When I (along with many other people) had a lot of trouble trying to install SQL Server Management Studio in an attempt to switch from the SQL Server 2008 R2 evaluation to the free Express version, I ...

Sometimes you become the accidental DBA, or you are the DBA by choice. Either way, you can choose to spend time working in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to look at things such as backups or the ...

Let's follow up the last column with a step-by-step breakdown shows how the PowerShell script automates SQL Server backups, manages retention, logs activity and verifies data integrity. In my first ...

In a previous article, I talked about getting started with managing SQL server using PowerShell and the Server Management Objects (SMO). While that was mostly spent making the connection and doing ...

I’ve created a script that monitors a table in a SQL Server database. I’m only interested in one column in the table: TimeStamp. If the maximum (newest) value in TimeStamp is more than 30 minutes ...

This article will focus on how to customize Windows Server PowerShell profiles. If PowerShell is your daily tool, you may want to create and customize your profiles. PowerShell profiles are basically ...

Most of us have dealt with hardware that stays in service well past its planned end-of-life date or that, for reasons of budget and bureaucracy, doesn’t even make it into service until well into its ...

Windows Server offers tons of tools for admins in case an application or computer is not able to connect to a specific port or server IP. One thing that instantly pops up is using tools to resolve DNS ...

Essential Tips to Run PowerShell Scripts Like a Pro PowerShell has evolved into a powerful scripting language that’s essential for system administrators and IT professionals alike. Whether you’re ...

A couple of months ago, I wrote an article on how to use PowerShell to back up a database within SQL Server Express Edition. Even though the technique that I described in that post works, the script ...