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database administrator

SQLPerformance 2.0: The Next Chapter
June 10, 2026
SolarWinds

SQLPerformance is back. This piece explores why the site still matters, what changed during the transition from SentryOne to SolarWinds, and how the site fits into today’s broader database community.

It also looks at the role SQLPerformance can continue to play as database teams face more complexity, more observability demands, and more pressure to move from reactive work to faster, better-informed decisions.

The High-Performance DBA: Total Recall, Part 2: SQL Server Memory, Plan Cache, and Query Patterns
May 14, 2026
Kevin Kline

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.

The High-Performance DBA: Total Recall, Part 1: SQL Server Memory Basics and Best Practices
May 7, 2026
Kevin Kline

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
April 21, 2026
SolarWinds

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.

All Database Blogs

Watch This Space: Updates to Database Content
April 15, 2026
SolarWinds

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.

All Database Blogs

Database Storage Optimization for the High-Performance DBA
April 9, 2026
Kevin Kline

In this latest High-Performance DBA post, Kevin Kline explores what happens when SQL Server storage strategies fail to keep up with growing workloads.

When your DBAs are constantly firefighting I/O bottlenecks, TempDB contention, and uncontrolled log growth, the issue is not your team. It is your storage maturity. Address that, and you reduce incidents, free up DBA capacity, and ease operational strain.

The High-Performance DBA: Breaking the Burnout Cycle in Modern Database Teams
April 1, 2026
Kevin Kline

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 Role of a Junior DBA: Challenges and Tools for Success
March 28, 2025
SolarWinds
In today’s data-focused world, organizations recognize the importance of their database systems. Junior DBAs are essential to keeping these systems up and running. They usually work at an entry level,…
The Secret Life of Accidental DBAs
March 28, 2025
SolarWinds
Database Administrators (DBAs) normally fall into one of three buckets: the Accidental DBA, the Junior DBA, and the Full “Know their stuff” DBA. THWACK MVP m_roberts takes a closer look…
A Conversation With Aaron Bertrand
March 9, 2022
Kevin Kline
Back in the early days of Microsoft SQL Server, database administrators had few resources to draw upon and learn from. In the ’90s, we had SQL Server Professional, edited by…
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