Article Library, Page 2
Every Red9 article in one place, most recently updated first. Written by the senior DBAs who do the work.
- articles
- 208
- categories
- 6
All Articles
Guide · SQL Server TipsEasy Guide: Download and Install SQL Server Data Tools 2019 (SSDT 2019)Complete Guide: Step-by-Step Installation and Configuration of SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio 2019
Guide · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesSQL Server AlwaysOn Cluster Patching Windows OS: Step-by-Step GuidePatch a SQL Server Always On availability group without downtime: the exact rolling order for secondaries, failover, and primary, step by step.
Guide · SQL Server Health CheckHow High Virtual Log File (VLF) Count Kills SQL PerformanceToo many virtual log files slow startup, backups, and recovery. Count your VLFs, shrink and regrow the log correctly, and keep the number under control.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningBest Practices for Performance Counters in Microsoft SQL ServerMaster SQL Server optimization with our Windows Performance Counters guide. Discover top tips to boost performance and efficiency.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningHow We Found the VM Cap Costing Our Client $30K in Wasted SQL Server SpendOur client's Azure SQL environment cost $30K/month. One VM instance change at $500/month outperformed the original servers. Here's the setting most teams miss.
Guide · SQL Server TipsSQL Server DBA Cost 2026: The 8 Budget Lines Most IT Teams MissA full-time SQL Server DBA covers just 40 of 168 hours a week, and salary is only about 70% of the real cost. In-house vs. managed, fully broken down.
Guide · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesSQL Server 2025 Has No SSRS Release. Here’s What That Means for Your MigrationSQL Server 2025 ships without Reporting Services. What happens to your existing reports and the migration paths (Power BI Report Server) that replace it.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningETL Process Optimization: A Practical Guide for SQL Server TeamsExact SQL Server ETL settings that cut runtime 80-95%: CDC config, SSIS parallelism, columnstore batch sizing, and the DMV queries to prove it.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningHow We Cut SQL Server Costs in Half and Added HA for FreeA client had 8 cores on an Azure VM and wanted more. We tuned queries and indexes instead: CPU fell 30%, and we then downsized and added HA at no extra spend.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningRestarting SQL Server? You’re Destroying the Evidence.Restarting SQL Server wipes your plan cache, buffer pool, and diagnostic evidence. Here are 6 DMV queries to find the real problem before you hit restart.
Guide · SQL Server TipsAI Won’t Replace Your Senior DBAs. Here’s What It Actually Does.See how AI changes DBA workloads and staffing, where it speeds up routine tasks, and why senior DBAs still need to review work and own production.
Client Result · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesHow We Cut SQL Server Licensing Costs by 75% With Azure Migration for a Client75% lower SQL Server licensing costs: 32 cores to 8 vCores in Azure, 3TB moved with 15 minutes of downtime, $48K annual savings.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningHow We Made a Warehouse Management System 6.5x Faster by Fixing One SQL Server ConstraintYour vendor says buy more hardware. We fixed slow batch processing with 4 lines of SQL instead. 6.5x faster performance, $50K+ saved. Here's the blueprint.
Client Result · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesHow We Saved a Professional Services Firm $117,654 Annually by Right-Sizing Their SQL Server InfrastructureLearn how we saved a firm $117,654 annually by optimizing Azure SQL Server licensing and infrastructure. Real case study with detailed costs and tech insights.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningWhat to Do When Your SQL Server Critical Report Starts Timing Out on Friday EveningReal SQL Server emergency case study: How we fixed a manufacturing client's critical report timeout in 90 minutes and broke their crisis-fix-repeat cycle.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningSQL Server Monitoring & Alerts and Why Most Companies Are Doing It WrongMost SQL Server alerts are just noise. Discover how to build monitoring that reduces false positives, boosts uptime, and saves millions in $$$ downtime costs.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningCase Study: How Red9 Transformed SQL Server Performance and Saved 66+ Minutes of Daily Processing in 6 WeeksSee how Red9 fixed config, tuned queries, and right-sized Azure to slash CPU and runtime in 6 weeks, processing 120M+ transactions at 6.42% usage.
Guide · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesSQL Server 2025 Released: AI Integration, Developer Features, and Performance GainsSQL Server 2025 ships AI vector search, native JSON, RegEx, and 40+ engine changes. A full feature overview for teams weighing the upgrade.
Guide · SQL Server SecurityThe $4 Million Mistake: True Enterprise Database Downtime Cost in 202541% of enterprises lose $1M or more an hour to database downtime. How one outage cost $4M in 30 minutes, and the HA setup that would have prevented it.
Guide · SQL Server SecurityEnterprise SQL Server Security: Beyond Basic ProtectionImplement enterprise-grade SQL Server security beyond default settings. Covers HIPAA, SOX compliance, and advanced threat protection strategies.
Guide · SQL Server Performance TuningSQL Query Optimization: A Practical Guide for Database Admins and Developers34 practical ways to make SQL queries faster, from indexing and SARGable predicates to reading execution plans, each with a copy-paste example.
Guide · SQL Server Performance Tuning[Tried & Tested] SQL Server Disk Configuration Best PracticesOptimize performance with best practices guide for SQL Server disk configuration. Improve your server's performance, reliability, and security.
Guide · SQL Server Health Check[Quick Guide] Autogrowth in SQL Server: Best PracticesBad autogrowth settings fragment your files and stall writes. Set fixed-size increments, pre-size the files, and keep SQL Server fast under heavy load.
Guide · SQL Server Migrations & Upgrades[Step-by-Step] Migrating SQL Server to Azure SQL DatabaseStep-by-step guide to migrate SQL Server to Azure SQL Database. Covers tools, offline vs. online options, Managed Instance, BACPAC, DMS & performance tips.
Client Result · SQL Server Performance TuningHow a Simple VMware Misconfiguration Cost Our Client Months of Performance IssuesA simple VMware misconfiguration caused months of performance issues for our client. Here's how to check if you have the same problem.
Client Result · SQL Server Migrations & Upgrades4 Hidden Ways Sales Reps Overcharge You for SQL Server Licensing (Real Restaurant Chain Example)Learn how a 3,000+ restaurant chain nearly wasted $22K on SQL Server licensing - and discover 4 secrets to cut your own costs by up to 50%.
Guide · SQL Server TipsSQL Server Enterprise vs. Standard Edition: When to Downgrade and Save $6,000 Per CoreCompare SQL Server Enterprise vs Standard to see when to downgrade and save $6K per core. Includes feature comparison and decision guide for CTOs & IT.
Guide · SQL Server TipsComparison of SQL on Virtual Machine (VM) vs Azure Managed Instance (MI) vs Azure SQL Database (DB)Choosing SQL Server on a VM, Managed Instance, or Azure SQL Database? Compare control, cost, and migration effort so you can pick the right one fast.
Guide · SQL Server Health CheckHow to Identify Deprecated Features in Use on a SQL Server Instance?Deprecated features can break after a SQL Server upgrade. How to find what your databases still use, with the DMV and trace to catch them early.
Guide · SQL Server Health CheckTempDB Best Practices for Optimal PerformanceLearn what TempDB is and why its performance matters. Discover TempDB best practices from experts to enhance SQL Server efficiency.
Guide · SQL Server Migrations & UpgradesDifferent Ways to Sync SQL Server Data From Azure to On-Premise SQL ServerExplore ways to sync SQL Server data between Azure and on-premises with Azure Data Sync and Transactional Replication for hybrid cloud setup.
Research & StatisticsCloud Computing Statistics (2026)20 cloud computing statistics for 2026: an estimated $122B wasted in 2025 and spending forecast to top $1T in 2026. All dated and sourced.