You can get to the article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc987538.aspx. The topics covered are:

• The need for tracking changes
• Tracking changes in SQL Server 2005
• Change tracking in SQL Server 2008
• Change data capture in SQL Server 2008

It's written around 2-300 level and presents a good overview of both features, as well as a comparison between them. It's written for DBAs and ITPros so does not go into depth on how to program with either feature.

Checkout my previous TechNet Magazine articles and Q&A columns at http://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/paul/category/TechNet-Magazine.aspx.

Enjoy!

It's been almost two weeks since my last post as we've been offline in Scotland (another photo post to follow - I owe you two now...) but now we're back for the crazy Fall conference and teaching season.

The latest installment of my regular Q&A column in TechNet Magazine is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc895648.aspx. This month I cover the following topics:

• How backups and restores work and why the times for each may differ
• The difference between log shipping and database mirroring around BULK_LOGGED operations
• How other factors apart from log backups can contribute to excessively large transaction logs
• Why database repair exists and why it shouldn't be used
• Tracking index usage with sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats

Enjoy!

Well, we're just back from vacation (photo blog post to follow) and I've heard that the feature article on Effective Database Maintenance I wrote for the August issue of TechNet Magazine is live on the web. It also includes a 5 minute long screencast I recorded where I demo the effect of database shrink on index fragmentation.

You can get to the article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc671165.aspx. The topics covered are:

• Managing data and transaction log files
• Eliminating index fragmentation
• Ensuring accurate, up-to-date statistics
• Detected corrupted database pages
• Establishing an effective backup strategy

It's written around 2-300 level and presents a good overview (well, at least I think so :-)) of the concepts involved.

Also, the August SQL Q&A column is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc671180(TechNet.10).aspx. This month's topics on the web (more in the print magazine) are:

• Database version changes with upgrades
• Benefits of partitioning
• Consistency checking options for VLDBs

Enjoy!

My first magazine article is in print! I've taken over the bi-monthly SQL Q&A column for TechNet Magazine and I just received the June magazine in the mail today with my first column in it. Topics covered are:

• Creating corruption and using page checksums
• The shrink-grow-shrink-grow trap
• How many databases can be mirrored per instance
• A tip on changing the default server port, from Jens Suessmeyer

I've also just completed a feature article for either the July or August issue dealing with database maintenance for the 'involuntary' DBA - more details when it gets published.

If you don't get the print version of TechNet Magazine, you can get to this month's SQL Q&A column at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc510328.aspx. There may not be anything new if you've been following my blog for a while, but if you've just started, it's worth a quick look.

Enjoy!

PS Let me know if you've got any good questions - I've already completed the August column but I'd like to hear of any questions you may have for later columns.