SQL Server corruption usually happens when a data page is written to disk and the disk subsystem doesn’t write what SQL Server expects.  Or it does write what is expected, but somehow changes it before the next write.  As one can imagine, this should really never happen. But once is a great while it does.  This post will show how page verification can help determine there is corruption before a DBCC CheckDB finds it.  This early warning system can be very effective. What is Page Verification? Page verification is a process in SQL Server where the engine writes extra data to the header of theRead More →

I’m going to start a series of posts regarding corruption detection, prevention, and correction.  In order to detect corruption we must first have a corrupt database.  This post is going to show how to purposely corrupt a database.  I’ll refer back to this post often as it will be the basis of most of the future posts in this series which will pick up where this leaves off. Step 1.  Create a new database.  You didn’t think I was going to ask you to corrupt a real database did you?  We will create one table with some names in it.  The table is abnormally wide onRead More →

It’s been a week since I came back to Ohio after a week at PASS Summit in Seattle.  I’m about 6 days late, but I wanted to take a moment to opine over the things I learned and offer some overdue updates and thanks. I had a fantastic time at the Washington State Conference Center.  They do such a nice job there.  The food is great.  The facilities clean.  I didn’t witness a single issue with A/V.  There were so many volunteers you couldn’t possibly get lost.  Thank you everyone behind the scenes that make this such a great event. I owe a special thanksRead More →