Aaron Bertrand starts a new series:
We all have one: the table that grows forever. Maybe it contains chat messages, post comments, or simple web traffic. Eventually, the table gets large enough that it becomes problematic – for example, users will notice that searches or updates take longer and longer as this massive, ever-growing table is scanned.
People often deal with this by archiving older data into a separate table. In this tip series, I’ll describe an archive table, explain why that solution carries its own set of problems, and show other potential ways to deal with data that grows indefinitely.
This is where we say, “Ah, if only Stretch DB had been priced approximately 1/100th of what it really was.” Stretch DB also had its own problems—especially if you ever needed to change the large table’s schema—but stay tuned for Aaron’s answers.