Columnstore Indexes on SQL Server 2016

Live Query Plans and Blocking

Erik Darling looks at how SQL Server 2016's live query plans react when they're blocked.

Extracting a DAX Query Plan With Analysis Services 2016 Extended Events

In this post, Koen Verbeeck shows how to use SQL Sever 2016's Extended Events to find the query plan for a DAX query, just like you would for a T-SQL statement.

SQL Server R Services: Working with ggplot2 Statistical Graphics

It is when you use R in SQL Server with one of the huge range of packages that comes with it that you can begin to appreciate the power of the system. With a package such as ggplot there are many 'knobs one can twiddle' in order to get spectacular and informative visualisations. Rob Sheldon continues his beginners series for R in SQL Server by showing how to refine the output to get it as you need it.

SQL Server 2016 SSIS Basics - Install SQL Server Data Tools

Step-by-step instructions for downloading and installing SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for SQL Server 2016.

Setup and Implement SQL Server 2016 Always On Distributed Availability Groups

SQL Server 2016 introduced a new feature called Distributed Availability Group. A Distributed Availability Group is a special type of Availability Group that spans two separate Availability Groups. Edwin Sarmiento explains.

SQL Server R Services: The Basics

It is possible to do a great deal with R within SQL Server, but it is best to start by doing analysis in R on numeric data from SQL Server and returning the results to SQL Server. There is great value to be gained even with this basic foundation. Robert Sheldon is on hand to give you a kick start with the first in his series on beginning with R in SQL Server.

Properly Persisted Computed Columns

Paul White walks through a new trace flag in SQL Server 2016 designed to yield better execution plans (and performance) for queries involving computed columns.

Step-by-step Installation of SQL Server 2016 on a Windows Server 2016 Failover Cluster - Part 4

Continuing his series covering a step-by-step Installation of SQL Server 2016 on a Windows Server 2016 Failover Cluster, Edwin Sarmiento looks at adding a node to an existing SQL Server 2016 failover clustered instance (FCI).

Package Parts – First Impressions

This article gives an overview of some good and not-so-good features of SSIS package parts.