Active/Active, Active/Passive – the only difference is that it is impossible to setup one MS SQL Server instance in Active/ Active. You need at least two (one instance per one...

SSIS is just a very useful tool to create packages that are very efficient if you develop them right. SQL Agent is an agent that helps to run scheduled tasks...

There is no place that is perfect in every way. It is pure math and normal that a lot of people just want a paycheck but not an actual work....

You guys are missing something: she is working with a huge HIPAA regulated company (like Kaiser Permanente) in California where nobody can do anything without signed paper, there is no...

OK, I am sorry for you but in big organizations you have to follow some rules. These rules can seem extreme but it helps to keep everything organized. Slow, but...

SSIS is already included in the price of the MS SQL Server. You do not need to buy anything extra. You need to install tools on your computer from the...

Initial snapshot doesn't need any space. Snapshot's size is growing together with data changes because snapshot includes only pages with differences. You can find details at: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187054.aspx

I would shutdown that request if I could because all that may be done better and faster using SSIS. I can guarantee that the right package will do cleaning, ETL,...

Does the user that run VB has the right to execute store proc? Do you have try ... catch block? If yes, is the error = 0?

This happens most likely because you have:

IF

...

SELECT @err = @@error IF @err 0 RETURN @err

ELSE

Compiler doesn't understand what is this ELSE for. You have to use:

IF

BEGIN

...

You need any backup to recover database in case of failure. So, if you believe nothing going to happen after you have full backup – feel free to overwrite it....

Use any "Best Practice..." white paper. Brad McGehee (RedGate) has excellent free e-book (SQL Server DBA Best Practices) that shows what developer should know: no SELECT DISTINCT, avoid CURSOR, know...

Have you tried to do any tuning? How many users do you have on each database server? It sounds like there are a lot of opportunities to reduce load first....

Agree with Steve plus one more question: why you are going to have backups locally? How you are going to get backup if the box is not alive? Backup should...

You do not have COMMIT after BEGIN TRANSACTION! You have ROLLBACK but not COMMIT. See it in the attached file and use use indent style in your code!!