One more solution to throw into the mix: Remove SQL server from direct I-net access, but allow access through VPN connections. There are some very good VPN appliances out there...

I'll go ahead and ask the dumb question: What changed between when the view was working and when it stopped?

... and don't forget to include building stored procedures in your design effort! Yes, these may change once your database design hits the 'real world' of developers, but by having...

Actually, I'd go the other way. Convert the varchar columns to datetime fields. This will give you a certainty that the dates are all in the same format, and give...

This is one of those places where properly structured (and really quite rigid) data definition meets the messy, messy, messy real world. So, who wins? Properly structured (but rarely if...

One question that I'm sure you've already considered: Is this happening on all the customers' databases, or is this localized to one machine?

My gut feel is that you're going to...

I agree with the SQL and Windows monitoring, as this (as described) just screams that you have some external factor specific to that customer that is causing the slowdowns.

Is...

One suggestion - I'd start by building a reference table that identifies custid, phoneid combinations that refer to a specific customer, then use that in a join to locate calls...

From experience working with EDI (or, more correctly finding what went wrong when it broke)

1) Timestamp everything. Include a 'sending' date and time in every XML schema that you exchange....

Natural keys are wonderful when you're dealing with a real-world situation that is neat and orderly, stable over time, and very well-defined. For everything else, I'd recommend using an Identity...

If you're planning on (or willing to be) mobile, then learning multiple databases may be the way to go. Like all generalists, you often won't be as in-depth as someone...

I use Hotmail for many things, including the SQL Server Central daily mailing. Missing mailings is pretty common - several a month is common. It doesn't seem to follow a...

Not to quibble, but shouldn't that be "Donor beware"?

Steve G.

You have a column in your source data that generates a guid as an identity. Do a search in BOL for "rowguid" - there's a bunch of stuff related to...

Some suggestions

1. Run the surface area configuration tool on your SQL 2005 instance and ensure that it will accept remote connections. Note the port number that SQL 2005 is using...