weeks between one big, Walsh-sized, long post trying to wrap up our 2025 and talk a bit about the early tea leaves for 2026 and beyond, and two separate posts. But this will be fun – I’m going to try and sum up a year and talk about some
Speaking at PASS Summit On Tour: NYC
August 18, 2025
I’ll be speaking on Tuesday, 8/19, at the PASS Summit on tour in New York City. I’ll be giving a talk in the “professional development” world this time.. And I’ll be doing the same session at the PASS Summit in Seattle this fall. This time, rather than talk about SQL Server DBA tips, upgrades, migrations,
Updates and improvements to sp_CheckBackup
July 28, 2025
Since we introduced sp_CheckBackup last year we’ve gotten some great feedback on ways to improve this tool that helps you quickly and easily review the backup history for your SQL Server databases. We’ve even noticed a few things ourselves that we wanted to change as we used it more internally here at Straight Path Solutions.
Building a Consultancy: More Principles
February 26, 2024
A couple of weeks ago, I started blogging about part of the journey of creating our SQL Server Consulting firm. I may someday work on more posts on the journey from full-time DBA to doing some side work to leaving with an “anchor client” to going off on my own (and my adventures with Linchpin
Jeff and Geoff – We’re growing.
April 8, 2022
Hey!!! The last team announcement post was about our good friend and Senior Consultant, Joe Fleming moving on to the scary world of independent consulting. I cannot tell you how great it is to be working at a company that cares so much about the team, that we’ll even help make someone have a soft
Straight Path Team Change
February 22, 2022
When I decided to go off and join the world of SQL Server consultants, I wrote a blog post. Eleven years ago I wrote this post. It was an urge to myself, and a call to others. It’s one of my favorite two blog posts I’ve ever written. That’s germane to the topic here. In
Presenting – What I’ve Learned
December 10, 2020
So I totally missed the boat on a GREAT T-SQL Tuesday topic – “What’s something you’ve learned while presenting?” But with a twist – something technical, you’ve learned that you didn’t learn. Well, mine is a bit embarrassing… I’ll share that. Also – I totally skimmed the topic and some of the post titles. I
Welcome, Sandra Delany!
March 27, 2020
But First… A Quick Note… “In Times Like These!” Hey There! What a weird time to be announcing a change on the roster. But here I am – announcing a change on the roster!! Straight Path is doing well so far with the shifting economy in these times, and we’ve been working closely with our
Welcome Daniel Maenle & A few SPers will be at PASS Next Week
October 30, 2019
I’ve slacked off a little bit on letting folks know when the team grows! I just realized the last post was when we welcomed Tara in January. Well we made a few more changes since hiring Tara and I’ve been excited about each one of them (A LOT!) but we’ve been busy apparently. So go