Microsoft SQL Server Consultant
Blog posts relating to SQL Performance Tuning.
SQL Server tuning is the process of optimizing the database’s configuration, queries, and infrastructure to ensure the system runs as efficiently as possible. The goal is to reduce resource usage, increase query speed, and improve overall system responsiveness. Performance tuning involves analyzing server performance metrics, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions that range from hardware upgrades to query rewriting. These optimizations are crucial for maintaining a smooth user experience and supporting business-critical applications.
A key aspect of performance tuning is query optimization. Poorly written SQL queries, missing indexes, or incorrect indexing strategies often lead to slow query execution. By using tools such as execution plans and SQL Profiler, DBAs can identify and correct inefficiencies in SQL code. Techniques like index tuning, query rewriting, and partitioning can drastically reduce query execution times. Regularly updating statistics and reorganizing or rebuilding indexes further enhances query performance and ensures accurate query plans.
Beyond queries, performance tuning also focuses on the SQL Server environment itself. Configuring server settings, adjusting memory allocation, and fine-tuning I/O operations play a significant role in optimizing database performance. Monitoring tools like Database Health Monitor (available at DatabaseHealth.com) provide insights into server health and potential issues. Stedman Solutions offers comprehensive SQL Server performance tuning services, combining years of experience with specialized tools to ensure your SQL Server environment performs at its peak. Learn more about our managed services at Stedman Solutions.
Take the following sample code. Four similar tables with an INT IDENTITY, BIGINT IDENTITY, and two with UNIQUEIDENTIFIERS, one using newid() and the other with newsequentialid(). Once the tables are created and we insert 100,000 rows into each, they are very similar, but they take up very different amounts of disk space. Using the Database Health Reports application, we …
Should I Use A Unique Identifier As A Primary Key? Read more »
As I have been creating the Database Health project over the last couple of months, I have discovered that my favorite part of the whole project is the index defragmentation part of the project. This has turned out to be more challenging that I originally expected, but a lot more interesting than I expected as well. Yesterday I discovered a …
Originally I implemented the Database Health Reports as a series of SQL Server Reporting Services reports, which was very handy and easy to create, but hard to distribute in a way that they could be shared and customized to the needs of a project like the Database Health Reports should be. Here is what I have so far, and I think …
Late last year and early this year, I created a collection of report in SSRS that I called SQL Server Health reports. Some of the things that the Server Health report evaluates are the following Index Fragmentation Big One Time Use Queries Long Running Queries Duplicate Indexes CPU Utilization Database Size Backup Set Statistics But…. I have found it very challenging to …
SQL Server Health Reports — Working on Version 2 Read more »
I added 2 new reports Top Cache Queries and Top CPU Queries into the Server Health Reports. Here is a screen shot of the latest report, the Top CPU Queries report: Enjoy….
I spent the day today at SQL Saturday in Vancouver BC. I met some fabulous SQL Server professionals, and presented 2 sessions. The first Session was on Unleashing Common Table Expressions in SQL Server. This was the second time that I presented this one, the first was at a SQL Saturday, the first time was SQL Saturday 108 in …
In preparation for my presentation at SQL Saturday in Vancouver BC tomorrow, I have updated the SQL Server Health Reports. As I was preparing for my presentation I discovered a few areas that I wanted to improve on the layout, sorting and overall presentation. Too late for the presentation tomorrow, but I started on the next new report to add …
The SQL Server Health Reports have been updated. As part of preparing for my SQL Saturday 114 presentation next weekend in Vancouver BC, I have updated the SQL Server Health Reports one more time. The latest update included lots of minor UI fixup making the reports look better. Including more summary detail on the main Health Report. Also, additional details …
In preparation for SQL Saturday 114 in Vancouver on March 17th, I have been updating and finalizing the SQL Server Health Reports. The upload today contains the largest number of changes since I created the SQL Server Health Reports. Before this update, the SQL Server Health Reports was just a bunch of reports for reporting on your database. One big change is the …
Top IO Report