SQL Server Archives

Winsage

February 25, 2026

Microsoft gives Windows laggards the ‘gift of time’ wrapped in licensing fees

Microsoft is offering up to three years of Extended Security Updates (ESU) for older Windows installations, with the expectation of compensation. Most major versions of Windows 10 will reach end of support by 2025, while Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB and Windows IoT Enterprise LTSB 2016 will end support on October 13, 2026, and Windows Server 2016 will conclude support on January 12, 2027. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2025 for Windows Server 2016 users. The pricing for ESU for Windows 10 2016 LTSB starts at a specified amount per device for the first year, with expected increases in subsequent years. Customers using Intune or Windows Autopatch may receive a reduced rate. There is no official pricing for Windows Server 2016 ESU, creating uncertainty for administrators. Historically, Microsoft has charged a premium for extended support, with previous ESU costs for Windows Server 2012 being 100 percent of the full license price for the first year. The final cost of ESU will depend on each organization’s licensing agreement.

Tech Optimizer

February 12, 2026

Build a custom solution to migrate SQL Server HierarchyID to PostgreSQL LTREE with AWS DMS

Data migration from SQL Server to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL or Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition often requires adjustments to the database schema or SQL commands. AWS provides DMS Schema Conversion to aid in converting existing database schemas and AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) to assist in data migration, featuring enhanced security and minimized downtime. SQL Server uses the HierarchyID data type for managing hierarchical data, while PostgreSQL employs the LTREE extension for similar purposes. The migration process involves preparing both the source SQL Server and target PostgreSQL environments, creating tables, installing the LTREE extension, and converting schemas using AWS DMS Schema Conversion. The migration steps include creating sample tables in SQL Server with HierarchyID columns, enabling change data capture (CDC), creating the LTREE extension in PostgreSQL, and preparing the target table structure. AWS DMS endpoints are created for both source and target databases, followed by the creation and execution of an AWS DMS migration task. Post-migration, the original HierarchyID column is replaced with the LTREE column, and the IDENTITY column behavior is reverted to its original state. The migration process is verified by inserting rows in PostgreSQL and ensuring they are in the correct LTREE format. Common functions from SQL Server's HierarchyID are mapped to their PostgreSQL LTREE equivalents, facilitating the transition between the two systems.

Tech Optimizer

January 27, 2026

PostgreSQL for WMS: a DBMS selection strategy in the era of import substitution

Choosing a Database Management System (DBMS) for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) is a strategic decision that impacts security, budget, and adaptability. PostgreSQL is identified as a safe, cost-effective, and future-proof solution for Russian warehouse systems, especially following the withdrawal of foreign vendors like Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server. Starting September 1, 2025, foreign software usage in government bodies and companies with over 50% state ownership will face legal restrictions, posing regulatory risks for those using Oracle. Financial risks include high licensing fees and the potential for legal prohibitions on current technologies. Business continuity risks arise from the possibility of vendors ceasing support and updates. PostgreSQL, both in its vanilla form and commercial derivatives like Postgres Pro, is presented as a robust alternative capable of handling high loads and providing necessary features for modern WMS. It supports real-time analytics and advanced capabilities such as intelligent search and automatic classification using neural networks. Key considerations when choosing a DBMS include estimating data volumes, checking legal requirements, and calculating total cost of ownership (TCO).

Winsage

January 15, 2026

Microsoft updates Windows DLL that triggered security alerts

Microsoft has resolved an issue where third-party security applications mistakenly flagged the WinSqlite3.dll component of the Windows operating system as vulnerable. This issue affected various systems, including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2012 through 2025. The flagged vulnerability was linked to a memory corruption issue (CVE-2025-6965). Microsoft released an update to the WinSqlite3.dll component in updates from June 2025 and later, advising users to install the latest updates for their devices. WinSqlite3.dll is a core component of Windows, distinct from sqlite3.dll, which is not part of the operating system. Microsoft had previously addressed other false positive issues affecting its Defender for Endpoint platform.

Winsage

January 14, 2026

U.S. CISA adds a flaw in Microsoft Windows to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added a Microsoft Windows vulnerability, CVE-2026-20805, to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, with a CVSS score of 8.7. This vulnerability, part of the January 2026 Patch Tuesday updates, affects the Windows Desktop Window Manager and allows attackers to leak memory information, potentially aiding in further exploits. Federal Civilian Executive Branch agencies must address this vulnerability by February 3, 2026, as mandated by Binding Operational Directive 22-01.

Winsage

December 25, 2025

Native NVMe support in Windows Server 2025 promises dramatic speed gains

Microsoft has introduced native NVMe support in Windows Server 2025, enhancing the performance of modern NVMe devices, including PCIe Gen5 SSDs and high-end Host Bus Adapters (HBAs). This feature eliminates the translation layers that previously routed NVMe I/O through SCSI, resulting in reduced processing overhead and latency. Testing shows that Windows Server 2025 can achieve up to 80% higher 4K random read IOPS and approximately 45% fewer CPU cycles per I/O compared to Windows Server 2022. The enhancements benefit enterprise applications such as SQL Server, OLTP workloads, and virtualization environments using Hyper-V, as well as analytics and AI/ML workloads. To utilize native NVMe, system administrators must use the in-box Windows NVMe driver, and the feature requires an opt-in process with the latest cumulative update and registry key or Group Policy configuration. Organizations should validate the implementation to assess its impact on their production environments.

Tech Optimizer

December 12, 2025

Optimize and troubleshoot database performance in Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL by analyzing execution plans using CloudWatch Database Insights

Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched CloudWatch Database Insights in December 2024, a monitoring solution for Aurora (PostgreSQL and MySQL) and Amazon RDS engines, aimed at identifying and resolving database performance issues. The tool includes an Advanced mode for SQL execution plan analysis, which helps users troubleshoot query performance within Aurora PostgreSQL clusters. The PostgreSQL query optimizer generates execution plans to determine the most efficient way to execute SQL queries, which can be analyzed using the EXPLAIN command. Users can compare execution plans to identify performance degradation, such as changes in execution behavior due to dropped indexes or inefficient join strategies. For example, a comparison of execution plans for a SQL statement retrieving order details showed significant differences: one plan used an efficient index scan while another resorted to sequential scans due to missing indexes, leading to increased query costs and execution times. Additionally, analysis of execution plans can reveal performance bottlenecks, such as insufficient memory allocation for sorting operations. Adjusting the work_mem parameter allowed for in-memory sorting, improving performance significantly. CloudWatch Database Insights facilitates the identification of these issues, enabling users to optimize query performance effectively.

Tech Optimizer

December 2, 2025

AWS Transform announces full-stack Windows modernization capabilities

AWS launched AWS Transform for .NET in May, aimed at modernizing .NET applications. In response to user feedback, AWS introduced AWS Transform for full-stack Windows modernization, which streamlines modernization tasks across the Windows application stack. This service enhances modernization efficiency by up to five times and supports migration from .NET Framework to cross-platform .NET and SQL Server to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition. It includes features for validating and testing applications, customizable deployment configurations, and modernizing ASP.NET Web Forms UI to Blazor. AWS Transform connects to source code repositories and database servers to analyze dependencies and create modernization waves. Users can configure database connectors for SQL Server and source code repositories, leading to a wave-based transformation plan. The service generates a SQL Modernization Assessment Report detailing the proposed modernization strategy. The transformation process involves converting SQL Server schema to PostgreSQL, migrating data, transforming .NET application code, and deploying applications for testing. AWS Transform exclusively supports codebases in .NET 6 or later. It also facilitates UI modernization from ASP.NET Web Forms to Blazor, managing the conversion of various project files. Additional features include support for porting to .NET 10 and .NET Standard, an editable transformation report, real-time tracking of transformation progress, and a markdown file outlining remaining tasks post-transformation. AWS Transform for full-stack Windows modernization is available in the US East (N. Virginia) Region, with no additional charges for the features beyond standard resource usage. It supports SQL Server versions from 2008 R2 to 2022 and Entity Framework versions 6.3 to 8.0.

Tech Optimizer

November 20, 2025

Microsoft launches distributed PostgreSQL to rival AWS

Microsoft has launched a new distributed PostgreSQL database service called Azure HorizonDB, which is fully compatible with open source PostgreSQL and designed to enhance performance, scalability, and availability. The service supports autoscaling storage up to 128 TB and compute capabilities of up to 3,072 vCores, with a multi-zone commit latency of less than one millisecond. It features advanced AI capabilities, including DiskANN vector indexes and AI model management, but does not currently offer a serverless model. The launch coincides with a rise in PostgreSQL adoption, with 58 percent of professional developers using it. Competitors in the distributed PostgreSQL market include CockroachDB, YugabyteDB, and Google and AWS's offerings. Microsoft has also introduced two PostgreSQL extensions aimed at enhancing its database services.

Tech Optimizer

November 19, 2025

Microsoft updates database portfolio and adds open-source offerings

Microsoft has announced updates to its database offerings, including the general availability of Azure DocumentDB and SQL Server 2025, and a private preview of Azure HorizonDB. Azure DocumentDB is a managed service based on the open-source DocumentDB project, compatible with MongoDB, featuring vector and hybrid search, autoscaling, and enhanced security. SQL Server 2025 introduces AI capabilities, native JSON support, and improved query optimization. Azure HorizonDB, currently in private preview, is a cloud database service based on PostgreSQL, designed for enterprise applications, supporting transactions and vector search, and integrating with Microsoft’s development platforms. Additionally, Microsoft Fabric databases, which combine SQL and Azure Cosmos DB functionalities, are now available.