Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling SQL Server Encryption: Installing Active Directory Certificate Services for DBAs Mar 30, 2024

Edition: Saturday, March 30th, 2024

Most new DBAs aren't familiar with certificates, or generating certificate requests, to be used by SQL Server. 

I know I wasn't.  Early in my career, I had worked in environments that didn't require encrypted connections to SQL Server so I...

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Guide to Unattended Windows Server 2025 Preview Edition Installation: Simplify Your Setup Mar 23, 2024

Edition: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024

Today I want to share a quick tip on getting started with Windows Server 2025 Standard Edition (preview).  It seems Server 2022 just came out a few short weeks ago but in reality, it was released on August 18, 2021

As technologists, we sometimes...

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SQL Server Change Tracking Features Mar 16, 2024

Edition: Saturday, March 16th, 2024

Good morning!  Hopefully, this week's edition finds you getting some much-needed rest on a Saturday.  It's early here in Tennessee and I'm hoping for a sunny day.

This past week I posted a few LinkedIn challenges on the topic of change tracking...

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Keeping Data Confidential: Essential Strategies for DBAs Mar 09, 2024

Edition: Saturday, March 9th, 2024

Keeping data confidential is a crucial role for a DBA.  Today, I'll share strategies that Database Administrators can implement to enhance data confidentiality.  You'll learn about the importance of encryption, access controls, auditing, and...

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SQL Server Database Scripting with PowerShell Mar 02, 2024

Edition: Saturday, March 2nd, 2024

Welcome to March!  

Today, I want to talk about one common challenge a DBA may encounter.  Scripting a database(s).  There are a few common scenarios that may require this.  Here are a few:

  • Needing to create an empty shell of an...
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Capacity Planning Fundamentals For SQL Server DBAs Feb 24, 2024

Edition: Saturday, February 24th, 2024

A common challenge DBAs encounter is efficient capacity planning.  Ensuring that SQL Server is operational, optimized, and ready to scale is important. 

In today's edition, I'll share insights on capacity planning, including strategies, tools,...

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SQL Server Backup File Locations: Ensuring Data Safety and Disaster Recovery Feb 17, 2024

Edition: Saturday, February 17th, 2024

I recently had a conversation about the placement of SQL Server native backups. Backups were stored on the same drive as the database log files, and I mentioned that they needed to reside elsewhere. 

Today, we will look at what happens when...

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Diagnosing SQL Server: Identifying Queries Causing TempDB Is Full Errors with Extended Events Feb 10, 2024

Edition: Saturday, February 10th, 2024

Sign up for the DBA Challenges Newsletter here --> DBA Challenges - Newsletter (automatesql.com).

It's hard to believe we're already in the 2nd week of February 2024.  

Today, I will focus on how to leverage Extended Events to identify and...

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Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 6 - Packer Build] Feb 08, 2024

Introduction:


In part 5, we created the remaining configuration scripts that we'll use to create the Windows Server 2022 golden image.  At this point, your AutomatedSandboxFramework directory should resemble the screenshot below.

 

Here's what we'll accomplish by the end of...

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SQL Server DBA's Handbook: Navigating Active Directory Integration and Security Feb 03, 2024

Edition: Saturday, February 3rd, 2024

In today's issue, I will show how to perform a simple installation of Active Directory, cover basic concepts, and explain why it's crucial to a DBA.  

For DBAs, understanding how SQL Server integrates with Active Directory is important for...

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SQL Server Database Filegroups Jan 27, 2024

Edition: Saturday, January 27th, 2024

Welcome to this week's edition.  We'll break down the two most popular posts ranked by comments.  Be sure to grab the scripts to work through the demo yourself if you'd like.  We'll jump right in (I hear DBAs are busy people).

Day 24 - Comments...

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Reduce Your Virtual Machine Build Time Using Hashicorp Packer: [Part 5 - Configuration Scripts] Jan 25, 2024

Introduction:


In part 4, we created the autounattend.xml and PackerShutdown.bat files and created the source block.  

Most machine builds require additional configuration after installing the OS.  At this point, you generally wouldn't turn the server over to the application or...

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