Performance Tuning

Query optimization, execution plans, indexes, blocking, compression, fragmentation, Query Store, and parameter sniffing for SQL Server professionals.

Replication Across Engines: What to Use, When, and How to Mitigate Limitations

Replication Across Engines: What to Use, When, and How to Mitigate Limitations | SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD Replication Across Engines: What to Use, When, and How to Mitigate Limitations By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 14–18 min SQL Server 2019 • 2022 • […]

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SQL Server DMV Reference: The DBA Cheat Sheet for Performance Diagnostics

SQL Server DMV Reference: The DBA Cheat Sheet for Performance Diagnostics – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD SQL Server DMV Reference: The DBA Cheat Sheet for Performance Diagnostics By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 18-22 min Dynamic Management Views are SQL Server’s diagnostic windows

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SQL Server Parameter Sniffing: A Field Guide for DBAs and Developers

SQL Server Parameter Sniffing: A Field Guide for DBAs and Developers – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Scripts / By SQLYARD SQL Server Parameter Sniffing: A Field Guide for DBAs and Developers By David Yard · SQLYARD.com · April 2026 · Estimated read: 25–30 min Summary: Parameter sniffing is SQL Server’s normal behavior of

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Server-Wide Index Usage and Missing Index Logging in SQL Server

Server-Wide Index Usage and Missing Index Logging in SQL Server – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning, Scripts and Tools / By SQLYARD Server-Wide Index Usage and Missing Index Logging in SQL Server By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 25–30 min SQL Server 2019 through 2025 · Azure

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SQL Server Blocking Detection Without SQL Agent: A Service Broker Timer Solution

SQL Server Blocking Detection Without SQL Agent: A Service Broker Timer Solution – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Operations, Scripts and Tools / By SQLYARD SQL Server Blocking Detection Without SQL Agent: A Service Broker Timer Solution By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 30–35 min SQL Server Agent is

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What’s New for Columnstore Indexes in SQL Server 2025

What’s New for Columnstore Indexes in SQL Server 2025 – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD What’s New for Columnstore Indexes in SQL Server 2025 By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 14–16 min SQL Server 2025 · Enterprise and Developer Edition for online rebuilds Columnstore

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A Beginner-to-Advanced Guide to Query Store in SQL Server

A Beginner-to-Advanced Guide to Query Store in SQL Server – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD A Beginner-to-Advanced Guide to Query Store in SQL Server By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 20–25 min SQL Server 2016 and later · Azure SQL Database · All editions

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Understanding Virtual Log Files (VLFs) in SQL Server: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Manage Them

Understanding Virtual Log Files (VLFs) in SQL Server – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD Understanding Virtual Log Files (VLFs) in SQL Server: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Manage Them By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 12–15 min Virtual Log Files

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SQL Server Error 833 and Long Sync IO in Always On Availability Groups

SQL Server Error 833 and Long Sync IO in Always On Availability Groups – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, High Availability, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD SQL Server Error 833 and Long Sync IO in Always On Availability Groups By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 18–22 min SQL Server

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Clearing SQL Server’s Bloated Ad-Hoc Plan Cache

Clearing SQL Server’s Bloated Ad-Hoc Plan Cache – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD Clearing SQL Server’s Bloated Ad-Hoc Plan Cache By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 8–10 min SQL Server’s plan cache stores compiled execution plans so they can be reused without recompilation. That

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Should You Change the Cost Threshold for Parallelism?

Should You Change the Cost Threshold for Parallelism? – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD Should You Change the Cost Threshold for Parallelism? By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 10–12 min The Cost Threshold for Parallelism is a SQL Server instance-level setting that controls when

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SQL Server Blocking Detection and Email Notification System: Complete DBA Implementation

SQL Server Blocking Detection and Email Notification System: Complete DBA Implementation – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles / By SQLYARD SQL Server Blocking Detection and Email Notification System: Complete DBA Implementation By David Yard · SQLYARD.com · April 2026 · Estimated read: 18–22 min Table of Contents System Overview Architecture and Components Prerequisites Step

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Understanding Parameter Sniffing in SQL Server: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Understanding Parameter Sniffing in SQL Server – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Scripts / By SQLYARD Understanding Parameter Sniffing in SQL Server By David Yard · SQLYARD.com · April 2026 · Estimated read: 12–15 min A query runs in 50 milliseconds all week. On Friday afternoon it takes 45 seconds. Nothing in the code

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SQL Server Performance Tuning Using Wait Statistics

SQL Server Performance Tuning Using Wait Statistics – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD SQL Server Performance Tuning Using Wait Statistics By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 14–17 min Wait statistics are the starting point for every SQL Server performance investigation. When a query cannot

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SQL Server Missing Index Analysis: Per-Database and Server-Wide Scripts

SQL Server Missing Index Analysis: Per-Database and Server-Wide Scripts – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning, Scripts and Tools / By SQLYARD SQL Server Missing Index Analysis: Per-Database and Server-Wide Scripts By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 18–22 min SQL Server’s missing index DMVs record every time the

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Cardinality Estimation Feedback in SQL Server 2022 and 2025

Cardinality Estimation Feedback in SQL Server 2022 and 2025 – SQLYARD Leave a Comment / Articles, Performance Tuning / By SQLYARD Cardinality Estimation Feedback in SQL Server 2022 and 2025 By SQLYARD · SQLYARD.com · Updated June 2026 · Estimated read: 12–15 min SQL Server 2022 and 2025 · Azure SQL Database · Compatibility Level

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