As a DBMS SQL Server is a powerful, cost-effective, and simple-to-use DBMS able to service the needs of most small-to-medium size businesses right out-of-the-box without professional management by a DBA.  In fact, a recent survey reported that 45% of IT personnel responsible for managing their company’s SQL Server instances are not trained database administrators instead...
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  When we focus on IO performance for SQL Server it is vitally important to understand the architecture of the disk subsystem.  Typically, a DBA will focus on Disk Queue Length as the primary measure of IO performance; however, in a Storage Area Network (SAN) environment the Disk Queue Length metric may not provide reliable results.  In a SAN environment a...
Read More About IO, IO it's off to work we go. »

  The truth of this Yiddish proverb has been repeatedly reveled to me in both my personal and professional lives.  Professionally, I cannot begin to count the number of client’s with whom I have worked who have tried to solve a SQL Server performance issue with more hardware – the brawn.  In my experience most performance issues will not be resolved with more memory,...
Read More About When brains are needed, brawn won't help. »