Blog Posts
- Who Changed the Schema? Find Out in SQL Server
See who changed the schema in SQL Server: the exact statement, login, host and application, captured by a DDL trigger you switch on per database. - Database Health Monitor Version 4 Has Been Released
We’re excited to announce that Database Health Monitor Version 4 is now available! Version 4 represents one of the biggest updates to Database Health Monitor since its original release. While the most obvious change is the completely redesigned interface, this release goes far beyond a visual refresh. We’ve rebuilt and improved nearly every part of the application to make it easier to understand what is happening inside your SQL Server environment and to provide more useful …Database Health Monitor Version 4 Has Been Released Read more →
- Find the SQL Server Deadlock Objects That Keep Colliding
See which SQL Server deadlock objects collide with each other, on what index, under what lock mode, and which one loses every time. - Who Is Connected to SQL Server, and What They’re Doing
See who is connected to SQL Server right now, colored by state, so you can tell a connection leak from normal pooling before resizing anything. - SQL Server Signal Wait Time: The Metric Everyone Skips
Learn what signal wait time means in SQL Server wait statistics, why it signals CPU pressure, and how to read it before blaming the disk. - Reading SQL Server Trace Flags: Where to Look First
See which SQL Server trace flags on an instance are still doing anything on the current build, and which ones vanish at the next restart. - Find SQL Server Unused Indexes Before They Cost You
Find SQL Server unused indexes with sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats, see the write cost of keeping them, and get a verdict on every row. - SQL Server Full Join vs Cross Join: Key Differences Explained
When querying data in SQL Server, selecting the right join type can dramatically shape both the results and efficiency of your queries. Full Joins and Cross Joins stand out as two options that frequently lead to mix-ups, given how differently they handle data from multiple tables. A Full Join pulls every record from both tables involved, inserting NULLs wherever no match exists on the join condition. By contrast, a Cross Join creates every possible pairing of …SQL Server Full Join vs Cross Join: Key Differences Explained Read more →
- SQL Server Historic Reporting: One Page, One Click
See SQL Server historic reporting in one place: plan cache hit ratio, page life expectancy, CPU, deadlocks, and file growth, trended together. - SQL Server Backup and Recovery Course
In the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, “If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail.” This timeless adage holds particular relevance when it comes to safeguarding your SQL Server databases. A failure to adequately prepare for data loss scenarios—be it due to hardware malfunctions, data corruption, or increasingly prevalent ransomware attacks—can have devastating consequences for your business. The Common Problem: Lack of Preparedness Despite the rising risks, it’s shocking how often we encounter businesses … - SQL Server TempDB Allocation: What’s Actually Filling It
SQL Server tempdb allocation splits into three bands, so a full tempdb points to code, a bad plan, or a long transaction instead of a guess. - Why New DBAs Should Take Our Backup and Recovery CourseTake advantage of this 25% discount on my Backup and Recovery Course for SQL Server and learn how to implement a comprehensive backup and recovery strategy for your organization. Here are some reasons to check out this class. Immediate Return on Investment: By mastering backup and recovery skills, you reduce the risk of costly downtime, data loss, and business disruptions, ensuring that your investment in this training pays for itself many times over. Access to Exclusive …
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- Logical Reads vs. Physical Reads
If you’ve spent time tuning SQL Server queries, you may have seen these two numbers side by side: logical reads and physical reads. Maybe you have seen one or the other be some absurdly high number and didn’t think much of it. But in reality they could be eye openers on behind the scenes query performance. The quick version Logical reads are pages a query can pull from the data cache — recently accessed pages stored … - Dangers of Removing Indexes
In the world of database management, maintaining optimal performance is an ongoing challenge. One crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the management of indexes. While indexes can significantly enhance query performance, having too many of them can lead to issues when it comes to inserts, updates, and deletes. In this blog post, we’ll explore the delicate balance of index management and discuss strategies to identify and remove unnecessary indexes without compromising system stability. The Dilemma … - What’s New in Database Health Monitor – August 2026 ReleaseVersion 1458 is now available. The headline addition is the new tray icon and Windows service, which lets you set up historic monitoring on servers where SQL Server Agent isn’t available to schedule the collection. Alongside that, there’s a new least-privilege role for granting access to monitoring data without granting sysadmin, several alerting enhancements, new and faster QuickScan checks, and a set of additions to the Query Loading Ramp load testing feature. New: Tray Icon and …
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- WRITELOG Wait Type in SQL Server: Causes, Diagnosis and Fixes
The WRITELOG wait type represents the time spent waiting for transaction log records to be written to disk, a fundamental step that ensures durability during data modifications. This wait becomes noticeable when applications perform frequent inserts, updates, or deletes, forcing the database engine to flush log buffers before committing changes. High WRITELOG waits often signal underlying storage limitations or inefficient transaction patterns that increase the volume of log flushes. When these waits accumulate, they can slow …WRITELOG Wait Type in SQL Server: Causes, Diagnosis and Fixes Read more →
- SQL Server Table Use Report: Track Last Queried Tables in Database Health Monitor
In today’s data-driven landscape, SQL Server databases form the backbone of countless business applications, handling everything from real-time transactions to long-term analytics. Yet within these complex systems, tables vary widely in their activity levels—some see constant queries while others sit idle, quietly consuming storage and complicating maintenance. Gaining clear visibility into actual table usage patterns is essential for improving performance, controlling costs, and strengthening security. The Table Use Report in Database Health Monitor addresses this need …SQL Server Table Use Report: Track Last Queried Tables in Database Health Monitor Read more →
- Stop Guessing: Your First SQL Server Load Test in 10 Minutes
If you have never run a load test against SQL Server before, the idea can sound like itrequires a separate team, a separate tool, and a separate budget line. It does not. WithQuery Loading Ramp, included free in Database Health Monitor, you can run a real,meaningful load test in about ten minutes. Here is exactly how. Step 1: Connect Open Query Loading Ramp and click Connect. Enter your server name and database, chooseWindows Authentication or a …Stop Guessing: Your First SQL Server Load Test in 10 Minutes Read more →
- Blocking Query Monitor – Part of Database Health
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …Blocking Query Monitor – Part of Database Health Read more →
- From Reactive to Proactive: How to Build a SQL Server Monitoring Strategy That Actually Works
Most SQL Server environments are monitored reactively. Something breaks, users complain, the DBA investigates, the problem gets fixed, and life returns to normal until the next incident. In many organizations this passes for a monitoring strategy, because the databases are usually up and the team is usually responsive. The incidents are an accepted cost of doing business. But reactive monitoring carries costs that are easy to underestimate because they are distributed across many incidents over time. … - Schema Search in Database Health Monitor: Find Anything Across Your Entire SQL Server Instance
Schema Search solves a common SQL Server problem: if you’ve ever managed more than a handful of databases on an instance, you’ve probably faced the moment when you need to find a stored procedure with “Customer” in the name but have no idea which of your 30-odd databases it lives in. Or maybe you’re doing a security audit and need to find every object that references a specific table or column — across all databases, all … - Why So Many Backup Messages in SQL Server Error Logs (and How to Reduce Them)
Why are there so many backup messages in my sql server logs? SQL Server logs contain a wealth of information about the server’s operation, including details about backup operations. This data can be quite helpful for various administrative tasks like troubleshooting, audit, Performance Tuning, or recovery. The reason why you see many backup messages in your SQL Server logs is because every time a backup or restore operation occurs, an entry is made in the SQL …Why So Many Backup Messages in SQL Server Error Logs (and How to Reduce Them) Read more →
- The SQL Server DBA Summer Health Checklist: 7 Checks to Run Before Q3
July sits at the midpoint of the year, and for SQL Server DBAs, that makes it one of the most strategically important months on the calendar. Q3 brings renewed project activity, end-of-summer pushes, and the beginning of budget conversations that set the tone for Q4. If your databases are carrying hidden problems right now, those problems will surface at the worst possible time. A midyear database health review is not about finding catastrophic failures. It is …The SQL Server DBA Summer Health Checklist: 7 Checks to Run Before Q3 Read more →
- Just past the midpoint of Database Health Monitor Month
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …Just past the midpoint of Database Health Monitor Month Read more →
- History of Database Health Monitor: History, Milestones and Podcast
July marks Database Health Monitor Month at Stedman Solutions, and we are launching the celebration with a dedicated podcast episode that traces the tool’s origins and development over the years. Since its initial release in 2011, Database Health Monitor has steadily expanded through ongoing refinements to its diagnostic capabilities and feature set, giving SQL Server professionals deeper visibility into server activity and helping them address performance issues more effectively. July is Database Health Monitor Month! July …History of Database Health Monitor: History, Milestones and Podcast Read more →
- Database Health Monitor for SQL Server – Free Download and Trial
Managing SQL Server environments requires constant vigilance to maintain performance, prevent downtime, and optimize resources across multiple instances. Database Health Monitor for SQL Server addresses these needs with an accessible free trial that lets administrators explore its full range of monitoring tools without any initial commitment. This solution combines real-time visibility into database operations with flexible options for tracking key metrics, helping teams identify issues early and maintain reliable systems at any scale. The Database Health …Database Health Monitor for SQL Server – Free Download and Trial Read more →
- How Many Concurrent Users Can Your Query Actually Handle?Every query has a breaking point. Run it for one user and it looks instant. Run it for fiftyusers at the same time and you might discover blocking, memory grant waits, or a CPU curvethat bends the wrong way. The trouble is, most teams find their query’s breaking point byaccident, in production, during the one week they could least afford it. Query Loading Ramp, included free with Database Health Monitor, has a feature builtspecifically to answer …
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- Built for Speed: The Lean Design Behind Database Health Monitor
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …Built for Speed: The Lean Design Behind Database Health Monitor Read more →
- Understanding Deadlocks in SQL Server with Database Health Monitor
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …Understanding Deadlocks in SQL Server with Database Health Monitor Read more →
- Seven Most Popular Features of Database Health Monitor
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …Seven Most Popular Features of Database Health Monitor Read more →
- SQL Server Load Testing Tool: Query Loading Ramp
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …SQL Server Load Testing Tool: Query Loading Ramp Read more →
- Understanding the Job History Report in Database Health Monitor
July is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …Understanding the Job History Report in Database Health Monitor Read more →
- Tracking SQL Server Database Changes with the Structure Change Log in Database Health Monitor
As part of Database Health Monitor Month this July, we are highlighting features in Database Health Monitor that help SQL Server professionals monitor, troubleshoot, and better manage their database environments. One powerful feature for tracking SQL Server database changes is the Structure Change Log report. If you have ever needed to know who changed a table, when a stored procedure was modified, or what SQL statement altered your database schema, the Structure Change Log provides a … - Blocking Query Monitor – Part of Database HealthJuly is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …
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- Database Health Features
Since adding two developers to the Database Health Monitor team, we have added many new Database Health Features. These have been covered on various episodes of the Stedman SQL Podcast outlined below. Check out the podcast and these new features added to Database Health Monitor. Stedman SQL Podcast Season 3 Episode 6 Database Health Monitor Recap and Updates In this episode of the Stedman SQL Podcast (Season 3, Episode 6), Steve Stedman is joined by Mitchell … - The Affordable SQL Server Monitoring Tool
If you’re a DBA or SQL Server professional shopping for a monitoring tool, you’ve probably experienced sticker shock. Many SQL Server monitoring tools on the market can run into the thousands of dollars per year, per server. That’s a real budget problem for anyone who just needs clean, reliable visibility into their SQL Server environments. That’s exactly where Database Health Monitor stands apart. Let’s break down the numbers. What Other SQL Server Monitoring Tools Cost The … - Table Use Report in Database HealthJuly is Database Health Monitor Month! July has arrived, and it’s time to turn our attention to the heartbeat of our digital world – our databases! As the founder of Database Health and Stedman Solutions, I’m thrilled to proclaim this month as Database Health Monitor Month! This is our annual chance to celebrate the unsung heroes safeguarding our precious data and to explore the intricate web of data structures and relationships within our systems. Let’s take …
- Database Health Quickscan – Default maintenance plans to shrink database – OuchShrinking a database can seem like a helpful way to save space and resources, particularly if a database has grown substantially over time. However, SQL Server’s default maintenance plans that include database shrinking can lead to several performance issues. Here’s why: Fragmentation: When a database is shrunk, the data pages are reorganized to create a contiguous block of free space at the end of the data file, which can cause severe fragmentation. This fragmentation can significantly …
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