Free SQL Server help, 3× a week
Three blog posts a week, plus a Monday roundup of my favorite database news from around the web. No fluff, occasional jokes.
Recorded classes
The Fundamentals of Index Tuning, Query Tuning, and Server Tuning have all been updated as of July 2026, reflecting the latest advancements in the First Responder Kit, AI, and SQL Server 2025. They're perfect for folks who have never been to a formal training class, but are responsible for performance on SQL Server, Azure SQL DB, and Amazon RDS.
Browse the classesLive classes
Get first dibs (and the early-bird price) the moment registration opens.
Need hands-on help? SQL Critical Care® — my 2-day server assessment that finds the root cause and hands you the fix.
See consultingThis week, I'm back in Vegas, spending time in the home bar to recover from jet lag. I'm not saying booze is the best way to recover - but - it helps me fall asleep after a 16-hour-time-zone-jump, and it makes the career answers a lot more colorful. Let's go through your top-voted questions from https://pollgab.com/room/brento.
Wanna play some Texas Hold 'Em style poker and make a pile of Query Bucks? Wanna watch other database people playing?
Fire up SSMS and connect to:
What's the difference between SQL Server's row compression and page compression, and when does each one make sense?
Row compression turns every fixed-length datatype into a variable-length datatype, using as little space as possible to store it
Page compression does that, AND adds a dictionary of repeated data on the page, getting more compression at the cost of more CPU
I've got a special treat for you today! I was cleaning out my garage and you'll never guess what I found!
That's right: it's an original SQL Server debugger console!
