Tutorials|Jun 14, 2017

How to Avoid a Docker Database Disaster

Containers are cool – and everyone and their mother is trying to get on board with them. While many applications are natural fit for containers in many cases, it feels like some applications are forced into containers so vendors can say, “Hey look at me! I do containers too!” This is particularly true of database…
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sql-server|Mar 8, 2016

SQL Server on Linux: A Savvy Move By Microsoft

The graphic said it all: the words SQL Server and Linux, linked together with a cheerful red heart. Microsoft’s announcement yesterday that it will bring its popular data software to Linux servers is the latest sign of its ongoing love affair with the open-source community. It’s also smart business. As Microsoft’s Azure cloud services become…
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hadoop-big-data-r-and-nosql|Sep 28, 2015

Microsoft Announces New Big Data Azure Services

Microsoft announced several new features targeting Big Data processing including support for HDInsights on Ubuntu Linux, as well as a set of new features in their Data Lake services. The first announcement was of the availability of HDInsights, Microsoft’s Hadoop services, on Ubuntu Linux virtual machines.  Features include the ability to create HDInsight clusters from the…
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sql-server|Jun 24, 2015

Microsoft Announces Azure SQL Data Warehouse Public Preview

Microsoft has announced the Azure SQL Data Warehouse is open for business, at least for a lucky few customers.  The limited public preview is designed to for data warehouses in the 5-10TB range allowing Microsoft to test scalability and performance before taking on more heavy lifting. The initial public preview is designed for data warehouses…
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how-to|May 28, 2015

6 Things You Should Know About SQL Server 2016 Always On Encryption

The upcoming SQL Server 2016 release promises many new features including a “Stretch” feature which allows you to automatically archive older data to the cloud, enhanced in-memory OLTP functionality, and several new enhancements in security.  One of the most interesting new security features is Always On Encryption.  Here are 6 things you should know about this…
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machine-learning|Apr 29, 2015

Microsoft Continues Push To Win Over Developers at Build 2015

Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella took the stage at Build 2015 today and with a little help from his Microsoft colleagues made the strongest pitch yet for why all developers should build apps for Windows 10. Build 2015 kicked off with a bang today as the three hour long keynote showcased Microsoft’s continued emphasis on empowering…
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sql-server|Dec 6, 2005

SqlCacheDependency Hell

I just emerged from SqlCacheDependency hell–actually, SQL Server 2005 hell. I thought I’d document the problem (and the solution) so others won’t have to waste as much time as I did. First, I’ve been using SqlCacheDependency with great success since early betas of ASP.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005. I marveled at how little work…
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sql-server|Sep 30, 2005

ASP.NET 2.0, SQL Server 2005, and SQL Cache Dependencies

If you used ASP.NET 2.0 SQL cache dependencies in early betas of the product with SQL Server 2005, you may be surprised when your code breaks on newer builds. You now have to call System.Data.SqlClient.SqlDependency.Start before using SQL cache dependencies. A good place to do it is in Application_Start. There’s a helpful document on MSDN…
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