Retaining historical index usage statistics for SQL Server

Retaining historical index usage statistics for SQL Server Written By: Tim Ford -- 5/12/2009ProblemStarting with Microsoft SQL Server 2005, DBAs were able to have a greater insight into the inner workings of their supported SQL Server instances through the use of Dynamic Management Views and Functions, collectively known as DMOs (Dynamic...

Using authenticators with SQL Server encryption

Using authenticators with SQL Server encryption Written By: K. Brian Kelley -- 5/27/2009ProblemI want to use SQL Server-based encryption, but I want some additional "protection" so that even if someone has access to the keys, they can't arbitrarily decrypt the data. I've read about...

SQL Server 2005 transaction log backup maintenance plan via SSIS

SQL Server 2005 transaction log backup maintenance plan via SSIS Written By: Michelle Gutzait -- 5/19/2009ProblemIn SQL Server 2005, when you configure a transaction log backup maintenance task for "all user databases", the transaction log backup task is not automatically checking...

How to find out how long a SQL Server backup took

How to find out how long a SQL Server backup took Written By: Thomas LaRock -- 5/8/2009ProblemMany shops do full backups of their databases as part of a job within SQL Agent, typically as part of a maintenance plan. This job will often times do all database backups in secession. As such,...

Execute same SQL Server query across multiple servers at the same time using Central Management Servers

Execute same SQL Server query across multiple servers at the same time using Central Management Servers Written By: Kun Lee -- 6/8/2009ProblemManaging multiple SQL Servers has its challenges. One of the big challenges is having to collect data from each of the servers you manage and...

Different ways to execute an SSIS package

Different ways to execute an SSIS package Written By: Ashish Kumar Mehta -- 6/18/2009ProblemOne of the Junior SQL Server Developers in my company approached me yesterday with a dilemma. He was developing an SSIS Package which imports data from a comma separated text file and he wanted...

Automating Performance Monitor Statistics Collection for SQL Server and Windows

Automating Performance Monitor Statistics Collection for SQL Server and Windows Written By: Ranga Narasimhan -- 6/19/2009ProblemYou have about 100 SQL Servers installed in your production environment. You have performance problems on few of the servers, but they happen during the time...