Microsoft SQL Server Tips & Tricks

Tips and Tricks for the SQL Server Enthusiast

Automate SQL server backup file removal/deletion from Azure blob storage

In this post, we would like to explain one of the interesting issues that we encountered while...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 01/22/2017

Automated backups configuration fails when configured from Azure portal

In this post, we would like to explain one of the interesting issues that we encountered while using...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 01/22/2017

Error: Could not deploy package. Unable to connect to target server.

In this post we would like to explain one of the interesting issue that we encountered while...

Author: Balmukund Date: 10/12/2016

Troubleshooting SSL on SQL Server Issue - AT_KEYEXCHANGE is not set

It is one of the pre-requisites for the KEY-SPEC value of the SSL self-signed certificate to be set...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 10/04/2016

Creating and Registering SSL Certificates

A few days back, I was working with one of our partners who had a requirement of creating a SSL...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 09/26/2016

SQL Server Service fails to start after applying patch. Error: CREATE SCHEMA failed due to previous errors.

In this post we would like to explain one of the interesting issues that we encountered while...

Author: Balmukund Date: 07/14/2016

Setting up Service Broker where the initiator database is part of the AG

  There have been several posts on setting up Service Broker where the database is part of the...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 07/29/2015

Error configuring distribution- "Publishing and distribution are supported only in SQL Server version 7.0 or later"

I recently installed an instance of SQL Server 2016 on one of my server. Later when I tried to...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 07/28/2015

How to find which user deleted the user database in SQL Server

In one of the recent scenarios we noticed that a user database was deleted and customer wanted to...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 05/17/2015

Snapshot agent fails with Error: 241, Severity: 16, State: 1 (Conversion failed when converting date and/or time from character string)

ISSUE Let’s say you are monitoring Replication Agent status and noticed that the Snapshot Agent has...

Author: Amvin [MSFT] Date: 02/09/2015

Common issues faced while configuring AlwaysOn listener on Azure VM cluster

We have MSDN article [Tutorial: Listener Configuration for AlwaysOn Availability Groups...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 12/22/2014

Capture successful logins: You may see many entries(high volume) when you create Audit for SUCCESSFUL_LOGIN_GROUP action group

  When you are auditing successful logins attempts using SUCCESSFUL_LOGIN_GROUP action group...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 12/07/2014

Script level upgrade for master database failed

  In this post I would like to explain one of the interesting issues that I encountered while...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 11/27/2014

Merge Replication: Expired Subscription Clean Up Job / sp_expired_subscription_cleanup / sp_MScleanup_conflict fails with error Msg 1934, Level 16, State 1 AND Msg 20709, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_MScleanup_conflict…??

  Issue: If you have a Merge Replication, you may encounter the below error message thrown by...

Author: Pradeep Adiga Date: 11/13/2014

SQL Server 2014 Setup Error: 'BIDS' is not a valid value for setting 'FEATURES'

SQL Server Data Tools (a.k.a. SSDT) used to part of product installation media in SQL Server 2012....

Author: Balmukund Date: 08/28/2014

Troubleshooting : Error: 8624, Severity: 16, State: 21. Internal Query Processor Error: The query processor could not produce a query plan.

Sometimes we see the below error in SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 when executing a query in SQL Server...

Author: Balmukund Date: 07/15/2014

Can I decrypt TDE enabled database if I have access to the master database’s mdf and ldf files or the master database backup?

  If someone gets access to the master database, i.e., if s/he can manage to copy the MDF, LDF...

Author: Amvin [MSFT] Date: 05/16/2014

How to move databases configured for SQL Server AlwaysOn

How to move databases configured for SQL Server AlwaysOn This article describes how to change the...

Author: Karthick P.K - karthick krishnamurthy Date: 02/06/2014

How to configure Always On for a TDE database

Creating Availability group for an Encrypted database:  In this blog we will walk you through...

Author: Karthick P.K - karthick krishnamurthy Date: 11/22/2013

How to compare the rows of two tables and fetch the differential data.

In this blog I would like to demonstrate a scenario where users want to move the changes between the...

Author: Karthick P.K - karthick krishnamurthy Date: 11/21/2013

Upgrade from SQL 2005 to SQL 2012 fails with error “Service 'SQLSERVERAGENT' start request failed.”

I was working on a 2005 to 2012 upgrade issue and came across an interesting issue which I thought...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 07/24/2013

How do I map a differential/transaction log backup to its full backup without using MSDB?

If you have multiple full, differential and transaction log backups, there are chances you may end...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 05/22/2013

Change Data Capture gets disabled when you break mirroring and bring the database online

  Issue ================   Recently we encountered an issue where customer performed a...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 05/15/2013

Do NOT delete files from the Windows Installer folder

C:\windows\Installer is not a temporary folder and files in it should not be deleted. If you do it...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 04/30/2013

How to monitor deadlock using extended events in SQL Server 2008 and later

Before I talk about how to monitor the deadlocks let us have a small brief what is deadlock and how...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 04/26/2013

Ventured into BULK INSERTS

Recently, whilst working with bulk insert queries I came across an unexpected result set which led...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 03/13/2013

How to Login to SQL Server with NT AUTHORITYSYSTEM using PSExec Tool

PSExec tool gives you an option to run a remote process or an application using System account, if...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 12/18/2012

How to limit connections to SQL Server until all databases are ONLINE!

Strange requirement, right? Recently, I got a peculiar case wherein the demand made by the customer...

Author: HarshDeep_Singh Date: 12/18/2012

Why to look at "Wait Statistics" to troubleshoot SQL Performance

Here we will discuss on Waits in the context of SQL Server: Highlights of this video blog :- 1. What...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/18/2012

SQL server 2008 Filestream

Filestream is a new feature in SQL server 2008, that allows storage and efficient access to BLOB...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/18/2012

Troubleshooting SQL server High CPU : Part 2

In this blog we have explained the various causes for SQL to drive the processors i.e. high CPU and...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/11/2012

Troubleshooting SQL server High CPU : Part 1

In this blog we have explained the various causes for SQL to drive the processors i.e. high CPU and...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/11/2012

Product Update Feature in SQL Server 2012

A new feature introduced in SQL Server 2012 setup is "Product Update". Product Update searches for...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/11/2012

Introduction to Sparse Columns

In this video blog we would walk you through a feature introduced from SQL server 2008 i.e. Sparse...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/11/2012

High Availability for SQL Server Replication using Database Mirroring

Here we will Discuss on Providing High Availability for SQL Server Transactional Replictaion using...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 06/07/2012

Missing MSI's/MSP's error during SQL Server Patching

In this video blog, we would walk you through some tips and methods to troubleshoot Missing...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 05/08/2012

Bulk insert command fails to insert the correct characters?

Bulk insert command is not inserting correct characters from a flat file into the table. For...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 04/05/2012

Can TLS certificate be used for SQL Server encryption on the wire???

During our recent interactions with a few customers, we were asked following questions about TLS...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 04/04/2012

Failure of SQL Server 2008 Installation due to MSI error

Issue: Installation of SQL Server 2008 might fails with below error on 64-Bit Operating system. MSI...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 04/04/2012

SQL Server Replication

Queries on SQL Server Replication? Check out our blog to get'em answered , that will give you an...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 03/22/2012

INF: SQL Server Compressed backup may work fine if disk space is less and may fail if disk space is more

In this article We are going to discuss about pre-allocation scenarios and their aftermaths for SQL...

Author: Balmukund Date: 03/20/2012

An interesting find about Temp tables in SQL Server

I ran into a very interesting issue with temp tables recently, when working on a case. The issue...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 03/15/2012

INF: AlwaysOn – The secondary database doesn't come automatically when the primary instance of SQL Server goes down

In this blog we would discuss about behavior of AlwaysOn availability group where the secondary...

Author: Balmukund Date: 03/15/2012

INF: Limitations for SQL Agent when you have many Jobs running in SQL simultaneously

Recently I have had a customer complaining that when he is adding more subscriptions to his...

Author: Balmukund Date: 03/14/2012

Table partitioning concepts with sliding window example

Highlights of this video blog :- 1. What are Partitioned tables & benefits2. Building Blocks of...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 02/27/2012

SSL Encryption for SQL Server

Highlights of this video blog :- 1. What is SSL Encryption2. Why is it needed3. Configuring SSL...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 02/22/2012

What's Data Collector

Highlights of this video blog :- 1. What is Data collector2. Architecture3. MDW(Management data...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 02/22/2012

INF: You may not be able to change the Design of a Table (Insert or Delete a Column) using GUI.

We recently worked on an issue where modifying a Table from the GUI was not allowed even though the...

Author: Balmukund Date: 02/09/2012

Policy Based Management

Check our video blog, and get answers to your queries related to "Policy Based Management" in SQL...

Author: Harsh Chawla Date: 01/18/2012

Hey Mr. SSMS! Why I am unable to open .sql files using by double click

For SQL Server 2008/2008 R2 installed on Win 7/Windows Server 2008, if we attempt to open .sql files...

Author: Balmukund Date: 01/11/2012

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