Category: Standards

  • Guide available for enhancing privacy and addressing GDPR requirements with the Microsoft SQL platform

    The EU Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) goes into effect on May 25, 2018 – and we know that many of you are searching for guidelines and recommendations for how to properly handle the data privacy and data protection requirements stipulated by the GDPR. This guide provides technical guidance and best practices for addressing data…

  • CAST vs. CONVERT

    CAST vs. CONVERT

    Datatype conversion is a common scenario that we face while writing SQL queries. Cast and Convert are two functions provided by SQL for this purpose. But what is the difference between the two? CAST and CONVERT provide similar functonality. CAST is according to ANSI standards and has a simpler syntax. CONVERT on the other hand…

  • What are naming standards/conventions for SQL Server? (1/5)

    What are naming standards/conventions for SQL Server? (1/5)

    I think it will be good idea to setup some naming standards throughout your database servers’ farm. Most of us already have these standards in place. And if there is nothing, I understand that it’s not going to be an easy task to implement standards, especially within an existing environment. BUT, it’s never too late.…

  • Common Human Errors as DBA (Part 3)

    Common Human Errors as DBA (Part 3)

      In continuation of the series of “Common Human Errors as DBA” – here I am posting Third Part of it. You may check others here. Part 1 & Part 2 Poor naming standards & Lack of documentation: This is a common mistake (not human error) that frequently happens. From the very beginning, a DBA…

  • Is tempdb configured correctly?

    Is tempdb configured correctly?

    Let’s learn about tempdb and some of the best practices about tempdb. Before doing this, let’s talk about tempdb and its usage. A Tempdb is a system database that is available to all users who are connected on an instance of SQL Server. Tempdb holds temporary user objects like global/local temporary tables, temporary stored procedures,…

  • MAXDOP – What is best approach to use it!!!

    MAXDOP – What is best approach to use it!!!

    The Maximum Degree of Parallelism (MAXDOP) setting will determine the degree to which SQL server will attempt to parallel process transactions which are received from the scheduler. As a general rule of thumb, OLTP environments with high transaction volume and repetitive queries should normally have a MAXDOP value of 1, as any benefit gained from…

  • Database Accidents : Unwanted Restore

    Database Accidents : Unwanted Restore

    Number of times, while working as a DBA many accidents happen. Most common of them is when a database is restored without checking if a backup is available or not. As a thumb rule – a DBA must take backups of everything before performing any action. At any point of time, I must be in…

  • Fragmentation of Log files and VLFs

    In a SQL server, having multiple log files does not have any performance benefits as the log files are written sequentially. The log files can have external (disk level) fragmentation or internal (VLF, Virtual Log File) fragmentation. The external fragmentation can be solved by de-fragmenting the disk on which the log file resides on, followed…