Author: stevestedman

By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Performance Tuning

Understanding MAXDOP SQL Server Settings: What They Are and How They Work In SQL Server, optimizing query performance often requires fine-tuning the MAXDOP (Maximum Degree of Parallelism) setting. If you’ve come across discussions about max degree of parallelism in SQL Server, you might wonder what it is, how it works, and why it matters. This blog post explains the essentials of MAXDOP, how it impacts query execution, and the best practices for configuring it in your SQL Server environment. What …

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By Posted on Posted in Wait Stats in SQL Server

Understanding the SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD Wait Type in SQL Server The SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD wait type is one of the most commonly encountered waits in SQL Server. It indicates that a task is voluntarily yielding its CPU time to allow other tasks to execute. While it’s normal to see some SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD waits, excessive occurrences can signal a performance bottleneck. In this post, we’ll explore what this wait type means, when it’s problematic, how to diagnose it, and steps you can take to resolve it …

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By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Consulting Services

SQL Health Check Report: How Stedman Solutions Can Help Optimize Your SQL Server Environment A well-maintained SQL Server environment is critical for business operations, but without regular monitoring, issues like slow queries, blocked processes, and inefficient configurations can creep in. At Stedman Solutions, we offer a comprehensive SQL health check report—also known as our Health Assessment or Performance Assessment—to identify problems, optimize performance, and provide actionable recommendations to keep your databases running smoothly. In this blog post, we’ll explore what’s …

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By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Consulting Services, SQL Server Corruption

How to Run DBCC CHECKDB – a beginners guide Ensuring the integrity of your SQL Server databases is essential to maintaining a healthy and reliable system. One of the most powerful tools for this purpose is DBCC CHECKDB. In this blog post, we’ll explain how to run DBCC CHECKDB, why it’s critical, and best practices for using it. What Is DBCC CHECKDB? DBCC CHECKDB is a Database Console Command that validates the structural and logical integrity of a SQL Server …

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By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Performance Tuning

Understanding SQL Server Cost Threshold for Parallelism When tuning SQL Server for performance, one important configuration setting is the Cost Threshold for Parallelism. This setting directly affects when SQL Server decides to execute a query in parallel, potentially speeding up large operations or, if misconfigured, overloading system resources. In this post, we’ll explore what the Cost Threshold for Parallelism is, how it works, and best practices for configuring it in your SQL Server environment. What is Cost Threshold for Parallelism? …

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By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Consulting Services

What is involved with a SQL Server Performance Assessment from Stedman Solutions A SQL Server Performance Assessment from Stedman Solutions is designed to uncover and resolve issues slowing down your SQL Server. Our in-depth analysis identifies performance bottlenecks and provides actionable recommendations to enhance the speed, stability, and scalability of your databases. Key Components of a SQL Server Performance Assessment Benefits of a Stedman Solutions SQL Server Performance Assessment Ready to Get Started? At Stedman Solutions, our SQL Server experts …

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By Posted on Posted in Uncategorized

Exploring Episode 6 of the Stedman SQL Server Podcast: New Features in Database Health Monitor In Episode 6 of the Stedman SQL Server Podcast, we look at the latest updates to Database Health Monitor (DBHM), a free tool designed to give SQL Server users clear insights into performance, reliability, and potential issues. We cover several new features and bug fixes in this episode that enhance DBHM’s functionality, provide better diagnostics, and add even more monitoring power to your SQL Server …

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By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Performance Tuning

Understanding SQL Server Isolation Levels: Choosing the Right One for Your Needs SQL Server isolation levels are a crucial part of managing database transactions. They control how transactions interact with each other, particularly regarding locking behavior, data visibility, and concurrency. By adjusting the isolation level, you can fine-tune the balance between data consistency and performance to match your specific application needs. Let’s explore each isolation level in SQL Server, how they impact your transactions, and best-use cases for each. 1. …

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By Posted on Posted in Files and IO

CrystalDiskMark: How It Helps Assess SQL Server Performance When managing a SQL Server environment, one key factor that often gets overlooked is disk performance. SQL Server relies heavily on the speed and throughput of the storage subsystem for database operations, making it critical to understand and measure disk performance regularly. This is where CrystalDiskMark can be a game-changer. What is CrystalDiskMark? CrystalDiskMark is a popular, free, and easy-to-use benchmarking tool that measures the performance of your storage devices, such as …

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By Posted on Posted in SQL Server Classes

Understanding SQL Server Full Join vs. Cross Join: What’s the Difference? When working with SQL Server, understanding the different types of joins is crucial for building effective and efficient queries. Two commonly misunderstood joins are the Full Join and the Cross Join. Let’s break down what each join does, when to use it, and how they compare. Full Join: Including All Data from Both Tables The Full Join (or Full Outer Join) is used when you need to retrieve all …

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