A Deep Dive into Table Partitioning – Part 2: Design, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

Table partitioning isn’t a silver bullet for large tables. Used well, it improves data management and maintenance; used poorly, it leads to unpredictable performance and difficult troubleshooting.

In this two-part, demo-driven deep dive, we build a clear understanding of how table partitioning works in SQL Server and how design and operational choices affect performance. The sessions move from partitioning mechanics and elimination to real-world design, indexing, and troubleshooting, giving attendees a practical mental model they can apply confidently in production.
Part 2 builds on the mechanics covered in Part 1 and focuses on real-world design and operational challenges. We examine partition key selection, aligned and non-aligned indexes, and how these choices affect both query performance and maintenance.

Using practical scenarios, we explore common performance problems in partitioned tables, why “partitioning made it slower,” and how to troubleshoot these issues effectively. The session closes with a practical checklist for diagnosing and fixing partitioned-table performance problems in production systems.

After attending this two-part session, attendees will: - Gain a clear, practical understanding of table partitioning that removes common misconceptions and uncertainty. - Be able to evaluate when partitioning is appropriate—and when it is not—saving time and avoiding unnecessary complexity. - Design partitioning strategies with confidence, based on how SQL Server actually behaves rather than assumptions. - Achieve more predictable performance and maintenance outcomes for large tables. - Reduce trial-and-error by applying a systematic approach to partitioning in real systems. To achieve these objectives, Part 2 enables attendees to apply the mental model built in Part 1 to real-world design and operational decisions, helping them achieve predictable performance and maintainability in partitioned tables.