0 (Zero) to Hero: Essential SQL Server Performance Tuning
This two day-long, hands-on session is built around the story of an organization facing various performance-tuning challenges. Taking on the role of a new team member, we’ll explore real-world issues and practical solutions that are essential for managing SQL Server’s daily operations.
This session aims to equip you with a personal toolbox of scripts and techniques you can rely on when dealing with performance problems. The workflow we’ll use is simple and effective:
- Run Queries to Diagnose the Problem
- Run Queries to Fix the Problem
Topics We’ll Cover:
- How to solve common performance issues reactively
- Dealing with resource bottlenecks (I/O, CPU, Memory)
- Handling TempDB contention
- Troubleshooting slow-running queries
- Quick fixes for indexing problems
- Understanding Wait Stats and query performance
- Making sense of statistics and execution plans
- Using live plans to diagnose issues
- Proactively addressing performance issues
- Building effective index strategies
- Best practices for database file deployments
- Setting up Resource Governor and alerts
- Optimizing with In-Memory OLTP
- Using Columnstore Indexes for Large Datasets
- Managing and learning from Query Store
At the end of this workshop, you’ll walk away with all the demo scripts, complete with explanations, as well as an actionable checklist to help you diagnose and resolve SQL Server performance issues confidently.
Pinal Dave is a seasoned SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant. With over 22 years of hands-on experience, he has authored 14 books on SQL Server, created 85 Pluralsight courses, and published more than 5,500 articles on database technology on his blog, SQLAuthority. He also holds a Master of Science degree and multiple database certifications.