Author: stevestedman

When working with databases, the SQL LIKE operator is a powerful tool for pattern matching in queries. However, its performance can vary drastically depending on how it’s used, particularly when a wildcard character, such as the percent sign (%), is placed at the beginning of the search pattern. This seemingly small detail—known as a leading wildcard—can have a significant impact on query execution time and resource usage, often leading to full table scans instead of leveraging indexes. In this post, …

Leading Wildcards in LIKE Clauses Read more »

Database Health Monitor is a powerful tool for managing and optimizing SQL Server Performance, and one of its standout features is the dbAssistant. Available at the Server Overview panel, the Database Overview panel, and integrated into many reports, dbAssistant is designed to simplify database maintenance by proactively scanning for common issues and providing actionable solutions. What is dbAssistant? dbAssistant is an intelligent scanning tool that analyzes your SQL Server environment to identify potential problems that could impact performance or data …

Exploring the dbAssistant Feature in Database Health Monitor Read more »

Schema changes in SQL Server are often treated as routine. A table gets altered, an index is added, a procedure is updated, and everyone moves on. But when something breaks, performance suddenly degrades, or an application starts behaving differently, one of the first questions is always the same: What changed? In many environments, that question is surprisingly hard to answer. The Invisible Problem with DDL Changes DDL operations don’t show up in query performance charts. They don’t always trigger alerts. …

Tracking Schema Changes with Database Health Monitor Read more »

SQL Server Corruption Class – Learn How to Prepare and React Welcome to our deep dive into the critical topic of SQL Server corruption. In this comprehensive class, we’ll explore the ins and outs of preparing for and mitigating the risks associated with database corruption. Whether you’re a database administrator, IT professional, or business owner relying on SQL Server for mission-critical data, understanding how to safeguard your systems is paramount. Corruption can strike unexpectedly, leading to data loss, downtime, and …

SQL Server Corruption Class – Learn How to Prepare Read more »

Why Stedman Solutions Should Be Your SQL Server Consultant If you’re looking for a reliable SQL Server consultant to enhance your database environment’s performance, stability, and security, look no further than Stedman Solutions. Here’s why you should consider us: 1. True SQL Server Specialists Stedman Solutions is dedicated exclusively to SQL Server. Unlike general IT consultants, we focus 100% on SQL Server, enabling us to offer in-depth expertise across all areas, including Performance Tuning, Disaster Recovery, and high availability. Our …

We Can Be Your SQL Server Consultant Read more »

The Silent Killer in Your SQL Server: TempDB Version Store Growth The Silent Killer in Your SQL Server: TempDB Version Store Growth How an invisible process can bring your entire database environment to its knees — and how to detect it early. A Client’s Nightmare: The Day Everything Stopped Last month I got an urgent call from a client. Their production SQL Server had completely locked up. Queries were timing out, users were panicking, and the application was essentially dead. …

How Version Store Bloat Can Bring SQL Server to a Halt and How Database Health Monitor Helps You Catch It Early Read more »

Reasons for Queries with Multiple Execution Plans and How to Find Them SQL Server Performance Tuning often involves identifying and optimizing problematic queries. One common issue that can impact performance is when a single query generates multiple execution plans. Understanding why this happens and how to detect these queries can significantly improve your database performance. Let’s delve into the reasons behind multiple execution plans, including the impact of non-parameterized queries, and the methods to identify them. Why Do Queries Generate …

Multiple Plans – How to Find Them Read more »