Author: Peter Whyte


  • What’s New in the SQL Server 2019 Installation Wizard

    SQL Server 2019 was released on November 4, 2019, at Microsoft Ignite, following months of testing with release candidates. In this post, I’ll share my experience with the SQL Server 2019 installation wizard, highlighting key features and improvements that will be useful for DBAs. Key Features of SQL…

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  • Domain Join Sanity Checks

    In order to join a Windows Server to a domain, you may need to request that the network team open certain firewall rules. The network requirements for this process can be complex and may vary depending on your specific environment. After joining a domain, especially in a new…

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  • How to Create MySQL Databases & Tables

    Setting up MySQL databases and tables is a foundational skill for database administrators and developers. Whether you’re using Windows, Linux, or a cloud environment, this guide is aimed to help you create databases and tables in MySQL. Topics covered: > Create a MySQL Database> The USE DATABASE Command>…

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  • How to Remove Old Windows Upgrade Files

    When your machine is upgraded to a newer version of Windows, it leaves behind the C:\Windows.old directory. This folder contains backups of the previous Windows version and can take up significant disk space. Important Note:The Windows.old folder allows you to roll back to the previous Windows version. If…

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  • How to Install MySQL on a Windows Computer

    Installing MySQL on a Windows computer is a straightforward process, however selecting the right options is key for a smooth setup. This is a simple how to for installing MySQL Community Server and MySQL Workbench on Windows. I recommend you walk through this yourself if learning MySQL and…

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  • How to Run Scheduled Tasks with SQL Server Express

    SQL Server Express lacks SQL Server Agent, which means scheduling tasks like index maintenance, backups, and other recurring operations requires an alternative approach. The best way to achieve this is by using Windows Task Scheduler with sqlcmd and a batch script. In this guide, we will walk through…

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  • sqlcmd Examples (SQL Server)

    The sqlcmd utility allows you to execute Transact-SQL commands directly from the command line using ODBC, enabling SQL Server batch execution without the need for a GUI. This post contains sqlcmd examples to help you understand it more. sqlcmd is essential for running SQL queries, automating tasks, and…

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  • How to Rename Schema’s in SQL Server

    Changing the schema of a table in SQL Server can be a rare task for database administrators but a more common requirement for database developers. This guide walks through how to move a table from one schema to another using the ALTER SCHEMA statement. During my time as…

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  • Adding & Removing SQL Features via Command

    This post will guide you on how to add and remove features from SQL Server via the command line. The process includes checking installed features, installing a new feature (such as replication), and uninstalling a feature when no longer needed. The following areas will be covered within this…

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