Changing Default Logs Directory – Back to Basics

In this article I will explore altering the default logs directory location. Some may say this is no big deal and you can just use the default location used during install. Fair enough, there may not be massive need to change that location

Sharepoint Diagnostics and XE

In this article I have introduced you to a quick session setup that comes from using the SPDiag tool that could plausibly be useful in the troubleshooting of various different problems (most probably performance related) with Sharepoint.

Dynamics AX Event Session

There are many many uses for Extended Events. In this article I show a quick session setup that can be useful in the troubleshooting of various different problems (most probably performance related) with Dynamics AX.

Correlate SQL Trace and Actions

In the world of profiler and SQL Trace, these actions were an actual part of the payload for the Trace event. In XE, these actions are more like add-ons. I go into further depth about what an action in XE is – here. I recommend reading that article. Due to that, I won’t be diving into great detail here about what an Action is.

Failed to Create the Audit File

One day while checking things for clients, I happened across a fun little error message – “SQL Server Audit failed to create the audit file”. It just so happens that the audit had been working and then suddenly stopped and started flooding the error logs with this message.

Why would it suddenly stop working? Well, it says in the error that the disk might be full or that there may be a permissions issue. So, at least there are some possibilities provided by the message. Granted – neither of these options is very settling for a DBA. 

An Introduction to Templates

Templates are a powerful tool in so many trades and crafts. From decals and stickers all the way up to the largest cruise ships in the world, templates can be found everywhere in just about everything that do.

In SQL Server, templates are readily available for your use in so many different ways that I am sure we are unaware of most of them.

Audit Domain Group and User Permissions

No matter how simple the task or how versed we are with doing a security audit, it seems like we can always stand to learn just a little bit more. No matter how many times we hand an audit report over to the auditor, there is always “just one” more report we have to provide.

Correlate Trace and XE Events

Several years back, when Extended Events was brand new, it was downright painful to try and convert the classic Profiler or Server Side trace to something meaningful and useful within Extended Events.

Message in a Bottle of XE

Considering this “feature” for everything that is SQL Server related, does this mean that all Extended Events related messages are accessible in sys.messages?

12 Days Of Christmas and SQL

In the spirit of the 12 Days of Christmas and Giving, I have a 12 Day series that I generally try to do each Holiday Season. The series will generally begin on Christmas day