SQL Server Diaries

A while ago I helped a colleague develop a T-SQL function that would increment a date by an integer value and return the first working day following and closest to the resulting date.  The requirements were not complex - a date is incremented by a number of days and the... [Read More]

As the final post of 2011, and considering that most DBAs might start considering upgrading to the latest version of SQL Server when it is launched at the end of March 2012 (?), I am publishing a script which I found very helpful for upgrades and database migrations. [Read More]

My national language (Maltese) is described in Maltese language - Wikipedia as “the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet in its standard form”.  I was recently asked whether SQL Server can store Maltese characters, or specifically the characters which deviate from the Latin character set. [Read More]

One of the resorces Network specialists use to monitor, troubleshoot, and identify issues with network device (such as routers, switches, firewalls, etc.) is the use of SYSLOG messages. These messages are broadcast on the network via UDP and are captured by specific listener applications and/or devices. One fo these applications... [Read More]

As a DBA, maintaining security of your SQL Server instances is one of the main duties to avoid unauthorised access to data. One of the methods used to gain access to data is to impersonate other users. Some of the weakness are due to end-user setting weak passwords. [Read More]