Tag: Database Admin

Database Admin Blog Archives: Includes practical guides, troubleshooting strategies, and best practices, written by an experienced Microsoft SQL Server DBA.


  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • 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…

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  • Setting Maximum Database File Sizes in SQL Server

    This post shares how to set maximum database file sizes in SQL Server, capping your database file size limits for proper disk space management. Configuring maximum database file sizes in SQL Server is often considered a safeguard or tactical measure rather than a primary strategy. Ideally, you want…

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  • How to Move Temp DB Files in SQL Server

    It’s a solid best practice to store temp db files on a separate drive, away from your C: drive. This is because temp db can grow very large, very quickly, sometimes within minutes depending on workloads. This growth affects both the temp db data (.ndf) and log (.ldf)…

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  • Attaching SQL Databases Without Log Files

    In a perfect world, you’d never lose a database log file. But when the unexpected happens and you urgently need the data from a database, knowing how to attach a SQL Server database without its log (.ldf) file can be a lifesaver. This guide walks you through the…

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  • SQL Server Backup & Restore WITH FILE Option

    When you back up a SQL Server database, multiple backups can be stored in a single file. The WITH FILE = X option allows you to choose a specific backup version from a single backup file. Here’s what happens: – WITH FILE = 1: Restores the first backup…

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  • How to Quickly Get Table Sizes in SQL Server

    Monitoring table sizes in SQL Server is crucial for effective database management. For a detailed guide covering various methods, including built-in reports and custom scripts, please refer to my latest article on this: How to Check Table Sizes in SQL Server. In this guide, we’ll show a few…

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