Finding Unencrypted SQL Server Connections, and the Instances That Accept Them
Use sys.dm_exec_connections to list SQL Server sessions that aren’t encrypted, check Force Encryption, and see how driver defaults changed.
Why SQL Server RTM Diffs Do Not Match CU Diffs
SQL Server 2025 RTM and CU9 do not have the same system surface. I compared both diffs and counted the changed findings.
How Approximate Are SQL Server 2022 XTP Hash Index Stats?
I tested SQL Server’s undocumented XTP hash index approximation function against the documented DMV on one scratch table.
sp_dw_* and the Trident Procedures in SQL Server 2025
SQL Server 2025 adds more sp_dw and Trident system surface, including procedures, wait types, Extended Events, and messages.
sys.dm_hadr_internal_* and the Other Availability Group Additions in SQL Server 2025
SQL Server 2025 adds internal HADR views, documented DMV columns, AG configuration options, wait types, XE events, and messages.
System Objects Removed in SQL Server 2025
I compared SQL Server 2022 CU25 with SQL Server 2025 CU9 and found removed system objects, columns, wait types, XE events and messages.