Category: Microsoft SQL Server

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


  • 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…

    Read More


  • 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…

    Read More


  • 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…

    Read More


  • Install/Uninstall SQL Server via Command

    Installing and uninstalling SQL Server via command line can be useful, especially in environments without a GUI. In this guide, I’ll walk through installing SQL Server on Windows Server Core, in a local Hyper-V test environment. At the end I’ll also uninstall SQL Server from a PowerShell terminal…

    Read More


  • Resolving “Windows could not start the SQL Server”

    If you encounter the message “Windows could not start the SQL Server on 127.0.0.1”, it signifies a problem preventing the SQL Server service from starting properly. This error is broad and can stem from various causes. Diagnosing the Issue To uncover the root cause, we can check Windows…

    Read More


  • Resolving “Index was out of range” in SSMS

    This post is here to help if you’ve encountered the following error while performing a task in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): Index was out of range. Must be non-negative and less than the size of the collection. Parameter name: index (mscorlib) In my experience, I’ve seen this…

    Read More


  • Creating a Linked Server for a PostgreSQL Database

    This is a post on how to create a Linked Server to a PostgreSQL database. In my previous post, I created a Linked Server to another SQL Server instance. This time, it’s a link to a Postgres database. I recommend checking out my other post for pre-requisite information…

    Read More


  • Creating a Linked Server to SQL Server

    Linked Servers in SQL Server allow you to query external databases, such as remote SQL Server instances, Oracle, ODBC or MS Access databases. It provides easy query access to another database server for users, however it’s not the most efficient ways to do it. The following steps should…

    Read More


  • How to Set Database Growth Sizes in SQL Server

    In SQL Server, database growth events occur when a database file reaches its maximum allocated size, triggering an automatic expansion to accommodate additional data. These growth events are needed for maintaining sufficient space but can also lead to performance issues if not properly managed. Configuring a good database…

    Read More