SQL, .NET and everything Microsoft : SQL Tips and Tricks

Security in SQL 2005 - encryption and decryption

Sanchan — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:12:00 GMT

We recently posted a blog about SQL 2005 Security enhancements, focussing on encryption and decryption.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlblog/archive/2006/11/02/part-i-data-security-enhancements-in-sql-server-2005.aspx

“Unexpected error occurred” during SQL Server 2005 SP1 install

Sanchan — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 17:22:00 GMT

We are seeing this issue for many customers installing SQL 2005 SP1.

Check out the resolution for it at our support blog

http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlblog/archive/2006/10/09/_1C20_Unexpected-error-occurred_1D20_-during-SQL-Server-2005-SP1-install_2E00_.aspx

Errors while using tools in SQL 2005

Sanchan — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 05:04:00 GMT

Recently, I blogged about an issue with SQL Server 2005 tools. You might get the below error when using these tools:

Unhandled exception has occurred in your application. If you click Continue, the application will ignore this error and attempt to continue. If you click Quit, the application will close immediately.

Input string was not in a correct format.

You can check my blog here.

Add/Remove programs and SQL 2005 - continued

Sanchan — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:55:00 GMT

Sometime ago, I blogged about SQL Server 2005 installation and how you can use Add/Remove programs to add or remove components in SQL 2005. I recently published a KB article on this – KB 922670 . Please refer to it for more information on this topic and...(read more)

Installing SQL 2005 and SQL 2000 on the same box - what you should know?

Sanchan — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 00:39:00 GMT

Many customers have asked me if they can install SQL 2000 and SQL 2005 on the same box, side by side. The answer to this is YES. You can install SQL 2000, SQL 7.0 and SQL 2005 on the same box. However, there are certain special considerations that you...(read more)

Upgrade from SQL Server Evaluation Edition to full blown editions?

Sanchan — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 06:22:00 GMT

Well, the last month has been really hectic and I have been involved with a lot of stuff that I never planned for – as you can see, I didn’t get much of a chance to blog this month. But now that things are back to normal pace, I am coming back!!! Recently,...(read more)

FAQs - SQL Server and Disk Subsystem requirements

Sanchan — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 21:20:00 GMT

This is the first installment in my FAQ series. In this blog entry, I have consolidated all the questions that I have received from my readers about available disk subsystems in the market and their compatibility with SQL Server. I have tried to address...(read more)

Working with TempDb in SQL 2005

Sanchan — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:13:00 GMT

Just a quick note, Microsoft has published a great whitepaper on TempDB. You can download it here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/f/8/4f8f2dc9-a9a7-4b68-98cb-163482c95e0b/WorkingWithTempDB.doc I will add more blog content about TempDb soon....(read more)

SETUP – Installing Analysis Services 2005 on a cluster

Sanchan — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:25:00 GMT

I have received a lot of questions on installing Analysis Services 2005 on a cluster and I wanted to write this blog to answer those questions using specific scenarios. Scenarios - You create a new Windows Cluster and decide to install ALL components...(read more)

SETUP - SQL 2005 and domain groups best practices

Sanchan — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 07:07:00 GMT

Unlike SQL 2000, SQL 2005 setup on a cluster now requires you to provide domain groups for each clustered service – like SQL Database Engine, SQL Agent, FTS, Analysis Services. Many customers have asked me interesting questions about domain groups and...(read more)

Add/Remove Program and SQL 2005

Sanchan — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 06:21:00 GMT

When you install SQL Server 2005, depending upon the components you installed, you will see a couple of entries in the Add/Remove programs related to SQL Server 2005. The most important one is Microsoft SQL Server 2005. This entry provides you with a...(read more)

SQL Server 2005 and compressed drives - what you should know?

Sanchan — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:08:00 GMT

You will be surprised to know how many times this topic comes up during discussions with SQL Server DBAs. I guess the reason for confusion or discussion primarily emanates from the fact that the documentation on this topic hasn’t been that detailed. So...(read more)

SQL Error Messages – I/O Related

Sanchan — Sat, 03 Jun 2006 16:04:00 GMT

You may see the following error message in SQL Server 2005 Error logs or event logs: SQL Server has encountered %d occurrence(s) of I/O requests taking longer than %d seconds to complete on file [%ls] in database [%ls] (%d). The OS file handle is 0x%p....(read more)

How to install SQL 2005 from the command prompt and using .ini file ?

Sanchan — Sun, 28 May 2006 08:49:00 GMT

I wanted to publish this quick blog tonight to answer some of the questions that I have received recently regarding installation from an .ini file. Microsoft has published a great MSDN article that lists the commands and options to use for installing...(read more)