Dear SQL DBA

Erik Darling and Kendra Little Rate SQL Server Perf Tuning Techniques May 20, 2024

Erik Darling joins Kendra Little to rate different SQL Server Performance Tuning Techniques in episode 81 of the Dear SQL DBA podcast. We share our opinions of... (deep breath)

Recompile hints, Query Store hints and plan forcing, CTEs, Resource Governor, the legacy cardinality estimator, Table Variables, Automatic Plan Correction, Batch Mode, index rebuilds, Hekaton, NOLOCK, page compression, partitioning, filtered indexes, columnstore, join hints, PSPO, indexed hints, indexed views, optimize for unknown, RCSI, adding more memory, restarting the damn thing, scalar UDFs, and Persisted Memory Grant Feedback.

Power BI Performance Tuning with Eugene Meidinger Jan 15, 2024

Eugene Meidinger stops by to chat about Power BI Performance Tuning with Kendra. We talk about the various engines and languages used in Power BI and big-picture strategies for getting performance from the start. Eugene then talks about the community of tools and techniques that can be used to dig in and solve performance problems in Power BI.

Eugene's new Pluralsight course on Perf tuning Power BI launches on February 5th, 2024. The first 50 sales will be only $20. If you don't get one of those lucky spots, use code RACOONS to get 50% off.

Find more of Eugene's content at sqlgene.com.

Automated Deployments and the Art of the Database with Database Michael J Swart Sep 26, 2023

In this episode, Michael J Swart joins the Dear SQL DBA podcast to talk about databases, automation, and how he’s come to illustrate some of the coolest blog posts ever to be written about data.

Check out Michael’s art and blog posts at michaeljswart.com, and explore his posts by illustration at https://michaeljswart.com/browse-articles-by-illustration/.

Jer and Kendar Explore Optimized Locking Sep 04, 2023

SQL Server has a new feature that’s currently only available in Azure SQL Database: Optimized Locking. Jeremiah Peschka joins the podcast to talk through the docs and nerd out on locks, blocks, and how to pronounce the acronym “LAQ”.

Learn more about this feature online:

Optimized locking article from Microsoft Learn
Transaction locking and row versioning guide

Advice for Technical Leaders with Alex Robson Aug 25, 2023

Ever wondered what it's like to be a VP or Director of Engineering? Kendra chats with Alex Robson about leadership in technology, what you can get out of coaching or an MBA program (should you be interested), and what makes a high performing team. We'll also chat about recommended content to hone your tech leadership skills.

Alex Robson's site and blog: https://robsonconsulting.services

Alex's content recommendations for folks who want to think more about technical leadership:

"I believe Camille Fournier and Will Larson are wonderful writers with invaluable insights and advice. For product thinking, I recommend folks read The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Principles of Lean Product Development Flow by Don Reinertsen, Safer Sooner Happier by Jonathan Smart, and Accelerate by Dr. Nicole Forsgren. Be sure to read books on leadership that are outside of engineering. Dan Pink’s Drive and Eliyahu Goldratt’s The Goal are two of my usual recommendations. Last but not least - read books that are about human behavior. Both economists and psychologists ask important questions that may help you unlock better ways to relate to and understand others. I love Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow, and highly recommend Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavins and Elliot Aronson."

Erik Darling on Performance Tuning Aug 21, 2023

SQL Server performance tuning expert Erik Darling joins the podcast today to chat about how good queries can go bad, how bad queries can get better, and the question on everyone's mind: if he was a database, what database would he be?

This episode contains some mildly explicit language.

Erik's blog: https://erikdarlingdata.com/blog/ Erik's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ErikDarlingData

What's up with Tech Interviews in 2023? With Jeremiah Peschka. Aug 11, 2023

Tech interviews are weird and wacky. How did they get this way, and how SHOULD they be? Jeremiah Peschka joins us to discuss.

Data Roles: DBA, DBRE, and Data Engineer Aug 04, 2023

There are lots of jobs for data folks. In this episode, I'm discussing three hot job titles: Database Administrator (DBA), Database Reliability Engineer (DBRE), and Data Engineer (DE) To see the venn diagrams I made for these roles, visit https://catalyzesql.com/blog/1/01/01/dear-sql-dba-data-roles-dba-dbre-de/

When NOT to choose SQL Server to store your data Jun 22, 2023

I wrote a blog post inspired by Stephen Vakil's excellent suggested interview question, but I inverted it: When should you NOT choose SQL Server to store your data? My thoughts: * When you don't actually need a database * When you're not using structured data * When you want pure analytics, or something other than a workload involving OLTP * When you need to write to multiple nodes for a single database * When your team wants a PAAS solution (lil pedantic on this, the hosted versions are slightly different) * When your team needs a cheap solution What do you think?

This podcast is available in blog post form: https://littlekendra.com/2023/06/21/when-not-to-choose-sql-server/

Down Tools Week 2020 Aug 05, 2020

It's Down Tools Week at Redgate. I share what "Down Tools Week" is, what I'm working on this week, and why I think it's a terrific experience for fostering creativity, innovation, and teamwork. In closing I share some thoughts on variations of this kind of project which you might use in your own organization, whether you are a developer, DBA, or have another role.

3 Things That Shouldn't Be Normal in Database Development Jul 23, 2020

Many people use entrenched processes for database development that have been in place so long that it's hard to imagine doing it any other way. In this episode, I share three things that should NOT be normal for database development-- but which are incredibly common. This episode is inspired by the book, "The Unicorn Project", by Gene Kim.

Everything I Never Wanted to Know about Collation Jul 16, 2020

I'm not an expert on collation in SQL Server, but there are a few important facts which I've had to learn the hard way. In this episode I share the basics, along with helpful resources to learn more.

One small localization correction: the default collation on a SQL Server install will be "the oldest available version that's associated with each specific locale." So if your Windows installation has a different localization than mine (which are generally English USA), then you'll see a different default collation -- but it still won't be the recommended collation for *new* development.

The Manager's Guide to Git Training for DBAs Jul 08, 2020

Learning Git can be daunting for DBAs. In this 20 minute episode, I discuss why learning a VCS is necessary for DBAs, then give three tips on scoping your project, choosing the right tools, and making sure the project is successful. The cheat sheet I mention in the episode is at https://littlekendra.com/2019/11/27/my-git-cli-cheat-sheet/

How Do Developers and DBAs Collaborate in a DevOps World? Jun 12, 2019

You're a DBA, and your development team is all-in on doing DevOps, and they want to include the database. Should your DBA team limit the permissions or options for automation? Or should you instead re-think how your two teams work together? In this episode, Kendra discusses DevOps team topologies, the changing role of DBA teams in DevOps, and the opportunities available in creating communities of practice around database development.

What a Software Evangelist Does - and Where the Job is Going Jan 29, 2019

I've been working as an 'Evangelist' at Redgate for close to six months now, and one question keeps coming up: what exactly does an Evangelist do at a software company? In 21 minutes, I explain the core mission of Evangelists, and why I think being part of the sales process is an important part of the future of software evangelism.

DBA Jobs: Threats and Opportunities Jan 17, 2019

Jobs change over time, and database administrator jobs are no different. In this 35 minute recorded Twitch livestream (my first ever!) I talk about threats to DBA jobs and the related opportunities.

DevOps Terms - and Why They Matter to Database Specialists Oct 02, 2018

In this session, I discuss scrum, continuous deployment, test driven development, DevOps, and related concepts. I close with a quick discussion of why Database Administrators and Developers should care about DevOps.

Employee Agreements & Contracts - Best Practices Aug 29, 2018

So you've got an employee agreement in front of you: now what? In this 23 minute episode, I talk about practical steps you should take to make sure that you understand the terms of your contract, and how to potentially negotiate the terms.

Employee Agreements & Contracts for DBAs & Developers - Anti-Patterns Aug 11, 2018

When you take a new job in software engineering or in IT, within the paperwork there often lurks an employee agreement: a contract between you and your employer. In this half-hour live episode we'll talk about why these contracts exist, and multiple anti-patterns you should avoid.

This is the first of a two part series. In the next episode, we'll talk best practices for understanding and negotiating the contract.

Remembering Robert Davis, DBA Hero Aug 01, 2018

What makes a person a DBA Hero? In this episode, I talk about how Robert Davis made a huge impact on the SQL Server community, and the traits that Robert displayed that I hope to emulate.

Why Don't You Teach Service Broker? Jul 19, 2018

I've gotten a few questions about whether I recommend learning Service Broker, and recently I was asked if I'm planning to make any courses on Service Broker. In this episode, I talk about why I personally haven't become an expert with Broker, the factors that I believe play into Service Broker adoption, and other resources online for learning Service Broker in SQL Server.

Training Resources for SQL Noobs Jun 13, 2018

New to learning SQL Server? Get the scoop on free online resources to look up information, ask questions of community members, and learn SQL Server from the ground up.

Links from the episode are at: https://sqlworkbooks.com/dear-sql-dba/training-resources-for-sql-noobs/

Dealing With a Lack of Control as a DBA May 18, 2018

This week I discuss a question that I've gotten in many forms over the years - a lot of the scenarios are so specific that it's hard to keep them anonymous, but they can be generalized as a bigger problem: how do I deal with being responsible for things that I can't fully control?

DBAs have huge responsibilities, so this is a common, frustrating scenario. In this episode, I talk about a few times that I've experienced this in my own life, what techniques didn't work, and what strategies were more effective.

Do DBAs Need College Degrees? May 03, 2018

Our question this week comes from someone who's excited to be on a healthy career path, building their work experience as a DBA. They're worried: will lacking a college degree block their career growth down the line? I talk about my experience and also check out current job listings to answer the question.

How Do I Prepare for Certification Exams? Apr 23, 2018

In this episode, I talk about how to strategize for and prepare for Microsoft Certification exams, using the Database Fundamentals exam as an example.

I Want to Work for Myself Apr 05, 2018

Our question this week comes from an IT pro who would like to be self-employed. In this episode, I talk about three big things you need to think about to start working for yourself, and two possible paths to get there.

Auto-Tuning and the #1 Mindset Problem I had as a DBA Dec 01, 2017

A few folks have asked: will auto-tuning and adaptive query plans mean the end of performance tuning jobs in SQL Server? In this week's episode, I talk about why I'm excited about those features rather than afraid of them. Digging into this problem, I share the #1 mindset problem I had as a DBA, why this mindset is so common among database professionals, and a daily habit that can change your approach to new technology.

Slowing Down Your Motor Mouth - Presentation Tips for Fast Talkers Nov 17, 2017

Are you worried that you talk too fast when you give a speech, talk, or presentation? Is fear being a fast-talker one of the concerns that keeps you from getting started with public speaking? In this episode, I give you simple, practical tips that I've used to successfully improve the way I give presentations. Four years ago, I got frustrated feedback from listeners who had a hard time keeping up with my mouth; now I get congratulations that the pace was great.

I Thought I Was An Introvert. Turns Out I Was Anxious as #@*( Nov 08, 2017

In this week's episode, I'm not answering a reader's question. Instead, I'm talking about my personal experience with anxiety.

This episode touches on on healthcare, religion, and squishy emotions -- and there's at least one curse word. I don't talk tech in this episode. (Don't worry, there's more of that coming in future weeks.)

The Death of SQL Server Service Packs Oct 05, 2017

SQL Server Service Packs are going away, starting with SQL Server 2017. I talk about why I think this is a good thing, and discuss Cumulative Updates, Service Packs, and the process of updating SQL Server.

Love and Hate for SSMS Sep 28, 2017

People have strong feelings about SQL Server Management Studio: they love it AND they hate it. In this week's episode, I talk about why people have such conflicting feelings about SSMS, and how to work it all out.

How Do I Analyze a SQL Server Execution Plan? Sep 22, 2017

A query is slow, and you figure out how to collect the query execution plan. Now what? In this episode I talk "big picture" about what execution plans are, what "cost" is, why to collect "compiled for" values, and the steps I take to analyze execution plans while performance tuning queries.

Do I Need to Master PowerShell? Sep 12, 2017

As a SQL Server DBA, do you need to be a killer with scripts? In this episode I talk about how much you need to know about PowerShell, and examples of ways I personally use (and struggle with) PowerShell.

SQL PASS Summit 2017: Why I'm Excited, and Tips on Attending Sep 07, 2017

I'll be attending and presenting at the SQL PASS Summit in Seattle Washington this year from Oct 31-Nov 3. In this week's episode, I share why I'm excited about going, and why I've purchased a seat for a pre-conference session. (Spoiler: pre-cons are awesome!) I also give my tips on how to get the MOST value out of a big conference like the PASS Summit.

How Do You Stay Motivated? Aug 31, 2017

Over the years, readers have asked me: "How do you stay motivated?" Sticking with a learning plan, blogging, or becoming a public speaker isn't easy. In this episode I share how I think about motivation and what keeps me going.

"I faked my resume... now what?" Aug 24, 2017

This week's question from a reader: how do I deal with interview questions asking about real-world scenarios when I've faked three years of experience on my resume?

Interview Advice from the SQL Server Community Aug 17, 2017

In this episode, I talk about three articles written by members of the SQL Server community on interviewing that I can't stop thinking about:

"Playing the Third Party Recruiter Game", by Adam Machanic - http://sqlblog.com/blogs/adam_machanic/archive/2017/08/08/playing-the-third-party-recruiter-game-t-sql-tuesday-093.aspx

"I Hate Interviews", by Rob Sewell - https://sqldbawithabeard.com/2017/08/08/i-hate-interviews-tsql2sday/

"Learning to say 'No'" by Mark Broadbent - https://tenbulls.co.uk/2017/08/08/learning-to-say-no/

Interview Patterns and Anti-Patterns Aug 08, 2017

Hear the story of an interview where my dreams were crushed - and what I learned about interviewing from the experience.

Which Queries are Causing my Wait Stats? May 25, 2017

You've got some troubling wait stats in SQL Server. How can you tell which queries are causing those waits? Kendra discusses the pros and cons of different techniques to track down the cause of both common and tricky waits in SQL Server, including CXPACKET, PAGEIOLATCH, LCK, RESOURCE_SEMAPHORE, and THREADPOOL waits.

Removing Query Hints with Plan Guides May 18, 2017

If you need to add, remove, or replace hints from ad-hoc queries and you can't change the code, plan guides can help. See a demo of removing hints from parameterized TSQL run from an application, and get tips on how to make your plan guides work in SQL Server.

Get code samples from this episode here: https://sqlworkbooks.com/2017/05/removing-query-hints-with-plan-guides-dear-sql-dba-episode-43/

Batch Mode Hacks in SQL Server May 11, 2017

Learn what batch mode is in SQL Server, and how you can trick SQL Server into using it (even without a "real" columnstore index).

For clickable links and demo code, head to https://sqlworkbooks.com/2017/05/batch-mode-hacks-for-rowstore-queries-in-sql-server/

Should I Get Certified as a DBA? May 04, 2017

Find out if getting certified will help you land an entry level DBA job, and if you do want to get certified, get Kendra's tips on preparing for the exam.

How Does a DBA Build Confidence After Making Mistakes? Apr 27, 2017

Ever had a database change go horribly wrong? It can feel awful in the moment, then eat away at your confidence for days afterward. In this 20 minute episode Kendra gives you practical steps that help you cope with change over the course of your DBA career.

Are Bad Statistics Making My Query Slow? Apr 20, 2017

An important query is suddenly slow. Is it because statistics are out of date? This is tricky to figure out, and updating statistics right away can make troubleshooting even harder. Learn how to use query execution plans to get to the heart of the question and find out if stats are really your problem, or if it's something else. In this 35 minute episode:

00:39 SQL Server 2017 Announced 01:10 New video from Microsoft's Joe Sack demonstrating Adaptive Query Processing 03:05 This week's question: Are bad stats making my query slow? 05:26 Demo of finding plan in cache and analyzing stats begins 28:17 What to do when stats ARE the problem

Code samples: https://gist.github.com/LitKnd/f07848d59cedc61fd057d12ab966f703

Links from the episode:

SQL Server 2017 Adaptive Query Processing video by Joe Sack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szTmo6rTUjM&feature=youtu.be

Michael J Swart on finding Dark Matter Queries: http://michaeljswart.com/2017/04/finding-your-dark-queries/

Got a question for Dear SQL DBA? https://SQLWorkbooks.com/ask

Index Maintenance and Performance Apr 13, 2017

They made their index maintenance job smarter, and their queries got slower in production afterward. Could the index maintenance have harmed performance? In this episode... 00:50 Thinking about plan freezing in Query Store and multi-team process 03:15 This week's question about index maintenance and query performance

Lock Timeouts & Memory Apr 06, 2017

The dev server got bogged down during a deployment and lock timeouts were everywhere. Was the perfmon counter way off about how much memory was being used just for locks? In this episode...

00:33 What's new @ SQL Workbooks: Down the Rabbit Hole 03:00 This week's question about lock timeouts & memory in SQL Server

Why is my Transaction Log Growing in My Availability Group? Mar 30, 2017

A database transaction log is expanding, even though the DBA is running log backups and doesn't see an open transaction? What's going on with this Availability Group?

Timestamps in this episode if you want to skip ahead:

00:49 What's new @ SQL Workbooks 03:22 Info on SQLPASS Summit Content Survey & a heads-up for aspiring precon speakers 05:35 This week's question about t-log growth

When SQL Server Does NOT Use Write Ahead Logging Mar 23, 2017

A few episodes ago, I talked about how learning about Write Ahead Logging was a light bulb moment for me, and helped me learn tons of concepts about backups and recovery. This week, we talk about when SQL Server turns things upside down and doesn't use write ahead logging: and what it has to do for recovery in these special cases.

Using a Tail Log Backup in a SQL Server Migration Mar 16, 2017

When you migrate a database, it can be useful to prove that you moved all the data and didn't miss any transactions. Learn how to use a tail log backup in a migration scenario.

Stack Dumps in SQL Server Mar 09, 2017

Learn what a Stack Dump is in SQL Server. Hear what happens when Kendra causes a stack dump against a test SQL Server instance under load. Learn how to find information about stack dumps on your SQL Server, and how to escalate them when required.

WAL: The concept that makes recovery models & backups make sense Mar 02, 2017

When you're a Junior DBA, it's really hard to take in all the information out there. Learn about write ahead logging: the concept that can help you make sense of recovery models and backup strategies in SQL Server. Kendra tells the story of the "Wow!" moment when she learned about write ahead logging from Kimberly Tripp of SQLSkills.com, and explains how this all works in SQL Server.

Will the Cloud Eat My DBA Job? Feb 23, 2017

Will cloud services render DBAs obsolete? Does the cloud mean that developers will use less of SQL Server? Kendra talks about the future of database administration and gives tips on strategizing your career.

Confused by sp_Who2 Feb 16, 2017

Learn why the output from the built-in procedure sp_who2 can be so confusing, how to get more information, and free tools that can make it easier to figure out what you need to pay attention to in SQL Server.

Should I Learn Full-Text Indexing? Feb 09, 2017

Learn where full-text search shines, a common problem which full-text search does NOT solve, where full-text can run into performance problems.

Index Types: Heaps, Primary Keys, Clustered and Nonclustered Indexes Feb 02, 2017

Learn the difference between heaps, clustered and nonclustered indexes, primary keys, and columnstore indexes in SQL Server.

What's that Garbage in my Execution Plan? Jan 26, 2017

Learn how to approach the unexpected in a mysterious execution plan that contains way more operators than expected for a very simple SQL Server query.

Why You Should Switch in Staging Tables Instead of Renaming Them Jan 19, 2017

Performing a switcharoo between new and old tables can cause blocking nightmares. Partition switching may help, surprisingly even on non-partitioned tables.

Limiting Downtime for Schema Changes in SQL Server Dec 15, 2016

You need to release schema changes while the SQL Server is in use. Learn why code generation tools write odd scripts and how to stay sane amid rapid releases.

Signs Your SQL Server is Running with Scissors Dec 01, 2016

Does your team know what it's doing with SQL Server? Learn what a consultant looks for when assessing a team, and signs that SQL Server may be badly configured.

Why is My Query Faster on the Second Run? Nov 24, 2016

The first time you test a query it's slow, but when you run it again, it's much faster. Learn how SQL Server uses memory to make the second run much faster.

Should I Upgrade to SQL Server 2016? Nov 17, 2016

Learn why SQL Server 2016 SP1 is a game changer, and how to take best advantage of all the cool features now in Standard and Web Editions.

What's Adaptive Query Processing? Nov 03, 2016

Learn about new features to speed up SQL Server queries. Kendra talks about automatic index tuning and speculates about Adaptive Query Processing.

Where Do You Get Your Creativity? (Dear SQL DBA Episode 20) Oct 20, 2016

As a database administrator or developer, you'll get into trouble fast if you try to force all your code and processes into a database shaped hole. You have to be creative when you problem solve -- and when you communicate! So how do you cultivate creativity?

Should You Rebuild or Reorganize Large Indexes? Oct 13, 2016

The bigger your indexes are, the harder your index maintenance falls. Is it better to rebuild big indexes? Or should you reorganize? Learn the pros and cons of each command and other options.

Can I Use Statistics to Design Indexes? Oct 06, 2016

Should you look at automatically created statistics on your tables in SQL Server to help you design better indexes?

Setting up Free Blocking Alerts and Deadlock Monitoring Sep 29, 2016

What tools in SQL Server will notify you about blocking and help track the queries behind your toughest blocking and deadlocking problems?

Which is Worse: an Unused Index, or an Un-Indexed Foreign Key? Sep 22, 2016

Should you always index your foreign keys? What if you index them, and then the index never gets used?

Finding Your Voice as a Speaker Sep 01, 2016

Learn what it's like to find and develop your voice as a technical speaker in this week's episode.

Collect and Baseline Wait Statistics Aug 25, 2016

What are the best tools to collect and baseline wait statistics? Should you write your own?

Developer Seeks DBA Career Aug 18, 2016

A C# developer wants to be a DBA, but is having a hard time landing a job. Should they take a pay cut and go for a Junior level job? Or could there be another path?

Teach Yourself SQL Server Performance Tuning Aug 11, 2016

You'd love to have a job tuning SQL Servers, but you don't have an environment to practice in. Here's how to teach yourself performance tuning and prepare yourself to land and succeed in job interviews.

Altering an INT Column to a BIGINT Aug 04, 2016

You need to change an INT column to a BIGINT in a large table. Learn why this schema change can make your transaction log explode, and how to avoid it.

Should I Automate Windows Updates for SQL Server? Jul 28, 2016

Your boss wants you to automate patching for your SQL Servers. Is that a good idea? How far should you take it? Find out a DBAs perspective.

Why Upgrades can Cause Performance Regression Jul 21, 2016

Learn what can cause performance regressions after migrating to a new SQL Server version, and how to troubleshoot it.

Max Degree of Confusion Jul 14, 2016

Learn how to configure the Max Degree of Parallelism and Cost Threshold for Parallelism settings in SQL Server - and about how SQL Server 2014 SP2 and SQL Server 2016 change the way that SQL Server automatically configures some SQL Servers with lots of cores.

How to Level Up Your DBA Career Jul 07, 2016

You're a Junior or mid-level Database Administrator with no obvious career path. How do you grow the right skills to level up your DBA career?

Index Usage Stats Insanity Jun 30, 2016

SQL Server’s “index usage stats” dynamic management view is incredibly useful-- but does it tell you what you THINK it tells you? Kendra explains the quirks of how sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats works, as well as why she thinks the information is so valuable.

Fail Over, Fail Again, Fail Better - Preparing for Disaster Recovery Jun 23, 2016

You’re setting up SQL Server log shipping for disaster recovery. What else do you need to do to best prepare for a failure?

Outside the Big SAN Box Jun 16, 2016

You believe that your expensive SAN is slowing down the SQL Server. How can you make your case without making enemies?

Next Door to Derpton Jun 09, 2016

What do you do when your fellow DBA is a ticking time-bomb of bad decisions, waiting to explode your production environment?

Lost in Performance Troubleshooting Jun 02, 2016

The SQL Server is slow, what should you do? Kendra shares her strategy for performance troubleshooting.

Bleeding in Edgevile May 25, 2016

Kendra Little answers a question about early adoption of SQL Server, discusses why testing in production isn't necessarily crazy, and recommends how to handle requests to upgrade your SQL Server to use new features.

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