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SQL Server 2025 – ZSTD – A new compression algorithm for backups

Introduction SQL Server 2025 introduces a new algorithm for backup compression: ZSTD. As a result, SQL Server 2025 now offers three solutions for backup compression: In this blog, we will compare MS_XPRESS and ZSTD. Environment To perform these tests, the following virtual machine was used: Additionally, I used the StackOverflow database to run the backup tests (reference: https://www.brentozar.com/archive/2015/10/how-to-download-the-stack-overflow-database-via-bittorrent/). ZSTD usage… 

SQL Server AlwaysOn – Alert database Not Synchronizing / Suspect

Few days ago, through our alerting at the Service Desk, we receive an alert about a database in an AlwaysOn cluster with the message: CRITICAL: Database xxxx [replica: xxxxxx] [role: SECONDARY] state is SUSPECT, synchronization health is NOT_HEALTHY, synchronization state is NOT SYNCHRONIZING [suspended: true] [failover ready: false] [joined: true] After creating the ticket, I go to the environment and… 

New SQL Server Management Studio Version 21 – First Test

Last week, at the Pass Data Summit, they announce the new version of SQL Server Management Studio: SSMS 21 You can find the preview in here. It’s a good opportunity to test this new version before installing it by customers… After downloading the file vs_SSMS.exe (4,3 MB), start the file to doanload and install it. For the installation, you have… 

SQL Konferenz 2024 – Microsoft Copilots

Today, we followed (with Roger Schönmann) the first day of the SQL Konferenz 2024.  We will be attending this event from October 01 to 02 in Hanau. At dbi services, we are no strangers to this conference, as we have been sending members of our team for several years now.We consider the sessions to be of high quality and right… 

M-Files What’s new?

As you may know, M-Files is providing monthly release and the one for October is going to be interesting. Since several month M-Files is heavily working on the integration of new Microsoft approach which is aligning desktop and web clients and thus dropping the COM support (add-in and so on). M-Files is also following that trend, and decided to merge… 

SQL Server: The importance of the default language during a login migration

Few weeks ago, I perform a migration of a database and the associate logins.After few days, the customer contact me for a error about “conversion of a varchar data type to datetime data type” on this application.The error was an log4net:exception and without more explanation: For the migration, I perform a backup/restore, the collation on both servers is the same… 

SQL Server Tips: How to know how long goes a shrink ?

Few days ago, I perform a shrink on a data file to spend a little bit space on a disk.The SQL Server is a test server and the customer does not want to expand the disk. I run the shrink like usual and waiting…. After ~15 minutes, I don’t know how much time I need to wait until it’s finished…… 

SQL Server: how do monitor SQL Dumps?

Few weeks ago, we had a big issue by a customer and a lot SQL Dumps was created in the SQL Server log folder. After playing fireman at the customer’s premises, we decided to set up a monitoring system for the creation of SQL dumps. The first step, is how to test it? In the latest version of SQL Server… 

PosgreSQL + SQL Server = WiltonDB – Part 2 – Database Management

Few months ago I write about WiltonDB and how to install it. Now, I move one step forward with the Database Management. How to create a Database ? I test first with the T-SQL Command CREATE DATABASE script: I test now by SSMS GUI: As you can see, only the T-SQL Command script can be used. After the creation, I…