In this article, Kevin Kline introduces The High-Performance DBA webcast series, drawing on insights from our recent State of Database Report to explain why DBA burnout is rising and how teams can move beyond constant reactivity.
The High-Performance DBA: Breaking the Burnout Cycle in Modern Database Teams
Inside the Black Box: Bridging the Database Observability Gap
Over the past 15 years, Agile and DevOps have accelerated application delivery, enabling faster, more reliable releases. Yet the database layer often remains a blind spot for observability and performance monitoring.
In this article, Kevin Kline shows why closing the database observability gap is critical to improving performance, efficiency, and resilience for DBAs, developers, and the businesses that depend on their data.
Eliminate Guesswork in MySQL Tuning with DPA Table Tuning Advisor
In this article, Owen Murphy explains how Table Tuning Advisor in SolarWinds™ Database Performance Analyzer helps reduce guesswork in MySQL tuning.
Open Source LLMs vs Open Weight LLMs vs Proprietary LLMs
If you’re anything like me, you’ve heard of Meta. You’re also at least vaguely aware of Meta’s Frontier LLM called “” “Llama” which Meta markets as “open source” but for…
LLMs and AI Chatbots and Agentic Agents (Oh my!)
Hi there, this is the first of a few posts trying to help folks who are trying to understand a little more about AI so that some of the jargon…
The High-Performance DBA: Total Recall, Part 2: SQL Server Memory, Plan Cache, and Query Patterns
This is the second of two connected posts on SQL Server memory. In Part 1, we looked at how SQL Server uses memory, why “SQL Server takes care of that” stops being enough, and which configuration habits make life easier.
In this post, Kevin Kline focuses on how SQL Server memory issues arise from plan cache bloat, poor queries, and bad memory grants, plus how DBAs troubleshoot them.
AI Word of the Day: Confabulation — SolarWinds TechPod 109
Sean Sebring and Chrystal Taylor chat with Josh Stageberg, SolarWinds GVP of Product Management, about the future of Agentic AI. RELATED LINKS: SolarWinds World Tour SolarWinds Day: Autonomous Operational Resilience…
Database Observability: Faster Root Cause Analysis Starts With Better UX
In this article, Owen Murphy explains how new functionality in SolarWinds Database Observability SaaS experience reduces navigation friction and helps teams get to root cause faster during production issues.
We look at how the new UX moves users more quickly from high-level health views to query-level analysis, giving DBAs, SREs, and DevOps teams the context they need to act faster.
The High-Performance DBA: Total Recall, Part 1: SQL Server Memory Basics and Best Practices
This is the first of two connected posts on SQL Server memory management.
In this post, Kevin Kline explains how SQL Server uses memory, why memory becomes a bottleneck, and which configuration habits help create a more stable, high-performance environment. In the second post, we look at plan cache bloat, query patterns, and troubleshooting.
Level Up Your DBA Skills: Database Management Videos
In this post, we walk through some of our database webinars. We look at what each session covers, including performance, configuration, automation, cost optimization, and the evolving roles of people that work with databases, which is no longer confined to DBAs.
Episodes are in viewing paths so you can quickly find the content you’re most interested in.
Watch This Space: Updates to Database Content
This post is a little different from our usual content. Rather than a deep dive into a single database topic, it steps back and looks at where the content is headed next.
We’ve been investing in new articles, clearer structure, and more technical storytelling. This overview explains what we’re changing, why it matters for DBAs and data teams, and how you can get more value from the blog. We also look at how people can engage with the wider community on THWACK.
CMMC compliance and the services layer: What federal buyers need to evaluate
Federal organizations spend considerable effort vetting the platforms they procure. The services team implementing and monitoring those platforms often receives less scrutiny. When the work involves Controlled Unclassified Information, that…