Watch This Space: Updates to Database Content

We are working hard to improve the user experience across the database section of the SolarWinds blog.

The goal is simple. We want to deliver practical, relevant insights for people working in database monitoring, observability, performance, and day-to-day data estate management.

We care deeply about databases, DBAs, and the wider data ecosystem. As a result, we want the blog to reflect that through a balanced mix of content.

Over the past month, we have published a strong set of articles that show this direction clearly. Together, they highlight both the range of topics we cover and the value we plan to deliver consistently.

The High-Performance DBA Series

A major part of this recent work is the ongoing High-Performance DBA series from Kevin Kline, SolarWinds Head Geek and longtime database expert.

These posts focus on the real pressures of modern database work. For example, they cover burnout, reactive firefighting, observability gaps, storage strategy, and SQL Server memory management.

Just as importantly, the series connects closely to the High-Performance DBA webcast program.

Featured Posts In The Series

• Boosting Database Observability With SolarWinds Plan Explorer
  This post explains how SQL Server execution plans help expose the real cause of slow queries. It also shows how Plan Explorer helps DBAs diagnose issues faster and tune performance with more confidence.

• Inside the Black Box: Bridging the Database Observability Gap
  Here, the focus shifts to the database observability gap. Rather than treating the database layer as a black box, the article shows why better visibility, closer DBA and developer collaboration, and modern Database DevOps practices matter.

• The High-Performance DBA: Breaking the Burnout Cycle in Modern Database Teams
  This article examines reactive work, alert fatigue, and constant firefighting. In addition, it explains why those patterns lead to burnout and make proactive improvement harder.

• Database Storage Optimization for the High-Performance DBA
  Storage remains one of the most practical challenges for SQL Server teams. This piece covers I/O bottlenecks, TempDB contention, transaction log growth, and the operational value of more deliberate storage practices.

• The High-Performance DBA: Total Recall, Part 1: SQL Server Memory Basics and Best Practices
  In Part 1, Kevin explains how SQL Server uses memory, why memory becomes a bottleneck, and which configuration habits help create a more stable, high-performance environment.

• The High-Performance DBA: Total Recall, Part 2: SQL Server Memory, Plan Cache, and Query Patterns
  In Part 2, he focuses on plan cache bloat, inefficient query patterns, practical troubleshooting, and how observability tools can shorten the path from symptom to root cause.

Deep Dive Technical Content

Alongside the DBA series, we are also publishing more technical articles that explore specific product capabilities in greater detail.

Recently, that work has focused on two practical challenges. First, teams need better ways to discover unmonitored database instances. Second, they need faster ways to tune slow queries and reduce guesswork.

Recent Deep Dive Articles

• The Database You Don’t Know About Is the One That Will Burn You by Eoin Keenan
  This article looks at the risk of unmonitored or shadow database instances. It also explains how SolarWinds DPA Database Discovery helps teams find unregistered databases and bring them into monitoring workflows more quickly.

• Accelerate Query Performance With AI Query Assist by Owen Murphy
  This post explores how AI Query Assist combines generative AI with execution-plan context to help rewrite slow SQL. In addition, it emphasizes the security model behind the feature, including data masking and secure architecture for on-premises users.

• Eliminate Guesswork in MySQL Tuning by Owen Murphy
  In this piece, Owen explains how Table Tuning Advisor in SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer helps reduce guesswork in MySQL tuning by surfacing inefficient producer steps and adding useful context such as table churn.

Get Involved On THWACK

Content on the SolarWinds Database Blog is written by SolarWinds staff and collaborators. That helps us keep the blog consistent, credible, and closely aligned with the topics that matter most to our audience.

However, if you want to join the wider conversation, THWACK is the best place to do it.

THWACK is the SolarWinds community for IT pros, DBAs, and other practitioners. It gives members a place to ask questions, share ideas, exchange advice, and discuss real-world challenges. The community now has more than 200,000 members.

Joining is straightforward. Visit the THWACK registration page, complete your profile, and start exploring the discussions, groups, and product communities that match your interests.

From there, you can ask questions, share advice, comment on posts, and follow conversations around database management, monitoring, observability, and broader IT operations.

Useful THWACK Links

If you are new to THWACK, getting started can feel a little overwhelming. So, here are a few quick links that make navigation easier:

• THWACK Home
  Start here to explore community discussions, groups, blogs, events, product spaces, and recent activity.

• Data Driven Group
  This is the database-focused THWACK group. It is designed as a place to discuss industry trends, pain points, and newly discovered insights with data-driven peers.

• What We’re Working On for DPA
  This discussion gives a direct view into recently released DPA capabilities and the areas currently on the roadmap, including Database Discovery, AI Query Assist improvements, and tempDB visibility work.

• What We’re Working On for SQL Sentry
  This page highlights recent SQL Sentry updates and current focus areas, including AI Query Assist improvements, easier onboarding, Linux metrics, and Portal enhancements.

Keep checking back for more database blog updates. There is a lot more still to come.