In every place I've been a DBA, we're restored to test pretty regularly. Historically, I'd say the biggest hole in the backup process has been backing up to tape...

One thing to note with DOS commands (if you're running them via SQL Server Agent) is that you are limited to the number of command shell threads you can run...

Shaun, could you please leave the room while we talk about you behind your back? 😛

#4. Linked Servers and cross-server (or cross-database) queries has been a recent pain point for me. I've been wondering why the applications weren't just built to connect to...

An easy way to do it is to have a first step that determines if today is the day the dw_job should run or the dm_job. You can cause...

Start it to run when you expect it and have it run every minute until it finds the file. Sure, it runs often, but ends up doing very little....

I'm dealing with a lot of cross-server queries. My answer was to make the data access layer in the apps deal with it. Hard-coded SQL just isn't good....

"Via Group Membership" is interesting to me.  I've wondered if it happens when someone has db_owner rights via a Windows group and then creates an object.  You can give a...

I've been a production DBA for about 5 years with the typical responsibilities of handling performance problems, availability, backups, and security.  Really, I see problem solving as the key to the...

Fun article.  My wife and I just celebrated our 5th anniversary.  I just bought a brand-spankin' new 2006 Mustang V6.  Given the choice of the car or the ring... well,...

Agree.  Stick to VB.

It does give some good insight into .NET, tho.

Richard writes:

We had problems with .ini file.  It wouldn't show all parameters in the .ini file, only top 15.

That's good to know.  We have a VB script that uses...

I think Oli misunderstood the purpose of #1.  I believe it was Steve's intention to use it to identify whether or not the proc was the one that was running...

...and in the correct order of importance, even.   What a treat. 

(That smilely is called "woot"!!one!!)

It's a good start, I'll be looking for the rest. ...

I'd call this "Disk Management 101", in that it covers the basics.  I'd say the majority of the people in this forum already have implementation plans for storage capacity planning. ...