Gregory Larsen

Greg Larsen explores using multiple Common Table Expressions (CTEs), the MAXRECUSION option, how to use a CTE within a cursor, and what you cannot do within a CTE. I introduced you to Common Table Expression (CTE) in my last article. In that article, I covered the basic syntax of a CTE and provided a couple […]

Building and maintain a SQL Server database environment takes a lot of work. There are many things to consider when you are designing, supporting and troubleshooting your environment. This article identifies a top ten list of mistakes, or things that sometimes are overlooked when supporting a database environment. #1 Inappropriate Sizing of DB If you […]

A Common Table Expression (CTEs) is an expression that returns a record set that can be referenced within the scope of a single INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, INSERT or CREATE VIEW statement. Greg Larsen describes how to define a CTE and then provides some simple examples that demonstrate how to use a CTE. With the introduction […]

DBAs often have a need to identify why a problem has occurred, or is occurring in their SQL Server database. This article covers some of the tools you can use to look for clues, and the steps you might go through to help troubleshoot a SQL Server problem. We all have problems that occur from […]

To ensure that queries run as efficiently as possible, the database administrator needs to monitor performance to find inefficient queries. This article focuses on exploring how a DBA can monitor the I/Os against an instance of SQL Server, using Dynamic Management Objects, or more commonly know as Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) and Functions (DMFs). When […]

Microsoft has provided a method to programmatically manage your SQL Server Reporting Services environment using the “rs” utility. Greg Larsen shows you how to use this utility to publish and extract reports for Reporting Services, as well as how to move reports from one Reporting Services folder to another. If you are using SQL Server […]

As a database developer or DBA there is not a lot you can do about a legitimate user sharing confidential data. However, you can minimize the risks of someone breaking into our database and browsing around to find confidential information. This article explores how you can use SQL Server features to encrypt your confidential data. […]

Having a good set of indexes on your SQL Server database is critical to performance. Efficient indexes don’t happen by accident; they are designed to be efficient. Greg Larsen discusses whether primary keys should be clustered, when to use filtered indexes and what to consider when using the Fill Factor. This is the final installment […]

Indexes help your application find your data quickly and provide users with a well performing application, while minimizing server resources. This article discusses indexing guidelines related to join tables and covering indexes. This is the fourth article in my indexing guideline series. You need to develop indexes to help your application find your data quickly […]

Determining which columns to select for your indexes is critical. Having a little knowledge of how your application is using your database columns and how SQL Server processes indexes helps you make good decisions when you create your indexes. In my last two articles (Database Indexing Development Lifecycle…Say What? & The Dos and Don’ts of […]

It always seems like the creation of indexes on a database are always the last thing developers and database designers think about when designing a database. Indexes are almost an afterthought. Developers seem to only place indexes on tables after they notice one of their queries are running slow. In addition, many times that does […]

With the introduction of SQL Server 2008 came some new features. One of those new features is Resource Governor. With this new feature, you can control resource allocations based on rules. In this article I will explain how to setup resource governor, how to use it and the limitations associated with this new resource allocation […]