How to get your dream job – Webinar recording

July 9, 2018 Andy 1

I recently presented for the PASS Professional Development virtual group with my session “How to get your dream job: resume & job hunting tips.” When I’m speaking at SQLSaturdays and User Groups, I frequently meet people looking to advance their career, make a career change, … [Read More]

Generating artificial CPU load 🔥

June 14, 2018 Andy 0

I was recently asked: For testing, I need to generate artificial CPU load on the server, outside of SQL Server. Do you have any ideas? Maybe something with PowerShell? I quickly replied: Heck yea, PowerShell can do that. I mean, I knew PowerShell could do … [Read More]

Is that share using SMBv1?

June 13, 2018 Andy 4

In case you’ve missed it (though, if you’re a data professional or other IT pro, you must live under a rock if you’ve missed it), SMBv1 should never ever be used. Alas, some shares out there still exist & use it. Recent Windows updates have … [Read More]

Configuring Replication with Availability Groups

February 23, 2018 Andy 5

I’ve used replication and Availability Groups together before. Replication works great with an AG as both a publisher or a subscriber (though, not as a distributor–you can’t add the distribution database to an AG).  I was surprised when I recently ran into a problem configuring … [Read More]

TSQL Tuesday #99: Tabs vs Spaces

February 13, 2018 Andy 3

The great tabs vs spaces debate is often framed as a matter of opinion or coding style. “As long as you’re consistent, it doesn’t matter.” Keep in mind that unlike your choice in footwear, coding style can’t be personal. I’m going to draw a line in the sand and say that tabs, like Crocs and mullets, are bad style.

TSQL Tuesday #99: SQL Tourism

February 13, 2018 Andy 2

When I started travelling to speak at SQL Server events, I committed that I would make the most of it. To me, that means a lot more than just attending the event where I’m speaking. Sure, I want to learn and network at the event, but it means more than that, too. It means actually seeing the city where I’m speaking. It means enjoying the entire trip.

Parsing file names from paths using T-SQL

January 17, 2018 Andy 14

SQL Server is great at a lot of things. I spend a lot of time blogging about all the cool things that SQL Server does. But (you knew there was a “but”, didn’t you) SQL Server isn’t great at everything. Lets write about something that … [Read More]