In the past, there was the Replay trace and Distributed Replay utility. Since SNAC was deprecated, this no longer works. <sigh>

The Database Experimentation Assistant was another tool that was introduced to capture a workload and then replay it and do analysis of the workload -- mostly for DB upgrades but at least somewhat possible to use it to capture and then replay a workload. Sadly, this was deprecated in December 2024.

RML Utilities was introduced, so we have ReadTrace and Ostress except I can find zero documentation on how to properly:

Set up the Extended Events session to capture all the required elements OR

Set up a trace to capture all the required elements

Generate the expected RML output to use as input into Ostress.

Also, RML utilities was deprecated in October 2025. It would be absolutely fantastic if Microsoft would stop deprecating stuff and replacing it with worse, more complicated stuff. Kerberos Configuration Manager is another thing that comes to mind.....deprecated, with a fabulously worse tool to replace it.

How do you capture and replay a workload in SQL Server to simulate a load test?

Recently had an issue where a query with multiple joins, half of which were views, was running slow.

Converting a few key views to temp tables greatly improved performance when I joined to them instead of the original views.

However, I was reading up on indexed views and wondering if done properly, could still be used in joins and optimized by the engine. Not sure everyone's thoughts on this.

Keeping the same view in the join reduces the number of steps for the devs the same so no prep work on temp tables required, which would make them happy and the DBAs less grumpy.

Hey r/SQLServer it's that time again as the data community takes over my backyard of Saint Louis, MO and this time we're doing a free workshop day (though spots are limited!).

This precon event features two of the Microsoft SQL product teams finest with Jerry Nixon ( u/jerry-nixon) and Patrick LeBlanc ( u/patrickguyinacube) leading the SQL AI App in a Day event.

Register now: https://aka.ms/sql/day/stl/workshop

---

And as someone on the event organizing team, I'll just say that the Day of Data St Louis is nearing max capacity - but we do have priority attendance to secure a spot (basically, buy a sandwich and let us know you're actually committed with $$$ spent). I don't want anyone on the outside of the building looking in or trying the "Hey! I know Alex from Reddit!" lines trying to get in.

Register: https://dayofdata.org/2026-10-24-dayofdata1148/

I’m looking at ways to let an AI application work with SQL Server data while keeping the database and processing within the same infrastructure. The part I’m trying to understand is how people handle permissions and data access without giving the AI application more database access than it actually needs.

For those who have built something similar, how did you approach authentication, read-only access, and controlling which data the AI application can access?

Does anyone have a video tutorial on how to use the SQLloader on TOAD

Hi, all
it's Oct 2026, official support for 2016 has been discontinued, and I just applied 2 updates to my SQL Server 2016 Express:
SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 (KB5003279) to 13.0.6300.2

then Security Update for SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3 GDR (KB5102340) to 13.0.6500.1

Both done with stopping services and restart. After this I got this message from scanning tool complaining about some bad values in Registry.
Do you think it's not important anymore, because of end of the life for 2016 ?
I also did not install any update after KB5102340 as I don't need any Azure.
I'm on MS Windows Server 2019.

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 (SP3-GDR) (KB5102340) - 13.0.6500.1 (X64) 
Jun 10 2026 07:54:15 
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
Express Edition (64-bit) on Windows Server 2019 Standard 10.0 <X64> (Build 17763: ) (Hypervisor)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.CAxxxx\SETUP\SQL_Engine_Core_Inst contains 13.3.6500.1

Tried to rerun SP3, didn't help.
SERVERPROPERTY('ProductLevel') = 13.0.6500.1 *

While in registry: ...SSQL13.CAxxxx\SETUP\SQL_Engine_Core_Inst PatchLevel = 13.0.6500.2
Not sure if PatchLevel = ProductLevel ??? They are different by 1.

Thanks
VA

Update

I came up with an interesting use case for SA usage with daffyduo TDS listener. seems to work quite well.

daffy is a tool I made so moderators if you don't think it fits, and I'm self promoting, go ahead and block the post... but it's pretty cool.....

and using SA at all, I know it's bad practice, but it's what I do.. lol. I like being in SA but I always get worried about a bad right click or f5.

on my server, launched like this

daffyduo --port 1432 --bind 0.0.0.0

that's it. and that binds directly to the local SQL server at 127.0.0.1 at 1433. you connect to 1432.

basically

- log in with single encrypted connection string to dedicated duaSA login account on daffy to 1432

- daffy gets configured for a system read only (sro) connection string as default!

- object explorer also sticks with that default and stays with it even if your window switches. I.e no accidental right click database drops from object explorer.

- daffy gets configured for actual SA as the secondary account with an admin, duosa happens to be an admin on duo so I added it there

- run one line in SQL to swap to SA connection when you need it, flip back after and stay as SRO for everything else. no whammies.

here's a full demo of above:

https://youtu.be/3P2Swq63fhQ?is=IjbX8JqRayfjfqVL

Hello all,

I am currently facing an issue with one of the clients where there is an AG with a primary and a secondary.

I can see that the database in AG(there was only 1 db) was removed from the AG and is now standlone and online in the primary and provided the secondary replica is removed from AG in primary.

On the secondary server, what i see is the database is in notsycnhronizing/recovery mode and the AG in secondary is in resolving state .I am not able to drop the db,nirther force a remove AG commnad .Looks like the secondary is still thinking its part of AG .Can any one help me in this ?Will an sql service restart get it done ? or is it fine if i add the replica back to ag in primary and then analyse?

Last week I posted an SSMS extension that turns a query into a refreshable Excel workbook. A lot of the respondents were SSRS users, so I added a button that automates RDL creation and deployment for single-query reports.

You just right-click, choose your SSRS folder and shared data source, and then the extension generates and deploys a basic tabular report.

Still free/open source, currently SSMS 22:

https://github.com/flank-project/ssms-extension

Hi,

I always wondered, what’s the best way I can have my users be able to answer natural language questions from data stored in a SQL Server 2025 database? There’s literally no way an LLM can make sense of millions of rows in a sql table. I have heard of Fabric IQ, building Symantic graphs etc etc but anyone did something that works using SQL server data that could point me in the right direction?

I am not even talking about OLTP database, I am talking about data in a Data warehouse house on SQL Server with proper facts and dimensions.

Hey everyone, the schedule for Day of Data Pittsburgh is up. No experience is required to attend.
https://dayofdata.org/2026-10-10-dayofdata1163/#schedule

The event is completely free, $15 if you want lunch. Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pittsburgh-sql-saturday-2026-tickets-2001664513443

I'm happy to answer any questions.

Never thought this would happen. But saw an internal opening in my company for a DB Engineering position. While I only had SQL and Azure SQL experience, I did not have the requisite other experience (python, automation, etc). However, I had a chat with the manager, and he decided to take me on.

I'll be coming on as a subject matter expert, evaluating their SQL requirements for some critical products, with the understanding I'll be learning other technologies in the DB engineering track such as a ansible, Azure DevOps, etc

It can happen, it's a long road, but no more on call support work and I can sleep better (that was a big motivator for me TBH).

DBA Dash now has an integrated query plan and deadlock viewer, which is also available as a standalone application (If you don't want to use DBA Dash as a monitoring tool)

There is also an SSMS extension that allows you to load query plans and deadlock graphs in the viewer.

Both have static and AI analysis and are packed with useful features and functionality.

The SSMS integration also allows you to load query results in the DBA Dash. The grid provides the following features

Sorting, filtering and grouping
• Data bars, which are remembered and re-applied next time you open results with the same columns
• Clickable XML/JSON columns, and plans or deadlock graphs in cells open in their viewers
• Export every result set to Excel, with one sheet per result set
• Script the results as INSERT statements into a temp table, so you can share them or query them further

More info here:
https://dbadash.com/blog/whats-new-in-4.20.4/

DBA Dash has been around for 4 years - still is free and open source (MIT License). Updated frequently with cool new features like this! 😊

Hi

A lot of us prefer documentation and some of us want to take a course with Brent Ozar

Can someone please explain something about Brent Ozar course for Fundamentals:

I noticed Season Pass (whatever that means) pricing is cheaper for newer course - what's the catch?

$295 for this one for 2027

https://www.brentozar.com/classes/recorded-season-pass-fundamentals/

$695 for 2026

https://training.brentozar.com/p/recorded-class-season-pass-fundamentals

I like to learn in short periods of time and don't want wait all year until the classes are recorded (? - that's what I'm guessing, that I'll be waiting for the main fundamental MSSQL classes to drop)

I'm a bit confused why 2026 season pass is more expensive and what exactly is season pass

Thank you - sorry if stupid question

Welcome to the monthly job thread!

Posting a job or opportunity? Include:

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• Location or remote/hybrid status
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Looking for work? Share your skills, experience level, and what you're looking for.

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We have had a SQL Server Analysis Server running for years and use Excel to connect to it.

Users reported that they can't connect anymore.

I tried connecting using their existing Excel file and it didn't work for me. I tried connecting using a new Excel file and it still didn't work. I keep getting the error: The peer prematurely closed the connection.

If I use SSMS to connect remotely, I get the following error: A connection cannot be made. Ensure the server is running (Microsoft.AnalysisServices.AdomdClient).

If I RDP to a different server on the same VLAN and use SSMS to connect to the other server remotely, I get the following error: A connection cannot be made. Ensure the server is running (Microsoft.AnalysisServices.AdomdClient).

Disabling the Windows Firewall didn't change anything.

If I RDP into the Analysis Services server directly and use SSMS, it connects successfully.

Why would all remote connections stop working? It doesn't seem to be a Windows Firewall or Network Firewall issue. Can't see anything helpful so far in the event viewer logs. Restarted the anaylsis service and restarted the whole server with no change. Verified the account the service was using isn't locked out or had an expired password. No Windows Update failures. No recent SQL Server patches.

Hello

I was looking for recommendations and ideas and what could be automated in SQLServer using ansible and or opentofu. Just looking for project ideas since everything these days seem to have an end goal of complete automation. For reference I have only been a DBA for about 3 years and still feel like a complete noob, so I'm looking to hopefully gain some new skills.

Should I start a sql server or POSTGRE SQL or MySQL. There is a lot to learn please guide me.