Deep SQL Query Optimization with SQL Grease

Learn how to conduct deep SQL Query optimization with SQL Grease with the Enterprise dashboard, historical data, troubleshooting SQL Server Wait Stats, capturing anomalies and intelligent notifications.

Performance Tuning Using Free Tools, Part 2

You can do essential performance tuning on your SQL Server databases using a FREE toolkit!

JOIN HINTS

Query Stats

DBAs rarely use the full potential of sys.dm_exec_query_stats.  It’s common to see the queries for looking at the most expensive...

Let the optimizer drive

For many, there is something disconcerting in the idea of the Query Optimizer; they crave control, but it really is best to take a back seat and let the Optimizer do its job.

Searching for Plans

Would you want a query optimizer that searches for the best plan for your code? Steve Jones thinks this might not be a bad idea.

13 Things You Should Know About Statistics and the Query Optimizer

Fabiano launches into a sound technical explanation of the way that the query optimiser works in SQL Server with a mention of Brazilian Soccer stars and young ladies on Copacabana beach. You'll never quite think of statistics, execution plans, and the query optimiser the same way again after reading this, but we think you'll understand them better.

Query Optimizer and Cartesian Products

In his continuing quest to bring a deeper understanding of Query Optimizer to the world at large, Fabiano Amorim takes a moment to point out a potential pitfall you may encounter. A light read, but one worth persuing.

The Query Optimizer: Date Correlation Optimisation

In SQL Server 2005, a feature was introduced that was hardly noticed, but which might make a great difference to anyone doing queries involving temporal data. For anyone doing Data Warehousing, timetabling, or time-based pricing, this could speed up your queries considerably. Who better to introduce this than Query Optimizer expert, Fabiano Amorim?

Statistics Used by the Query Optimizer in Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 collects statistical information about indexes and column data stored in the database. These statistics are used by the SQL Server query optimizer to choose the most efficient plan for retrieving or updating data. This paper describes what data is collected, where it is stored, and which commands create, update, and delete statistics. By default, SQL Server 2008 also creates and updates statistics automatically, when such an operation is considered to be useful. This paper also outlines how these defaults can be changed on different levels (column, table, and database).