SQL Server Diaries

In an earlier article titled SQL Server Connection Strings, Unique Application DNS and Listening Ports I explained a method that can be used to manage applications’ connectivity to SQL Server databases across an enterprise.  This article extends the principles explained. [Read More]

I managed to put together into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet the formulas to calculate how to estimate the size of a database. The formulas are based on information found in the SQL Server Books Online at Estimating the Size of a Database. The formulas might differ in other editions. [Read More]

A developer asked about whether it was possible to store additional tags to identify the owner of a generic login or generic database user.  The below solution can be used to store this information and also offers further possibilities. [Read More]

An application developer asked me if there was an option in SQL Server to compare the contents/data of two tables without having to create a custom application.  There are various third party tools that can achieve this target however SQL Server comes with an out-of-the-box solution. [Read More]

I came across a tool that some might find useful.  The Forfiles on Microsoft Technet utility (forfiles.exe) is preinstalled with Windows Server 2003 and later.  Forfiles enables batch processing of files.  One use of this utility would be to delete old backup files to remove dependencies on items such as... [Read More]