If SQL is clustered, ALWAYS use the cluster manager to start/stop SQL (take the resource offline/bring the resource online).  Also, if you take SQL offline the SQL Agent will be...

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by  DeWayne_McCallie.

My opinion after using it for two years is STAY AWAY.

We use it in the enterprise for Windows, SQL, Oracle, Hana etc.  I can't speak to anything but SQL; but,...

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by  DeWayne_McCallie.

We have utilized LightSpeed with great success (we used our own custom backup scripts) and of course SQL Native Backup works as expected.  

SQL Native Backup will create a larger backup...

You can always search the logins script for default DB names, then create a new empty DB without having to restore anything at that time then run the logins script to...

This is what you are looking for:

https://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/3307/managing-the-size-of-the-sql-server-ssis-catalog-database/

Same thing but different approach: 

Create the new server with a new IP and add a U to the end of the server name (for Upgraded - for...

The easy fix is to shrink the TLog to 1 MB then re-grow the TLog to the size that it was. This can be done with the DB live thus no downtime...

There are no maintenance plans in EXPRESS just as there is no SQL Agent to run/schedule them.  You can use Windows Task Scheduler to run a custom script, .cmd or .bat file to...

We run McAfee AV and must disable it to install SSMS 2016 (along with run as admin for the install).

We utilize LightSpeed and SQL Server Native Backups. 

We used LS for the now out of support SQL/Server 2005 systems as well as SQL 2008 (before MS added backup compression to...

Have you applied the latest 2012 SP and CU to your workstation (patched SSMS)?

Create scripts to set each DB to single user mode, take a DIFF DB backup then set the DB to Off-line.  Then just restore the DIFF with recovery on the target...

Also, we usually place the DB off-line for a few weeks (Alter Database XXX set offline with rollback immediate) so that it can be quickly placed back on-line if needed. ...

Well SQL 2016 supports Tlog on NVRAM only with Windows 2016 per Microsoft; therefore, it better be supported.

Also MS stats SQL 2016 is supported on Win 2016:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3153836