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[Features]

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Running SQL Server in a Virtual Server Environment
Find out if virtualizing your SQL Server deployment is the right option for your organization.
 — Alan Sugano


Working with Estimated Query Execution Plans
If you want to be able to see the complexity and size of queries, consider implementing estimated execution plans in your organization.
 — Tyler Chessman

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[Columns]

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Sharpen Your Basic SQL Server Skills
DBAs get answers to basic Structured Query Language (SQL) questions on the difference between FILLFACTOR = 0 and FILLFACTOR = 100; ISNULL and NULLIF; clustered index and nonclustered index; % used as wildcard and % used as operator; TRUNCATE and DELETE.
 — Pinalkumar Dave

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[Editorial]

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VMs vs. Multiple SQL Server Instances
Many organizations have adopted running multiple VMs on a single hardware platform as a server consolidation method, but virtualization isn’t the only solution. Find out how virtualization and multiple SQL server instances compare.
 — Michael Otey

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[Reader to Reader]

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Strim Strips Out Non-Alphanumeric Characters
Although SQL Server offers a variety of string functions, it doesn't have a function that strips out non-alphanumeric characters. Here's a user-defined function to fill that gap.
 — Readers

T-SQL Stored Procedure Creates Trace Tables from Trace Files
LoadTraceFileToTable loads the data from a trace file into a trace table so that you can easily sort and analyze that data.
 — Eli Leiba


Tracking for Your SQL Server Agent Jobs
It used to be difficult to answer questions such as "When was the last time this job was run?" and "What jobs will be affected if we bring down the system for maintenance?" With the cspJobMonitor procedure that's no longer the case.
 — Readers

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[Inside SQL Server]

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Managing Plan-Cache Size
SQL Server 2005 doesn’t limit plan-cache size but still provides ways to control it. Learn how to keep an eye on cache size and tricks to trim down a bloated cache to improve performance.
 — Kalen Delaney

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[Solutions by Design]

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Data Warehousing: Dimensional Role-Playing
Dimensional roles can play many different parts in an accumulating snapshot fact table. Find out how dimensional role-playing can benefit your star schema.
 — Michelle A. Poolet

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[T-SQL Black Belt]

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SQL Server Read-Consistency Problems, Part 1
This two-part series promises to shed some light on the way reads behave in different scenarios, as well as the consistency level you should expect in each scenario.
 — Itzik Ben-Gan

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[New Products]

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New Products
Check out new and improved SQL Server-related products.
 — Jeff James

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[SELECT TOP(X)]

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SQL Server Virtualization FAQs
Virtualization can prevent server sprawl—but SQL Server workloads can be tricky to virtualize. Here are answers to your virtualization FAQs that can help you tackle this intriguing task.
 — Michael Otey

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[Review]

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PolyServe Database Utility for SQL Server
HP PolyServe Database Utility for SQL Server offers simplified consolidation and failover for SQL Server but requires careful planning to install.
 — Ron Talmage

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[Cover Story]

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SQL Server Trends in 2008
Learn which Microsoft and third-party products will have the tools you need to stay on top of SQL Server development, administration, and business intelligence (BI) challenges in the coming year.
 — Megan Keller , et al.

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[Sqlmag.com Community Dialog]

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Want to Talk SQL Server? Check out the Sqlmag.com Forums
The SQL Server Magazine forums have been especially lively lately, with a thoughtful exchange about backup and restore and readers’ feedback. Find out how to join the conversation.
 — Anne Grubb

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[Eye on BI]

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Getting MDX to Work in Reporting Services
Annoyed by the fact that SSRS restricts the structure of the MDX queries you’re allowed to write? We've got a workaround or two that can help.
 — Chris Webb