Brad’s Sure Guide to SQL Server Maintenance Plans- P26: SQL Server has a reputation as being a simple database application to install, configure, and maintain. This is a little misleading. SQL Server is a powerful relational database that can handle the needs of the largest organizations and, as such, its proper maintenance almost certainly requires the attention of an experienced DBA. | Chapter 8 Reorganize Index Task Creating the Job Schedule The last option on the Wizard screen is Schedule which we already know how to use. In our example we d run the Reorganize Index task as a direct replacement of the Rebuild Index task in other words at 2 . on Sunday morning during our maintenance window see Figure . In general 1 recommend you run the Reorganize Index task after the Check Database Integrity task but before any of the backup tasks. This way you won t waste any time reorganizing your database should the Check Database Integrity task fail. 1n addition your backups will be of the latest reorganized version so if you have to restore it it will be ready to use. Once the Reorganize Index task has run then you want to immediately start the Update Statistics task so that the databases have properly updated statistics. Don t accidently overlap these tasks as they will both fight for resources potentially contributing to performance problems on your SQL Server instance. Summary Like the Rebuild Index task the Reorganize Index task works to minimize wasted space and logical fragmentation in database indexes. This can help boost the performance of your SQL Server. Think of it as a lightweight alternative to the Rebuild Index task which is best used when you don t have an available maintenance window to perform the Rebuild Index task. 1n the next chapter we take an in-depth look at the Update Statistics task which is a task you will always want to run after using the Reorganize Index task. 126 Chapter 9 Update Statistics Task The Update Statistics task has been referenced many times in previous chapters and now it s time to investigate exactly what it does and how it works. When the Update Statistics task is run it executes the UPDATE STATISTICS command against all of the tables in the databases you select bringing up to date all index and column statistics. As discussed in Chapter 7 the Rebuild Index task automatically updates statistics and so you
