The following is the list of my articles published on SearchSQLServer.com from January 2014 to September 2014. To read these articles, you must be a member of SearchSQLServer.com.
Learn how to use SQL Server Import and Export Wizard, Published on September 3, 2014
SQL Server 2014 provides a variety of methods to transfer data between SQL Server databases and Microsoft Excel documents. One method is the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard, and this article provides a step-by-step guide for using this wizard to transfer data between SQL Server databases and Microsoft Excel worksheets.
The key to boosting OLTP with SQL Server 2014 In-Memory, Published on August 8, 2014
The SQL Server 2014 in-memory OLTP engine — project name Hekaton — is one of the key new performance-related architectural enhancements to the SQL Server database engine. It is designed to boost performance of OLTP and data-warehouse workloads and reduce processing times. The SQL Server 2014 in-memory OLTP engine is supported on 64-bit Enterprise, Developer and Evaluation editions of SQL Server 2014.
This article explains how to improve the performance of OLTP applications using SQL Server 2014 in-memory OLTP engine. This article also details what makes SQL Server 2014 in-memory OLTP engine different from other vendors in-memory OLTP engines and how to use that to your advantage.
Top four tips for virtualizing your SQL Server instance, Published on July 28, 2014
The increasing need for SQL Server instances is raising costs. Therefore, controlling the cost of databases and related hardware resources and improving and expanding them as necessary have become increasingly important. An ideal solution to this problem is virtualization.
This article shows you how to control the costs through effective virtualization.
The top three SQL Server third-party tools, Published on June 30, 2014
Monitoring and optimizing SQL Server performance, as well as identifying and fixing performance bottlenecks in SQL Server databases, can be a daunting task for database administrators (DBAs), developers and application support teams. SQL Server performance is influenced by factors like server hardware, operating system setup and database configuration. SQL Server provides a comprehensive set of tools for monitoring its own performance, but many SQL Server DBAs, developers and application support teams choose to use third-party performance monitoring tools.
SQL Server third-party performance monitoring tools are more flexible than the tools that ship with the product, and they provide a centralized repository for performance-related data. Moreover, they are easy to use and provide real-time visibility into all SQL Server performance. Third-party monitoring tools can help monitor SQL Server and database performance, resolve potential problems with threshold-based and trend-based alerts, and isolate the root cause of application performance issues.
This article explores three of the top SQL Server third-party tools for quickly identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks.
Tips to escape a SQL Server pitfall or performance bottleneck, Published on April 29, 2014
Over the last decade, many complex enterprise applications have been developed and deployed using Microsoft SQL Server. Today, SQL Server is a cornerstone of modern business applications and is at the center of the business processes of many leading companies. SQL Server applications range from line-of-business applications in production, to internal customer relationship management and decision support systems, to customer-facing e-commerce and Web self-service applications. Consequently, SQL Server performance and scalability are high on IT priority lists, and delivering optimal SQL Server performance and scalability is one of the key tasks of all SQL Server DBAs.
However, many SQL Server systems suffer from poor performance and scalability, often caused by poor database design, index design and a SQL Server system improperly configured for the workload. The reason for this is that the main goal of the development process of any large-scale SQL Server project is functionality, with performance and scalability frequently treated as an afterthought.
While troubleshooting SQL Server database system performance problems is a difficult task, significant performance improvements can be achieved with a relatively small time investment. This article provides five tips for SQL Server users, from avoiding a hardware performance bottleneck to dealing with database design.
Dive deep into SQL Server 2014 in-memory OLTP, Published on March 14, 2014
The SQL Server 2014 in-memory online transaction processing (OLTP) engine, previously code-named “Hekaton“, allows you to create in-memory optimized OLTP tables within a conventional relational database. SQL Server 2014 in-memory OLTP engine enables customers to build mission-critical applications and Big Data solutions using high-performance, in-memory technology across OLTP. It is one of the key new performance-related architectural enhancements to SQL Server 2014, although it is only supported on 64-bit Enterprise, Developer and Evaluation editions.
Checkout this article to learn how to set it up.
Defining half a dozen daily SQL Server DBA responsibilities, Published on February 20, 2014
SQL Server database administration can be a complex and stressful job. Database administrators’ responsibilities cover the performance, integrity and security of business data and SQL Server databases. To fulfil their duties and to make business data available to its users, database administrators have to perform routine DBA checks on their SQL Servers to monitor their status.
So, what critical aspects of SQL Server should all DBAs include in their daily checklist? This article highlights six daily DBA responsibilities that every SQL Server manager should perform.
SQL Server encryption features in SQL Server 2014, Published on February 6, 2014
Data security is a vital and growing concern for many organizations due to the increasing loss and unauthorized disclosure of confidential data. Regulatory requirements often require robust encryption solution for data such as credit card and Social Security numbers. SQL Server 2014 provides database administrators with several options to encrypt data when transmitted through the network, while creating a backup, or when stored on the server or network.
This article guides you through the different encryption options that are available in SQL Server 2014 to encrypt confidential data in the SQL Server database.
Digging through SQL Server OLAP storage models, Published on January 28, 2014
The physical storage design for your multidimensional applications affects the latency, size and performance of your project. Therefore, when designing the physical storage for it, you must determine how to store the dimensions and measures, and how to design an effective physical storage strategy for multidimensional applications.
This article shows how to distinguish among the three SQL Server OLAP storage models and decide which one is best in different use cases.
Eight key SQL Server 2014 features, Published on January 23, 2014
Microsoft SQL Server is an enterprise database server that is the cornerstone of modern business applications and is in the center of the business processes of many leading organizations. The latest release of Microsoft SQL Server, SQL Server 2014, has many new features that let you design, build, and deploy high-performance mission-critical OLTP applications and Big Data solutions.
This article reviews the eight key new SQL Server 2014 Database Engine features.
I hope you will find these articles useful. 
Have a good week!
Basit
