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#NewStarNovember - Being a mentor

3 minute read

Thank you to the ever wonderful Ben for the suggestion to blog. Check out #NewStarNovember for more blog posts. Who was your mentor? I have never had an of...

The first page with GitHub Pages

less than 1 minute read

Last night I started the experiment that has been in my head for a while now, to move from SQL Dba With A Beard to RobSewell.com

Surprised and Honoured and Proud

1 minute read

I have always been extremely proud to be a Cloud and Datacenter Management MVP, and lucky enough to be involved with both the PowerShell community as well as...

Running Jupyter Notebooks as Agent Jobs

4 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a great tool for connecting with your data platform whether it is in Azure or on your hardware. Jupyter Notebooks are fantastic, you can...

.NET PowerShell Notebooks – Using Pester

2 minute read

My last post had a lot of information about the new .NET PowerShell notebooks including installation instructions. .NET Notebooks are Jupyter Notebooks that...

Whats a SQL Notebook in Azure Data Studio?

5 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, Mac...

Hitting the Wall – #TSQL2sDay

1 minute read

Photo by Farrel Nobel on Unsplash Welcome to another edition of T-SQL Tuesday! This T-SQL Tuesday is hosted by Wayne Sheffield ( blog  ...

A PowerShell Conference In A Book

3 minute read

A Question Shortly after the European PowerShell Conference and the PowerShell and Devops 2018 summit in the USA Mike Robbins b t conta...

dbachecks – Improved Descriptions

1 minute read

With the latest release of dbachecks we have added a new check for testing that foreign keys and constraints are trusted thanks to Cláudio Sil...

Visual Studio Code Live Sharing Set-Up

2 minute read

There was an announcement on the Visual Studio Code blog about the public preview of Live Share. This enables you to easily collaborate on code by securely s...

#tsql2sday – Giving Back – Reprise

4 minute read

It’s TSQL Tuesday again! This month our host is Riley Major (b/t) and the subject is Giving Back. He’s given us two options here (as well as the side optio...

Checking Availability Groups with dbachecks

4 minute read

It’s been 45 days since we released dbachecks Announcing dbachecks – Configurable PowerShell Validation For Your SQL Instances https://t.co/2dmUdKtgTQ pic.t...

Easily Splatting PowerShell with VS Code

2 minute read

So I always like to show splatting PowerShell commands when I am presenting sessions or workshops and realised that I had not really blogged about it. (This ...

dbachecks – Configuration Deep Dive

17 minute read

Today is the day that we have announced dbachecks  a PowerShell module enabling you to validate your SQL Instances. You can read more about it here where you...

Using the AST in Pester for dbachecks

6 minute read

TagLine – My goal – Chrissy will appreciate Unit Tests one day 🙂 Chrissy has written about dbachecks the new up and coming community driven open source Powe...

TSQL2sDay – Get-PostRoundup

5 minute read

First an apology, this round up is late! The reason for that is an error in the PowerShell testing module Pester (That’s not completely true as you shall se...

PSDay.UK Tickets are on sale

1 minute read

Following a lot of hard work by the organising folks Gael Colas, Ebru Cucen, Daniel Krebs and Johnathan Medd, we are pleased to announce that the PSDay.UK ti...

Presentation Nerves

7 minute read

My previous post on interviews and a number of conversations this year inspired me to write this post. I am lucky enough to have been selected to speak at nu...

I Hate Interviews – TSQL2sDay

6 minute read

This month’s T-SQL Tuesday is hosted by Kendra Little and is on the topic of interviews  I hate interviews as an interviewee. I have had many memorable ex...

Announcing PSDay.UK – Whats a PSDay?

2 minute read

On Thursday evening I attended the joint London WinOps and PowerShell User Group. It was an excellent evening with two great sessions by Jaap Brasser and Fil...

dbatools at #SQLSatDublin

8 minute read

This weekend SQL Saturday Dublin occurred. For those that don’t know SQL Saturdays are free conferences with local and international speakers providing great...

Using Twitter with VS Code

1 minute read

So today I saw this tweet from Mathias in reply to Stefan and Amanda That looks cool. Twitter in VS Code, one less programme to open Here how it works Op...

Why VS Code Increases my Productivity

1 minute read

Last week I was showing a co-worker some PowerShell code and he asked what the editor was that I was using. Visual Studio Code I said. Why do you use that? W...

Why Volunteer at SQLBits ?

9 minute read

WARNING – Contains Orange and light-hearted photos 😉 I have returned home from SQLBits 2017 The Disco Edition. I am exhausted, my body is pointing out to me...

VS Code PowerShell Snippets

less than 1 minute read

Just a quick post, as much as a reminder for me as anything, but also useful to those that attended my sessions last week where I talked about snippets in Po...

Running SQL Queries with Visual Studio Code

2 minute read

Reading this blog post by Shawn Melton Introduction of Visual Studio Code for DBAs reminded me that whilst I use Visual Studio Code (which I shall refer to a...

Enabling Cortana for dbareports PowerBi

5 minute read

Last week at the Birmingham user group I gave a presentation about PowerShell and SQL Server It was a very packed session as I crammed in the new sqlserve...

PowerBi and API – Visualising my Checkins

5 minute read

For my own amusement and also to show my wife where I have been I use the Swarm check-in app on my phone and check-in to places. Also for my own amusement I ...

Some Pester Tests for SQL Defaults

4 minute read

When I was at PowerShell Conference EU in Hannover last month (The videos are available now – click here and the slides and code here) I found out about Irwi...

DBA Database scripts are on Github

1 minute read

It started with a tweet from Dusty The second session I presented at the fantastic PowerShell Conference Europe was about using the DBA Database to automa...

Instances and Ports with PowerShell

less than 1 minute read

Just a quick post and a day late for #SQLNewBlogger There are some excellent posts on that hashtag and I recommend that you read them

Giving Back – #TSQL2sday

8 minute read

T-SQL Tuesday, which was started by Adam Machanic (blog|twitter) and is now starting its 6th year, is hosted by a different person each month. The host sele...

Making a Change Log Easier With PowerShell

2 minute read

Having a Change Log is a good thing. A quick and simple place to find out what has changed on a server and when. This can be invaluable when troubleshooting,...

Generating T-SQL Randomly with Powershell

4 minute read

I have a lab on my laptop running various servers so that I can problem solve and learn and recently I wanted to add several months of data into a database. ...

Enable CLR with Powershell

1 minute read

I had an email last night from someone who attended my PowerShell Box of Tricks session at SQL Saturday Exeter

Using PowerShell to get Azure Endpoint Ports

less than 1 minute read

A quick blog today. I was reading this blog post about How to read the SQL Error Log and I thought I would try some of the examples. I started my Azure VM us...

The PowerShell Box Of Tricks GUI

2 minute read

When I started as a DBA at MyWork I faced a challenge. Many hundreds of databases, dozens of servers and no idea what was on where. It was remembering this s...

Searching the SQL Error Log with PowerShell

1 minute read

Another post in the PowerShell Box of Tricks series. Here is another script which I use to save me time and effort during my daily workload enabling me to sp...

Checking Drive Sizes with PowerShell

1 minute read

I have developed a series of PowerShell functions over time which save me time and effort whilst still enabling me to provide a good service to my customers....

SQL login object permissions via PowerShell

2 minute read

As you know, I love PowerShell! I use it all the time in my daily job as a SQL DBA and at home whilst learning as well. Not only do I use PowerShell for auto...

SQL Express Migration Auto Close Setting

1 minute read

With over 700 databases to look after at MyWork automation is high on my list of priorities. I have two PowerShell scripts which run regularly checking SQL E...

12 Things I learnt at SQLBits XI

1 minute read

The quality of the speakers and sessions is exceptional http://sqlbits.com/information/Agenda.aspx The Helpers are awesome ...

Post: Chat

2 minute read

Abbott: Strange as it may seem, they give ball players nowadays very peculiar names.

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PowerShell

Running Jupyter Notebooks as Agent Jobs

4 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a great tool for connecting with your data platform whether it is in Azure or on your hardware. Jupyter Notebooks are fantastic, you can...

Whats a SQL Notebook in Azure Data Studio?

5 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, Mac...

Using the AST in Pester for dbachecks

6 minute read

TagLine – My goal – Chrissy will appreciate Unit Tests one day 🙂 Chrissy has written about dbachecks the new up and coming community driven open source Powe...

Power Bi, PowerShell and SQL Agent Jobs

7 minute read

Continuing my series on using Power Bi with my DBA Database I am going to show in this post how I create the most useful daily report for DBAs - The SQL Agen...

Use Twitter to get #PowerShell help

1 minute read

A quick post today just to add some weight to something that Mike Fal b t has kicked off. The #SQLHelp hashtag is well known and well us...

Instances and Ports with PowerShell

less than 1 minute read

Just a quick post and a day late for #SQLNewBlogger There are some excellent posts on that hashtag and I recommend that you read them

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dbatools

Whats a SQL Notebook in Azure Data Studio?

5 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, Mac...

Using the AST in Pester for dbachecks

6 minute read

TagLine – My goal – Chrissy will appreciate Unit Tests one day 🙂 Chrissy has written about dbachecks the new up and coming community driven open source Powe...

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SQL Server

Power Bi, PowerShell and SQL Agent Jobs

7 minute read

Continuing my series on using Power Bi with my DBA Database I am going to show in this post how I create the most useful daily report for DBAs - The SQL Agen...

Instances and Ports with PowerShell

less than 1 minute read

Just a quick post and a day late for #SQLNewBlogger There are some excellent posts on that hashtag and I recommend that you read them

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Community

#NewStarNovember - Being a mentor

3 minute read

Thank you to the ever wonderful Ben for the suggestion to blog. Check out #NewStarNovember for more blog posts. Who was your mentor? I have never had an of...

Use Twitter to get #PowerShell help

1 minute read

A quick post today just to add some weight to something that Mike Fal b t has kicked off. The #SQLHelp hashtag is well known and well us...

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dbachecks

Whats a SQL Notebook in Azure Data Studio?

5 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, Mac...

dbachecks – Improved Descriptions

1 minute read

With the latest release of dbachecks we have added a new check for testing that foreign keys and constraints are trusted thanks to Cláudio Sil...

Checking Availability Groups with dbachecks

4 minute read

It’s been 45 days since we released dbachecks Announcing dbachecks – Configurable PowerShell Validation For Your SQL Instances https://t.co/2dmUdKtgTQ pic.t...

dbachecks – Configuration Deep Dive

17 minute read

Today is the day that we have announced dbachecks  a PowerShell module enabling you to validate your SQL Instances. You can read more about it here where you...

Using the AST in Pester for dbachecks

6 minute read

TagLine – My goal – Chrissy will appreciate Unit Tests one day 🙂 Chrissy has written about dbachecks the new up and coming community driven open source Powe...

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Jupyter Notebooks

Running Jupyter Notebooks as Agent Jobs

4 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a great tool for connecting with your data platform whether it is in Azure or on your hardware. Jupyter Notebooks are fantastic, you can...

.NET PowerShell Notebooks – Using Pester

2 minute read

My last post had a lot of information about the new .NET PowerShell notebooks including installation instructions. .NET Notebooks are Jupyter Notebooks that...

Whats a SQL Notebook in Azure Data Studio?

5 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, Mac...

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Azure Data Studio

Running Jupyter Notebooks as Agent Jobs

4 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a great tool for connecting with your data platform whether it is in Azure or on your hardware. Jupyter Notebooks are fantastic, you can...

.NET PowerShell Notebooks – Using Pester

2 minute read

My last post had a lot of information about the new .NET PowerShell notebooks including installation instructions. .NET Notebooks are Jupyter Notebooks that...

Whats a SQL Notebook in Azure Data Studio?

5 minute read

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, Mac...

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azure

Using PowerShell to get Azure Endpoint Ports

less than 1 minute read

A quick blog today. I was reading this blog post about How to read the SQL Error Log and I thought I would try some of the examples. I started my Azure VM us...

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IaC

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TSql2sDay

Giving Back – #TSQL2sday

8 minute read

T-SQL Tuesday, which was started by Adam Machanic (blog|twitter) and is now starting its 6th year, is hosted by a different person each month. The host sele...

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Azure DevOps

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Bicep

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Power Bi

Power Bi, PowerShell and SQL Agent Jobs

7 minute read

Continuing my series on using Power Bi with my DBA Database I am going to show in this post how I create the most useful daily report for DBAs - The SQL Agen...

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Azure

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SQL Saturday Exeter

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Data Saturdays

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Speaking

#NewStarNovember - Being a mentor

3 minute read

Thank you to the ever wonderful Ben for the suggestion to blog. Check out #NewStarNovember for more blog posts. Who was your mentor? I have never had an of...

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Tools

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Dev Containers

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GitHub

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NewStarNovember

#NewStarNovember - Being a mentor

3 minute read

Thank you to the ever wonderful Ben for the suggestion to blog. Check out #NewStarNovember for more blog posts. Who was your mentor? I have never had an of...

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TSQL2sDAY

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Developing

Running SQL Queries with Visual Studio Code

2 minute read

Reading this blog post by Shawn Melton Introduction of Visual Studio Code for DBAs reminded me that whilst I use Visual Studio Code (which I shall refer to a...

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PSConfEU

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PowerShell Conference Europe

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community

#tsql2sday – Giving Back – Reprise

4 minute read

It’s TSQL Tuesday again! This month our host is Riley Major (b/t) and the subject is Giving Back. He’s given us two options here (as well as the side optio...

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DevOps

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Visual Studio Code

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Source Control

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pwsh

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Pester

.NET PowerShell Notebooks – Using Pester

2 minute read

My last post had a lot of information about the new .NET PowerShell notebooks including installation instructions. .NET Notebooks are Jupyter Notebooks that...

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SLOBS

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Azure Arc Enabled Data Services

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Kubernetes

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Presenting

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SQLBits

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Conference

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