SQL DBA Blog

Category: Microsoft SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server Blog which includes troubleshooting, performance tuning, and database administration guides from an experienced SQL DBA, Peter Whyte.

  • How to Apply Force Encryption in SQL Server

    If you’re planning to allow external connections to a SQL Server, one of the first security measures to implement is encryption, both at rest and in transit. SQL Server provides an option to force encryption for all connections, ensuring secure SQL connectivity. This guide walks you through the…

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  • Include Execution Trace Messages in SQL Server Error Logs

    Execution trace messages in SQL Server Agent error logs can be helpful for diagnosing issues. This guide explains how to enable this option. Logs are always important if you’re supporting systems. The SQL Server Agent is used very often by DBA’s and Software Devs, so writing execution trace…

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  • Backing up a SQL Server Database with Encryption

    Backing up a SQL Server database with encryption is an essential practice when dealing with sensitive data, particularly if backups are stored off-site or include private customer information. SQL Server provides a secure method to back up databases using encryption by specifying an encryption certificate with the BACKUP…

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  • How to Backup a SQL Server Certificate

    Backing up SQL Server certificates is essential if you use them, especially for encrypted database backups that may need restoration on another server. This guide explains how to securely back up a SQL Server certificate and its private key. Backing up a SQL Server Certificate 1. Check Existing…

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  • How to Check Features Installed in SQL Server

    This guide explains how to check which features are installed on a SQL Server instance. When downgrading from SQL Server Enterprise to Standard, checking the installed features is crucial to ensure compatibility and avoid losing critical functionality. Some Enterprise features may not be available in the Standard edition,…

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  • How to Install SQL Server on Linux

    As from SQL Server 2017, we now have support for running our favorite RDMS on Linux, as well as Windows! This guide walks you through installing SQL Server 2019 on Red Hat Linux, setting up command-line tools, and connecting both locally and remotely. Hope it helps! Topics Included:…

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  • How to Enable TCP/IP Connections in SQL Server

    Some network protocols, like TCP/IP, are disabled by default in SQL Server. To allow TCP connections, you need to enable them and restart the SQL Server service. Here’s a simple guide to do this via GUI & command: :> Option 1: Enable TCP/IP via SQL Server Configuration Manager.…

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  • 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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  • 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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