What does it mean when “deprecated features are use”? What are the deprecated feature in SQL Server?
Every release of SQL Server adds new features.
However, functions are also marked as deprecated by Microsoft.
It means that Microsoft will remove theses in a future version of SQL Server (discontinued).
Starting with SQL Server 2008, Microsoft allows you to monitor the usage of deprecated functionality.
By the way, this check is a part of our SQL Server Health Check service.
How to identify the deprecated features?
To return the deprecated features, you can use the query below.
It uses the sys.dm_os_performance_counters DMV ( system dynamic management view) to retrieve the data.
SELECT OBJECT_NAME,
instance_name AS 'Deprecated Feature',
cntr_value AS 'Number of Times Used'
FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters
WHERE OBJECT_NAME LIKE '%:Deprecated%'
AND cntr_value > 0
ORDER BY 'Number of Times Used' DESC
The result includes a counter that lists the number of times each deprecated feature was used (Since the last SQL Server restart).
Note:
To run this query on SQL Server requires VIEW SERVER STATE permission.
How to fix it?
- Set a policy where developers are no longer allowed to use deprecated features.
- Ask development to start replacing deprecated features into new ones.
- Do not allow code to be deployed with deprecated features.
More information
Microsoft – Deprecated Database Engine Features in SQL Server 2017
Microsoft – Documentation for the sys.dm_os_performance_counters
