In today’s data-driven environments, SQL Server performance is not just about fast queries, efficient indexes — it also heavily depends on how well your database communicates over the network. Whether it is a slow application response, timeout errors, or replication delays, the network often plays an invisible but critical role. As DBAs, we tend to focus on CPU, memory, and disk — yet overlooking network performance can leave significant bottlenecks unresolved.
This guide will walk you through essential network-related metrics, troubleshooting techniques, and tuning tips to ensure your SQL Server operates smoothly. Let’s decode what is happening between your servers — and keep the data flowing efficiently.
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When it comes to SQL Server performance, disk I/O is often one of the most critical and overlooked components. While CPU and memory get much of the spotlight, the underlying storage subsystem plays a foundational role in how efficiently SQL Server can read and write data. Slow or misconfigured disk I/O can lead to query bottlenecks, long transaction times, and degraded user experience—especially under heavy workloads.
This guide helps DBAs understand how SQL Server interacts with storage, how to monitor disk I/O, and how to optimize it for better performance. From key metrics to practical tuning tips, you will gain the insights needed to keep your SQL Server running smoothly at the storage layer.
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I was reviewing my index rebuild and recreate activities. Some index rebuilding tasks are scheduled once or twice a week. I followed the best practices for the activities. However, it was not yielding expected performance gain. So, wondering what could be going wrong! Are there any hidden issues hindering the performance? I kept searching for potential clues in my favourite SQL Server gurus writing and compiled the hidden facts. Let's share my findings with you.
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When it comes to SQL Server performance tuning, few settings spark as much debate as MAXDOP—Maximum Degree of Parallelism. This small but powerful configuration controls how many processors SQL Server can use to execute a single query in parallel. While parallelism can speed up queries, it can also lead to unexpected issues like CPU pressure, query blocking, or inconsistent performance across workloads.
In this article, we will explore what MAXDOP really does, why it matters, and how to configure it wisely to strike the right balance between speed and stability in your SQL Server environment.
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