Number 2, probably not but I've not implementated or tested this set up

Number 1, well it depends on things like the "collation compatible" setting of "sp_serveroption". Read "distributed queries" in...

Try (after edit)

-S "FRC-GIIT-CIRKUS\MYSQL"

Using "-" in server names can be a pain..

I thing the osql is parsing to osql -S FRC..

Not that extensive, but you are going round in circles... literally

1. Can you can run a local SP with remote tables?

CREATE PROC usp_local

AS

UPDATE server.db.schema.table SET x=1

...

2. Extending idea 1: The remote...

I have no link but this contrasts with Oracle's website who charge per core.

Although the bloke at oracle I spoke to said it wasn't true but kinda evaded the issue...

We have lots of linked servers with SPNs and security account delegation and pass-through SQL auth. In fact exclusively except for our remaning SQL 7

Any time I see "anonymous...

AMD vs Intel. What a debate. Been going on for years.

Anyway:

See this article list for where they've tested AMD vs Intel using assorted RDBMS:

http://www.anandtech.com/it/

I like this one as...

You could try "sp_delete_backuphistory". It's in BOL

When you say you can send email...

Can you send email from Outlook logged onto the server as the sql service account?

Have you set up SQL Agent Mail and an operator...

I've been busy and just getting time to post now.

Sorry folks, I'm wrong.

I misunderstood the consultant and should have known better anyway.

After my first post, I went on the defensive...

I'll pass on the comments if I speak to the consultant again and explain that you know better. I'll also point this thread out and ask him to clarify my...

The script below doesn't prove anything, I think.

Surely some of these clever people than me can amend it to use the undocumented DBCC commands to get an answer one way...

Because I was told this was correct when I answered the MS consultant's question. I had to think about it.

Given there is no reason (such as an index) for SQL...

Not all scripting (via EM) produces the "new table created, old one dropped" routine. Sometimes a plain old "ALTER TABLE tablename ADD newcolumnname datatype constrants" is done.

Especially if...

See

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325335

I've chanegd a lot of my DB collations this way to standardise them

I was recently interviewed for a DBA job.

I was questioned technically by an MS consultant because the recruiting organisation currently has no SQL Server DBAs.

One of the questions posed was:

You...