How To Find Duplicate Indexes

I’ve had this script in my toolbox for a few years now. I didn’t create it initially, and I have no idea who did. This script helps you to identify duplicate indexes. Why is that important? I’m glad you asked, mostly because I’m tired of answering my own questions and it’s good to have someone [...]

Is It A Problem?

Last week I used some local user group meetings as tune-ups for my talk that I am giving this Saturday in Nashville.
[Sorry that you had to find out this way Seacoast and SNESSUG. It's not easy finding out you were being used, but you were. And thanks for the bacon pizza, I can let myself [...]

What 5 things Should SQL Server Get Rid Of?

I was tagged by Paul Randal (blog | twitter) in a recent chainposting on what features I would like to see removed from SQL Server. Paul did not say if I was allowed to repeat any of the items he listed but I am going to do so anyway because I feel that strongly about [...]

Death to NNTP!

Well, it’s official, the MS newsgroups are going the way of Microsoft Bob by the end of this year. While I have never hid my feelings for newsgroups or forums I will say that participating in the private MVP newsgroups was one of the benefits I enjoyed the most as an MVP. So, I should [...]

24 Hours of PASS Is Coming

In case you haven’t heard there is an upcoming 24 Hours of PASS event to be held on May 19th and 20th. Here is a reminder of the features in SQL 2008 R2 that will be discussed:

PowerPivot
PerformancePoint
Utility Control Point
Parallel Data Warehouse
StreamInsight
Master Data Management
Multi-Server Management
Report Builder
Data Tier Applications

And who are [...]

SQL Saturday #39 Recap

I had an amazing time at the SQL Saturday event in New York City this past weekend. I learned new things, met new people, and ate an olive wrapped in a piece of bacon. What more could you want from a PASS event?
I arrived on Friday evening and attended the speaker party that night. It [...]

SQL 2005 System Stored Procedures Poster

Just over two years ago I helped put together the following poster that detailed some of the more useful system stored procedures found in SQL 2005:
I have a handful of the posters laying around my cubical and my office at home. I suppose I should give them away whenever I am speaking, but I never [...]

Back-to-Back

The email just arrived and I have been awarded the MVP status for a second consecutive year. Unlike last year, I did not believe this email to be a scam, or some cruel April Fool’s Day joke.
The past twelve months has been wonderful for me as a database professional, and a big part of that [...]

UserVoice

One of the many wonderful things that came out of the MVP Summit for me last week was UserVoice. Both readers of my blog may have noticed the red ‘Feedback’ tab on the left hand side of the page. This tab will lead you to a forum that I have configured with UserVoice.
Last week we [...]

MVP Summit Recap

The 2010 MVP Summit took place last week on the Microsoft campus in Redmond. I arrived on Tuesday, barely making it out ahead of a snowstorm. I missed out on some sessions on Monday and Tuesday, having made my plans before any extra sessions were announced. When I got into town I couldn’t find any [...]