SQL Server 2016 : Getting tempdb a Little More Right

Aaron Bertrand has written a nice blog post about tempdb improvements in SQL Server 2016. You can read more from http://blogs.sqlsentry.com/aaronbertrand/sql-server-2016-tempdb-fixes/.

The most important feature for me is ability to configure multiple files to tempdb during the installation. Currently, you need to do this manually and restart the server which will not be required with SQL Server 2016. In the configuration it also check the number of cores and provide the guide line as well.

What is the SQL Server 2016 Query Data Store?

Query Data Store in SQL Server 2016 is intended as a service that monitors and optimizes query plans with full history of query execution. Query Data Store can help diagnose performance problems that are related to plan changes.

What it does:

1. Stores the history of query plans
2. Captures performance data for each query plan
3. Identifies the most expensive queries and earmarks those queries that have degraded or gotten slower over time
4. Gives you the ability to force old plans, should a new plan cause performance issues (almost like a system restore for Windows computers)
5. Easily fixes plan regressions
6. Analyzes workload patterns
7. De-risks SQL Server upgrades with restart and failover

Read more http://windowsitpro.com/sql-server-2016/what-sql-server-2016-query-data-store

Microsoft Virtual Labs for SQL Server 2016

If you want have experience about SQL Server 2016, Microsoft Virtual Labs provides it for you. There are seven labs up to now. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/virtuallabs

Microsoft Releases First Public Preview of SQL Server 2016

The first public preview of Microsoft's SQL Server 2016 database is available, and testers can opt for faster, more frequent updates to it.
Microsoft is making available to anyone who wants to kick the tires a first public preview release of its coming SQL Server 2016 on-premises database.


Read more http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-releases-first-public-preview-of-sql-server-2016/

Shopping Basket Analysis in SQL Server

A famous super market chain in USA once observed that men who are buying beer for weekend tend to buy nappies for their kids. This revelation enabled the chain in increase sales volume and revenue by placing the items in close proximity to each other. An alternative approach would have been to move the items apart to encourage store exploration.
Read how to improve your sales using shopping basket analysis.

http://www.sql-server-performance.com/2015/shopping-basket-analysis-sql-server/

Support for SQL Server 2005 Ends April 12, 2016

oduct expiration is a fact of life. And, no matter how much we love a product or no matter how long we cling to its familiar interface, we eventually have to give up on it.

Such is the case with SQL Server 2005. SQL Server 2005 is the next in a running lot of product expirations, with the end of support date being April 12, 2016.  Released 10 years ago, this version of Microsoft's database product is still in use in a huge number of implementations. So, it goes without saying that, just like we've seen with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, some organizations will have a tough time letting go.

Read more at http://windowsitpro.com/sql-server-2005/reminder-support-sql-server-2005-ends-april-12-2016

Important Soft Skills for the Entry-Level Data Professional

Nice article about soft skills. Read more at http://sqlmag.com/database-administration/important-soft-skills-entry-level-data-professional

MSSQL Server 2016 coming with JSON Support

With over a thousand votes on the Microsoft Connect site, JSON support is the most requested feature for SQL Server 2016. This month, Microsoft announced that the upcoming release of SQL Server 2016 will fulfill that request. Sort of.

Microsoft will certainly be touting this feature as an additional reason to upgrade when the time comes. Natively supporting JSON helps bridge the gap between the desirable aspects of a NoSQL database and a relational database like SQL Server. The trouble is that with this current implementation, you're not really gaining anything over what's currently available. It's nothing like the native XML data type that became available starting with SQL Server 2005.

Read more at http://www.itworld.com/article/2925117/enterprise-software/mssql-server-2016-coming-with-json-support-not-really.html

Microsoft Releases New Version of SP1 for SQL Server 2014

The much-troubled Service Pack 1 for SQL Server 2014 has its latest revision, and allegedly resolves significant problems that made SQL stop working for numerous customers.

The service pack originally was originally released last month, but Microsoft pulled it on that same month because of an installation problem. The updated SP1 (build 12.0.4100.1) is now available at this download page, dated 5/14/2015.

More at https://virtualizationreview.com/articles/2015/05/18/microsoft-releases-new-version-of-sp1-for-sql-server-2014.aspx

How To Remove the Identity Column in SQL Server

Setting the identity property on a table when it is created is a simple task. The below snippet will create table called SampleTable with ID column which has an identity property.

Read http://www.sql-server-performance.com/2015/remove-identity-column-sql-server/