Microsoft SQL Server database “Recovery Pending” state and 3 ways how to fix it
What is SQL Server Recovery Pending state? This means the database ran into a problem. SQL Server knows that it needs to run “recovery process” on this db, but there is something preventing this process from running. SQL doesn’t know yet, that recovery will fail or not, and the recovery process simply hasn’t started yet. […]
Main differences between MS SQL Server native backups and 3rd party tools
One of the essential responsibilities of SQL Server DBAs includes planning and implementing proper Backup and Recovery. There are various methods and tools for performing SQL Server backups, with each one having its advantages and disadvantages. Here is a bunch of text explaining that section. Here is a bunch of text explaining that section. Here is a bunch […]
SQL Server Monitoring Software Tools
Monitoring SQL Server is part of any critical SQL Server infrastructure. How and what to monitor can be tricky. Here are few ways to accomplish SQL Server monitoring. 3rd party SQL Software tools: Miscellaneous SQL Monitoring Thoughts or how good monitoring should work A couple of caution points The more people you involve in deciding […]
Installing SSDT (SQL Server Data Tools) 2019

The Business Intelligence platform has been changing on each new version of SQL. In the beginning, it was part of the SQL Server setup. But since SQL Server 2014 BI platform started to be distributed separately. The name of this tool and its installation method started to vary from version to version of Visual Studio […]
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
What is SSMS? SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an integrated environment for managing any MS SQL Server infrastructure, from on-promise to an Azure SQL Database. It provides tools to query, design, and manage your databases and data warehouses, wherever they are – on your local computer or in the cloud. How to download installation […]
Automate your SQL Server tasks using DBATools (PowerShell)
What is dbatools? Dbatools is an open-source module of PowerShell developed by big names from the SQL server community, MVPs, and other SQL server and PowerShell professionals. The dbatools uses SMO (server management objects) from the .Net framework, the same objects used bu SSMS (SQL Server management studio). With SMO objects, we can manipulate any […]
Microsoft SQL Server Builds
SQL Server is Microsoft’s main data platform. It is one of the best operational database management system (ODBMS). This article lists all the official builds of Microsoft SQL Server 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008R2 that has been released. SQL Server 2019 MS SQL Server 2019 code name is Aris, which is product version 15.0. […]
The risks of SQL Server differential backups
Backing up your SQL Server database is essential for protecting your data. When databases come bigger, you’re going to run out of time to do a full backup every day. That’s why many companies have differential backups running over the night (daily) and backups full on weekends. What are differential backups? The differential backup is based on […]
The definitive guide for Microsoft SQL Server licensing

The Microsoft SQL Server Licensing Guide is really not long and contains just over fifty pages. However, the challenge here is that it refers to other related memos and manuals such as Capacity Guide, Volume Licensing Guide, SQL Server Virtualization Guide, etc. So, to address the challenge, the most straightforward way would be to familiarize […]
Azure SQL: How to choose the right service database
What is Azure SQL? In the recent past, Microsoft introduced Azure SQL, bringing all the SQL Server products in one suite. Microsoft is grouping all the options for SQL running in the Azure platform into one portfolio. A family of managed products, making it easier to see them and choose the best for your needs. […]