Here are some of the most useful SQL Server-related links and utilities I’ve found on the Interwebs, in no particular order:
Structured Concepts (sqlsunday.com)
Docs and reference
- Hugo Kornelis’ excellent Execution Plan Reference (work in progress)
- Jim Donahoe’s Configuring tempdb on Azure VM
- sqlserverupdates.com: quick-reference links to most recent versions of SQL Server.
Admin
- Brent Ozar’s first responder kit: open-source project including sp_Blitz, sp_BlitzCache, sp_BlitzFirst and sp_BlitzIndex
- Ola Hallengren’s SQL Server maintenance scripts: automate and simplify backups, rebuilds and defragmentation.
- sp_whoisactive: Adam Machanic’s sp_who replacement
- dbatools: Powershell tools for SQL Server.
- Glenn Berry’s DMV queries
Tools
- SQL Server Management Studio: latest stand-alone version of SSMS.
- SQL Query Stress allows you to run multiple, concurrent queries on a server.
- Azure Data Studio: the artist formerly known as SQL Operations Studio – is the new, open-source, cross-platform SQL Server management tool.
- statisticsparser.com: turns the text output from SET STATISTICS into readable, sortable tables.
- SentryOne Plan Explorer: powerful tool to analyze execution plans
Community
- #sqlhelp on Twitter: short-form questions
- dba.StackExchange: longer-form questions
- SQL Community Slack channel: click here for an invite!
Conferences
- SQLSaturday: see DataSaturdays
- DataSaturdays: the new data community initiative to replace SQL Saturday
- GroupBy.org: online data platform conference
- SQL Friday: weekly lunch-and-learn event
- Data Weekender: a popup online data platform conference
