Author: Steve Stedman

In the realm of database management, ensuring optimal performance of your SQL Server is not just a technical necessity but a business imperative. At Stedman Solutions, we recognize that a sluggish or inefficient SQL Server can hinder operations, frustrate users, and impact your bottom line. That’s why we specialize in comprehensive performance assessments designed to identify bottlenecks and unlock the full potential of your database environment. A SQL Server Optimization Assessment from Stedman Solutions goes beyond surface-level checks to deliver …

SQL Server Performance Assessment: Boost Efficiency with Stedman Solutions Read more »

Database performance is a critical factor in ensuring that applications run smoothly and efficiently, and index management plays a pivotal role in this equation. Indexes can transform sluggish queries into lightning-fast operations by providing SQL Server with efficient pathways to data. However, the art of index management lies in finding the sweet spot—too many or too few indexes can tip the scales toward inefficiency, storage bloat, or performance bottlenecks. Striking the right balance in index management requires a deep understanding …

Database Performance: How to Balance Index Management for Optimal Results Read more »

Learn about SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD wait type in SQL Server: uncover causes like CPU contention and solutions for performance tuning with expert tips. This wait type surfaces when a task voluntarily relinquishes its CPU time to allow other tasks to run, a natural part of SQL Server’s cooperative scheduling model. However, when these waits become frequent or prolonged, they can point to underlying issues that degrade system performance, making it crucial to understand their implications. At its core, SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD reflects the pressure …

Decoding SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD Wait Type in SQL Server: Causes and Solutions Read more »

In the world of database management, maintaining optimal performance is an ongoing challenge. One crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the management of indexes. While indexes can significantly enhance query performance, having too many of them can lead to issues when it comes to inserts, updates, and deletes. In this blog post, we’ll explore the delicate balance of index management and discuss strategies to identify and remove unnecessary indexes without compromising system stability. The Dilemma of Too Many Indexes …

Dangers of Removing Indexes Read more »

Managing table sizes in SQL Server is an essential task for any database administrator looking to maintain optimal performance and efficient storage usage. Large or rapidly growing tables can lead to slower queries, increased backup times, and potential bottlenecks. In this post, we’ll explore practical methods to check table sizes using T-SQL scripts and introduce helpful tools to simplify the process. Knowing the size of your tables isn’t just about keeping track of storage; it’s about making informed decisions to …

How to Check Table Sizes in SQL Server Using T-SQL and Tools Read more »

Optimize SQL Server Performance Tuning Results with CrystalDiskMark, a key tool for disk benchmarking to ensure fast queries and efficient database management. The speed and efficiency of your storage system directly influence how quickly SQL Server can execute queries, manage transactions, and handle backups. Ignoring this critical component can lead to frustrating bottlenecks that impact the entire database environment. This is where a tool like CrystalDiskMark becomes invaluable. As a free and user-friendly benchmarking utility, CrystalDiskMark allows you to measure …

CrystalDiskMark: Optimize SQL Server Performance with Disk Benchmarking Read more »

In the realm of SQL Server Optimization optimization, small tweaks can yield substantial results, especially when dealing with high-traffic components like TempDB. One such tweak involves the use of Trace Flag 1118, a powerful yet often underutilized tool that can significantly reduce contention and enhance TempDB efficiency. If your SQL Server environment struggles with TempDB bottlenecks, understanding this trace flag could be a game-changer. TempDB is a critical system database in SQL Server, heavily utilized for temporary objects, sorting operations, …

SQL Server Trace Flag 1118: Boost TempDB Performance & Reduce Contention Read more »

You run a query against a table. The column is indexed. The statistics are fresh. And yet the query does a full scan, takes ten times longer than it should, and you have no idea why. The code looks correct. The data looks correct. Nothing looks wrong. The culprit is a single mismatched data type, and SQL Server fixed it for you without saying a word. What is an implicit conversion? Every comparison SQL Server makes requires both sides to …

SQL Code Smells: Implicit Conversions Read more »

When TempDB Grows “Up and to the Right”: How RCSI and Open Transactions Quietly Break SQL Server One of the most dangerous SQL Server problems is the one you don’t notice until the disk is full and production is down. TempDB is especially good at failing this way—quietly growing in the background until it suddenly becomes everyone’s problem. Recently, we were reviewing the TempDB Allocation History Report, and it perfectly illustrated an issue we’re seeing more often as READ COMMITTED …

When TempDB Grows “Up and to the Right”: How RCSI and Open Transactions Quietly Break SQL Server Read more »

Stop Guessing When SQL Agent Jobs Run: Visualizing Job History with Sortable Timeline Charts This blog post idea centers on a problem every SQL Server DBA has faced at some point: trying to understand when SQL Agent jobs actually run and how often they fire. It often starts with a simple question such as what runs at three in the morning, whether jobs are overlapping, or why performance slows during certain windows. The frustration quickly sets in when the only …

Stop Guessing When SQL Agent Jobs Run: Visualizing Job History with Sortable Timeline Charts Read more »