In my team, there are three types of people.
One group is always excited about new things—latest devices, new OS versions, new tools, or AI models. The moment a new SQL Server version is released, their first question is, "When are we upgrading?"
Another group prefers stability over everything. Their philosophy is simple: "If something works, do not touch it until it breaks."
And then third group is quiet observers, who usually support others.
So whenever the topic of SQL Server migration or version update comes up, it turns into a familiar dilemma—should we move forward or stay with older version?
Over time, I have realized that this is not just a team discussion. It is a common challenge for every DBA, and the answer requires more than just preference or instinct.
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Blocking and locking issues are among the most common—and frustrating—challenges a DBA faces in SQL Server. A single blocked session can quickly escalate into widespread performance degradation, leaving users complaining while the root cause remains hidden. In such situations, having the right tool is critical. In this article, we will explore how sp_WhoIsActive helps you quickly identify blocking chains, understand locking behavior, and take effective action to resolve the issue with confidence.
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Long-running queries are one of the most common causes of SQL Server performance issues. When a query runs for an unusually long time, it can consume excessive CPU, memory, or IO resources and may also block other sessions.
In such situations, quickly identifying the problematic query becomes critical for DBAs. In this series of article on sp_WhoIsActive, we will explore how sp_WhoIsActive can help you to detect long-running queries and understand what they are doing inside SQL Server. Let's start.
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When SQL Server performance sucks, "Just reboot it." is common phrase from one of my colleagues. And surprisingly, it often seems to fix the problem. However, the improvement is usually temporary. Restarting SQL Server clears the buffer cache, execution plan cache, and other diagnostic data, which can hide the real root cause. In this article, we will explore why rebooting appears to improve performance and why you should avoid this bad habit.
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