Common Commands of SQL Server for a SQL DBA

Common Commands of SQL Server for a SQL DBA

sp_helpdbThis gives you information about all databases in the instance or specific information about one database.
sp_helpdb
sp_helpdb databasename

fn_virtualfilestatsThis command will show you the number of read and writes to a data file. Use sp_helpdb with the database name to see the logical file numbers for the data files and the database id.
SELECT * FROM :: fn_virtualfilestats(dabaseid, logicalfileid)
SELECT * FROM :: fn_virtualfilestats(1, 1)
fn_get_sql()
Returns the text of the SQL statement for the specified SQL handle. This is similar to using DBCC INPUTBUFFER, but this command will show you additional information. This can also be embedded in a process easier then using the DBCC command
DECLARE @Handle binary(20) SELECT @Handle = sql_handle FROM sysprocesses WHERE spid = 52 SELECT * FROM ::fn_get_sql(@Handle)

sp_lockThis command shows you all of the locks that the system is currently tracking This is similar to information you can see in Enterprise Manager.
sp_lock
sp_lock spid
sp_lock spid1, spid2

sp_helpThis command gives you information about the objects within a database. The command without an objectname will give you a list of all objects within the database.
sp_help
sp_help objectname

sp_who2Gives you process information similar to what you see when using Enterprise Manager.
sp_who2
sp_who2 spid

sp_helpindexGives you information about the indexes on a table as well as the columns used for the index.
sp_helpindex objectname

sp_spaceusedThis command shows you how much space has been allocated for the database (or if specified an object) and how much space is being used.
sp_spaceused
sp_spaceused objectname
DBCC CACHESTATS
Displays information about the objects currently in the buffer cache.
DBCC CACHESTATS

DBCC CHECKDBThis will check the allocation of all pages in the database as well as check for any integrity issues.
DBCC CHECKDB

DBCC CHECKTABLEThis will check the allocation of all pages for a specific table or index as well as check for any integrity issues.
DBCC CHECKTABLE (‘tableName’)

DBCC DBREINDEXThis command will reindex your table. If the indexname is left out then all indexes are rebuilt. If the fillfactor is set to 0 then this will use the original fillfactor when the table was created.
DBCC DBREINDEX (tablename, indexname, fillfactor)
DBCC DBREINDEX (authors, '', 70)
DBCC DBREINDEX ('pubs.dbo.authors', UPKCL_auidind, 80)

DBCC PROCCACHEThis command will show you information about the procedure cache and how much is being used. Spotlight will also show you this same information.
DBCC PROCCACHE
DBCC MEMORYSTATUS
Displays how the SQL Server buffer cache is divided up, including buffer activity.
DBCC MEMORYSTATUS

DBCC SHOWCONTIGThis command gives you information about how much space is used for a table and indexes. Information provided includes number of pages used as well as how fragmented the data is in the database.
DBCC SHOWCONTIG
DBCC SHOWCONTIG WITH ALL_INDEXES
DBCC SHOWCONTIG tablename

DBCC SHOW_STATISTICSThis will show how statistics are laid out for an index. You can see how distributed the data is and whether the index is really a good candidate or not.DBCC SHOW_STATISTICS (tablename, indexname)

DBCC SHRINKFILEThis will allow you to shrink one of the database files. This is equivalent to doing a database shrink, but you can specify what file and the size to shrink it to. Use the sp_helpdb command along with the database name to see the actual file names used.
DBCC SHRINKFILE (filename, size in MB)
DBCC SHRINKFILE (DataFile, 1000)

DBCC SQLPERFThis command will show you much of the transaction logs are being used.

DBCC SQLPERF(LOGSPACE)

DBCC TRACEONThis command will turn on a trace flag to capture events in the error log. Trace Flag 1204 captures Deadlock information.
DBCC TRACEON(traceflag)

DBCC TRACEOFFThis command turns off a trace flag.
DBCC TRACEOFF(traceflag)