Server configuration: fill factor
Applies to: SQL Server
This article describes how to configure the fill factor
server configuration option in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL. Fill factor is provided for fine-tuning index data storage and performance. When an index is created or rebuilt, the fill-factor value determines the percentage of space on each leaf-level page to be filled with data, reserving the rest as free space for future growth. For more information, see Specify Fill Factor for an Index.
Recommendations
This option is an advanced option and should be changed only by an experienced database administrator or certified SQL Server professional.
Permissions
Execute permissions on sp_configure
with no parameters or with only the first parameter are granted to all users by default. To execute sp_configure
with both parameters to change a configuration option or to run the RECONFIGURE
statement, a user must be granted the ALTER SETTINGS
server-level permission. The ALTER SETTINGS
permission is implicitly held by the sysadmin and serveradmin fixed server roles.
Use SQL Server Management Studio
In Object Explorer, right-click a server and select Properties.
Select the Database Settings node.
In the Default index fill factor box, type or select the index fill factor that you want.
Use Transact-SQL
Connect to the Database Engine.
From the Standard bar, select New Query.
Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute. This example shows how to use sp_configure to set the value of the
fill factor
option to100
.USE master; GO EXECUTE sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1; GO RECONFIGURE; GO EXECUTE sp_configure 'fill factor', 100; GO RECONFIGURE; GO EXECUTE sp_configure 'show advanced options', 0; GO RECONFIGURE; GO
For more information, see Server configuration options.
Follow up: After you configure the fill factor option
The server must be restarted before the setting can take effect.