SQL Server Tips

• Use ALTER DATABASE to Move Databases
  Here’s a look at how you can use the ALTER DATABASE function in SQL Server 2008 R2 to move database files and full-text catalogs.

• Play it Safe and Configure a Fail-Safe Operator
  Using a fail-safe operator is a good best practice for monitoring SQL Server and ensuring it is running optimally. Here’s what you need to know.

• Configure SQL Server Agent to Restart Services Automatically
  Here are 4 simple steps that can keep SQL Server running and help you get more sleep.

• How to use Windows PowerShell to Manage SQL Server
  Get an overview of how you can use Windows PowerShell to manage SQL Server 2008 and learn the basic syntax you’ll need to know.

• Create Server Groups to Manage SQL Server
  Find out how you can use server groups in SQL Server 2008 to organize your servers and simplify server management.

• Learn About Manually Tweaking Parallel Processing Settings
  Here’s a quick look at setting parallel processing options in SQL Server 2008.

• Know when not to Maximize Data Throughput for Network Applications
  Find out about one scenario in which you should avoid the Maximize Data Throughput For Network Applications setting.

• Optimize Memory for Indexing in SQL Server 2008
  Find out when you should allocate a specific amount of memory for index creation and how you can do this.

• Determine System and Server Information on SQL Server 2008
  Here are three ways to quickly view details about the system and server on which you’re running your database.

• Work with Dynamically Configured Memory in SQL Server 2008
  Learn how to work with and configure Dynamically Configured Memory in SQL Server 2008.

• New SQL Server Utility and Utility Control Points in SQL Server 2008 R2
  Get an overview of how to use the new SQL Server Utility and Utility Control Points in SQL Server 2008 R2.

• Change Settings with ALTER DATABASE in SQL Server 2008
  The ALTER DATABASE statement replaces sp_dboption as the preferred way to change database settings in SQL Server 2008. Here’s what you need to know.

• Know How and When to Use Emergency Mode Repair
  EMERGENCY mode is used when the transaction log for the database has been damaged and no backups are available to restore from. For such a situation, learn how to use the emergency mode repair feature.

• Configure Remote Server Connections
  Connections from other servers are handled differently than user connections. Learn to quickly configure remote connections for SQL Server 2008.

• Upgrade SQL Server 2000 Log Shipping to SQL Server 2008
  You can't directly update SQL Server 2000 log shipping to SQL Server 2008 log shipping. But you can easily migrate your SQL Server 2000 log shipping configuration to SQL Server 2008. Learn how.

• Configure Your SQL Server Attack Surface
  Find out how to use the sp_configure stored procedure to limit your attack surface by disabling unnecessary features.

• Understand the 9 Numeric Data Types in SQL Server 2008
  There are nine numeric data types that ship with SQL Server 2008. Here's an overview of the numeric data types along with their range of values and required storage space.

• Know the Monitoring Tools and Resources Available in SQL Server 2008
  Reliability and Performance Monitor and SQL Server Profiler aren't the only tools you can use to monitor SQL Server. Here is an overview of other key resources you can use.

• Use T-SQL to View Database Information
  You can use Transact-SQL (T-SQL) to examine database information. Here's an overview of how to view database information and what it all means.

• Manage SQL Server Services from the Command Line
  You can manage SQL Server from a command line just as you would any other service. Here are the commands you need to know.

• Use the Query Governor to Control Excessive Query Execution
  You can easily prevent costly queries from executing by configuring the query governor. Find out how to do this in just a few simple steps.

• Ways to Find out What Data Was Deleted by SQL Server Repair
  In the unfortunate case that you have to use the REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS option, some data will inevitably be lost. Find out how you can determine what data was lost when running the repair option.

• Manage Access and Roles with Transact-SQL (T-SQL) Commands
  You can use T-SQL commands to manage access and roles in SQL Server. Here's a summary of the commands you'll use.

• Understand the Replication Models in SQL Server 2008
  To make replication go smoothly, you need to do a bit of planning, which involves selecting a specific replication model. Here's an overview of the common replication models you will likely choose from.

• Monitor SQL Server Performance and Activity with Built-In Functions
  SQL Server includes a number of built-in functions you can use to retrieve system information. Here's an overview of these functions.

• How to Quickly Create a Copy of a Table using Transact-SQL
  The easiest way to create a copy of a table is to use Transact-SQL. Find out how.

• Use New Cmdlets in SQL Server PowerShell to Mange SQL Server 2008
  SQL Server PowerShell includes new cmdlets designed specially for working with SQL Server 2008. Here's a look at what's new, and what you can do.

• Configure a Fail-Safe Operator for Notifications
  When things go wrong with notification, operators do not get notified and problems might not be corrected in a timely manner. Learn how you can prevent this with a fail-safe operator.

• Configure Parallel Processing in SQL Server 2008
  Understand when SQL Server uses parallel processing and learn how to configure parallel processing for your database.

• Configure SQL Server 2008 to Automatically Manage File Size
  Learn how you can easily configure SQL Server 2008 to automatically manage database and log size.

• Recover Missing Data in SQL Server 2008 Using a Partial Restore
  Think part of your database is missing or corrupted? Find out how you can perform a partial restore to recover the missing or corrupted data.

• Customize Memory Allocation for Queries in SQL Server 2008
  By default, SQL Server 2008 allocates a minimum of 1024 KB of memory for query execution. This memory allocation, however, can be set for anywhere from 512 KB to 2 GB. Find out when you should change this setting and how to do so.