We had our “SQL Server 2008 Experience” party yesterday, and this evening I saw that they’ve launched a new site for the product – check it out here: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/experience/

That’s a bold statement, isn’t it? Is it true? I don’t know that you’ll never lose your job as a DBA – I’ve known folks who have – but it seems to me that the data in a company will be there even after the company shrinks, folds, gets bought out and whatever...

I was working with someone last night on some performance tuning and noticed that they didn't have a specific issue that was causing their system to slow down - it was a combination of things. As we were working, I found a bunch of things that were running...

Since - I don't know, forever - my geek friends and I used to share software links every time we ran across them. I found a beauty of a link here: http://blogs.technet.com/blogms/pages/microsoft-free-software.aspx . It's another blog, but they took the...

The Data Collector feature in SQL Server 2008 is a new way to automate the gathering of any data from SQL Server you want to store historically. Combine that with the Management Data Warehouse and Custom reports, and you have a powerful monitoring and...

Many people wait for the “first” service pack of a product to work with it. Well, the CU#1 for SQL Server 2008 is now available. This is a new service model where we get out fixes far faster than a full Service Pack. You should read the article...

With all of the hustle of the video shoot on Friday I didn't post the "Quote of the week", so let's do that today. This is one of my favorite quotes - it's the best way that I've found not only to learn something new but to teach a new concept...

I mentioned a presentation the other day that we got from a scientist from Johns Hopkins University. He mentioned that they had multiple Petabyte projects going on. Last night as I was flying to Tucson Arizona I read several articles in the "Communications...

You may have see a new SKU of SQL Server 2008 called the “Web Edition”. Here’s the scoop on it: SQL Server 2008 Web Edition enables hosting companies to provide low cost , highly scalable hosting for developers, SMBs, and consumers, all with a low...

Once of my favorite things about working here at Microsoft is that from time to time we get to hear a presentation from customers using our software and what they are doing with it. Yesterday we heard from a lead astronomer from Johns Hopkins University...

I'm experimenting more with the PowerShell Provider for SQL Server (SQLPS) and I wanted to make sure you knew that there are actually two ways to get to it: 1. Type SQLPS.EXE at a command prompt, or right-click any object in SSMS and select "Start...

I've been doing a few "virtual" presentations lately. We have a lot of requests to present the new features of SQL Server 2008, and I've found that I can go to more places if I do them over the web, using LiveMeeting.  It's actually working...

It's Friday - time for the "Quote of the Day". This is one of my favorites.  It states that things just seem to work out for you - once you *really*decide to do a thing. "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it...

With new features, there are new things to consider when you’re moving from SQL Server Edition to SQL Server Edition. For instance, certain database operations (such as Transparent Data Encryption)  make changes to the file layouts that make...

If you open the "Tools | Options" menu bar item, you'll find that we've made a few changes. First, you can set new Startup options in the "General" section. My favorite is to start with the new Activity Monitor showing. Another change is in the "Text...

I've noticed something interesting since I've been working at Microsoft, specifically at the SQL Server organization. All of the folks here are incredibly smart - you'd probably expect that - but they have two other traits that I've found. Many of them...

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Real-World-DBA-Episode-19--Help-Im-a-new-DBA-part-one/ This week: In the news, Microsoft has “Velocity”. In this week’s feature, I’ll give you the first part of a fast introduction to being a DBA....

I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow. - Woodrow Wilson

At the top of the Object Explorer Details (OED) panel, which you can show by pressing F7 in SQL Server Management Studio, you'll find a "Search" text box. If you want to find an object in a particular database, just click on any database object...

Just at the bottom of the Object Explorer Details (OED) panel, which you can show by pressing F7, you'll find a small amount of information separated by a horizontal bar. If you highlight an object in the OED area, you'll see that information change....

In SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 2008, you can now select columns of properties that you want to display in the Object Explorer Details (OED) panel. You can show the Object Explorer Details by pressing F7, and then you can right-click in the headers...

There's a feature that has been in SQL Server Management Studio since 2005, but I've spoken with many people who didn't know it was there. If you show the Object Explorer (OE), and then open a Query Window, you can left-click and hold on an object name...