Welcome to SQLServerPedia. My name is Billy Bosworth and I’m the VP and General Manager of the SQL Server business unit at Quest Software. I wanted to use this space to answer some of the more common questions that I get about SQLServerPedia and why we believe this is going to be a fantastic resource for SQL Server professionals – and it’s completely free.

These days, a funny thing happens when you try to give someone a great resource with no strings attached – most people think it’s too good to be true! Such was the case when I was talking to a customer about SQLServerPedia. This person asked me, “What’s the catch? I mean, c’mon, nothing is for free in this world, and if this site does everything you say, there’s got to be a hidden motive. Nobody does stuff like this for no reason, least of all a vendor who sells products in this space!”

It was a great question. After I answered him, he said, “You should put that on the site!” and so it happened that this page was born.

What’s the catch?

Just like in my conversation with the customer mentioned above, you too may be wondering why a software vendor would provide a site like this for free. Let me give you a thorough answer as I am particularly passionate about this topic.

There is no question that Quest Software is a company that sells products and certainly wants to make a profit, that is no secret. However, what isn’t always obvious is that there are lots of ways to win customers. Let me give you some quick insight into why we believe this helps us in the long run. We want you to know we’re passionate about taking care of our customers. We want you to know that we care about delivering solutions to your everyday problems and challenges. So, there are a couple ways we can do that.

1. We can tell you (advertising)

2. We can prove it to you (SQLServerPedia)

Telling you is easy. It really is. All you need is money and you can buy ads from morning till night telling the world about yourself. And, there’s nothing wrong with that. We do it all the time. But we believe that SHOWING someone how much you want to help them makes for better long-term relationships. It takes longer, but we believe it is well worth the wait.

SQLServerPedia puts our money, time and energy where our heart is – with you, the community. We want to help you through your toughest challenges without pushing product, or going into “sales” mode. Then, when the time comes, and you have a pain that only a tool can solve, we hope that you will allow us the opportunity to earn your business. Think about if you were selling. Wouldn’t you rather have customers already familiar with your company in a way that has benefited them numerous times in the past with great, free resources? It’s really just that simple.

How is SQLServerPedia different from Books Online or MSDN and other resources?

Let’s be clear: We do not replace invaluable resources such as Books Online, MSDN, and other great forums, journals, blogs and periodicals that already exist. They do a fantastic job of delivering vast amounts of information on SQL Server and we have no desire to reinvent the wheel.

That said, the information they provide only takes you so far. For example, suppose I have access to the best technical resources available for working on my car engine. I have all the specs, model numbers, diagrams, etc. But when I open the hood and start working, suddenly I realize that I have specific questions that the manuals and information guides don’t seem to cover. Now, imagine if I had a resource that was written with not only the correct technical specifications (or links to them), but also with expert insight addressing dozens, if not hundreds, of questions from people who were also in my circumstance. And perhaps most importantly, imagine if it stayed up to date so that every time I used it, I knew those experts were making sure everything was fresh and relevant, reflecting all the latest techniques and user experiences. A solution like that turns raw, static information into dynamic useful knowledge, and that is our mission at SQLServerPedia.com.

Where do you get your information, and how do I know I can trust it?

Taking on this task is no small feat and the only way we know to make it happen is by harnessing the power of a community. With MVPs and recognized domain experts, SQLServerPedia is cared for by dedicated professionals who are passionate about SQL Server and about helping others. Editors take ownership of certain areas of the site, and then ensure that any contributed content is accurate, fresh, and relevant.

Is this a true wiki?

It is… and more. Browsing and searching the site requires no registration whatsoever. And even if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you still have two great options. First, you can simply ask for content via ask@sqlserverpedia.com and one of our editors will work on your question, then potentially convert it into an entry from which the entire community can benefit. Second, request to be a content contributor and you can create content yourself along with many others from the community.

In order to ensure maximum relevance to real-world problems, we want everyone to be able to contribute, just like you can on any other wiki site. To do this, you will have to go through a registration process and obtain a user ID. We hope you can understand why. It’s not to market or sell to you (we do not use your contact information for any sales purposes whatsoever). It is to help prevent malicious content on the site.

Once you sign in and post changes to a topic, an Editor will verify for accuracy and relevance, and then your comments become part of the knowledge base so that everyone can learn from them.

Can I be an editor?

While anyone can contribute, not just anyone can be an editor. That’s how we keep things running in a way that you can trust and depend on. Our editors are put through a rigorous screening process and must be approved by our Editor-in-Chief, Brent Ozar.

If you would like to learn more about becoming an editor, please contact us at ask@sqlserverpedia.com. We would love to talk with you about the opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Here at Quest, we have been a trusted name in the database world for a long time and are very excited about the future of this dynamic market. We will continue to invest in strong relationships with our customers, and in the case of SQLServerPedia, it’s with the people in the community. We push ourselves to think and plan beyond just the next sale. It takes a long time to earn someone’s trust in this profession, but we’re a patient group who believes it is well worth the wait. If you’re still cynical, I would just ask that you give us a chance to prove otherwise.

So enjoy the site and we hope that you have nothing but success in your role as a SQL Server professional. If we can help make that happen, all the better!