SQL Server Versioning Explained

Regular 50 minute session for SQLBits 2026Saturday - 25 Apr 2026 - 12:20 - 13:10 Room 2A

TL; DR

Version store, Accelerated Database Recovery, Optimized Locking, and RSCI. What do these all have in common? Versioning. In this session the mysteries of SQL Server versioning will be unlocked.

Session Details

Version store, Accelerated Database Recovery (ADR), Optimized Locking (OL), and RSCI. What do these all have in common? Versioning. In this session the mysteries of SQL Server versioning will be unlocked. You will learn the internals of how it all works, what to use and when, and examples including how to debug it. And we will bring the numbers so you will see exactly how your SQL workload will be affected by using versioning. You will walk aways not just learning how things work but details to help you decide whether you should use options like ADR or OL.

3 things you'll get out of this session

1. Understand how versioning works with all the different options
2. Learn the value and impact to using versioning
3. Experience a "Data Internals - Blow your mind" session

Bob Ward's other proposed sessions for 2026

The Roadmap for One SQL: Edge to PaaS to SaaS - 2026

Ask Me Anything: Migrating On-Prem SQL Server to Azure SQL – Real-World Experience - 2026

Ask us anything - Panel session with SQL LT - 2026

Build Secure, Scalable AI Applications with Azure SQL Database Hyperscale - 2026

Inside SQL Server 2025 Part 1 - 2026

Inside SQL Server 2025 Part 2 - 2026

SQL and AI for the rest of us - 2026

SQL vs. Fabric? Why Not Both! A Practical and Entertaining Guide for All - 2026

What's new in the SQL core engine - 2026

Microsoft SQL and AMD in the era of AI - 2026

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