Indexing is a critical part of database optimization. Indexing can dramatically increase query speed. However, DBAs still struggle with finding optimal indexes or optimal SQL plans. DBTA held a ...

For developers working with SQL Server, few performance tuning techniques are as essential--or as frequently misunderstood--as indexing. Done right, indexing can drastically improve application ...

Dave the DBA adds an index to a table to improve a report query that takes over an hour to run. Now it takes 10 minutes. Dave is a hero. But not for long. Later in the week, he'll find himself ...

The indexes on a the tables of a large database make a huge difference in its performance and utility. Without an index, locating a single record in a large table can take several seconds; with the ...

First introduced in SQL Server 2012, columnstore indexes can give you major performance gains -- provided you have the right workloads. Here's how columnstore indexes work and what types of data work ...

While SQL Server 2008 was little more than a service-pack level upgrade, the 2012 version of Microsoft’s database has a boatload of new features and delivers solid performance improvements.

I wanted to get some suggestions for scheduled maintenace on a SQL Server 2000 box that is hosting a relatively small database (<=13GB). I already have a weekly integrity check that reorganizes data ...

From performance to programmability, the right database makes all the difference. Here are 13 key questions to guide your selection. Picking the “right” database can often be critical to the success ...