SQL Server performance monitoring and tuning Buck Woody

About our speaker Buck Woody, Buck Woody, Working with technology since Working with technology since Technical writer, DBA, technician, help desk, manager and consultant. Technical writer, DBA, technician, help desk, manager and consultant. President of the Tampa SQL Server User Group President of the Tampa SQL Server User Group Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Certified Database Administrator Experience with SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, SQLPostgre, DB2 Experience with SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, SQLPostgre, DB2 Author Administrators Guide to SQL Server 2005 Author Administrators Guide to SQL Server 2005

Make SQL Server faster Methodology Methodology Look at SQL Server from a holistic standpoint. Look at SQL Server from a holistic standpoint. How to baseline a SQL Server system. How to baseline a SQL Server system. How to track it from a landscape perspective. How to track it from a landscape perspective. Evaluate the system now and going forward Evaluate the system now and going forward

Phases of performance tuning Define components Define components Evaluate objects Evaluate objects Interpret findings Interpret findings Create an action plan Create an action plan

Performance tracking Use tracking tool of your choice Use tracking tool of your choice Word Word Excel Excel Database Database Methodology works on any platform Methodology works on any platform

Define components A holistic view of the landscape A holistic view of the landscape Path determination Path determination Systems Systems Software Software Hardware Hardware

The landscape Literally everything Literally everything Server itself Server itself Clustering components, if clustered Clustering components, if clustered Networking, cards and driver levels Networking, cards and driver levels Routers and switches Routers and switches Client workstations Client workstations Etc. Etc. An entire representation of your environment An entire representation of your environment

Define components A holistic view of the landscape A holistic view of the landscape Path determination Path determination Systems Systems Software Software Hardware Hardware

The path Determine how data gets from a fairly unique client machine to the server. Determine how data gets from a fairly unique client machine to the server. Diagram the path: Diagram the path: Paint Paint PowerPoint PowerPoint Visio Visio Network tools Network tools Determine areas of slowdown. Determine areas of slowdown.

Define components A holistic view of the landscape A holistic view of the landscape Path determination Path determination Systems Systems Software Software Hardware Hardware

The system Document the architecture Document the architecture Two tier – client and a server Two tier – client and a server Three tier – client, middle layer and a server Three tier – client, middle layer and a server N tier – multiple systems N tier – multiple systems SOA – lots of moving parts SOA – lots of moving parts

Define components A holistic view of the landscape A holistic view of the landscape Path determination Path determination Systems Systems Software Software Hardware Hardware

The software Document software drivers, interfaces and code Document software drivers, interfaces and code Only concerned with representative systems. Only concerned with representative systems. Avoid making immediate changes; if you change the test, you cant determine the exact issue. Avoid making immediate changes; if you change the test, you cant determine the exact issue. Do take care of security issues. Do take care of security issues. WinMSD WinMSD Graphical representation of your system Graphical representation of your system

Define components A holistic view – the landscape A holistic view – the landscape Path determination Path determination Systems Systems Software Software Hardware Hardware

The hardware Document hardware Document hardware Networking Networking Memory Memory Input/Output Input/Output hard drives hard drives storage area networks (SANs) storage area networks (SANs) network-attached storage (NAS) devices network-attached storage (NAS) devices

Evaluate objects Tools Tools Working with a baseline Working with a baseline Working without a baseline Working without a baseline Dont fix anything yet! Dont fix anything yet!

The tools Tools Tools SQL Server built-in tools SQL Server built-in tools System and Performance Monitor System and Performance Monitor Third-party tools Third-party tools Collect objects and counters Collect objects and counters Memory Memory CPU CPU Network Network I/O I/O Store data Store data

Evaluate objects Tools Tools Working with a baseline Working with a baseline Working without a baseline Working without a baseline Dont fix anything yet! Dont fix anything yet!

Gather a baseline Working with a baseline Working with a baseline Collect data when the problem doesnt exist. Collect data when the problem doesnt exist. Gather a lot of detail. Gather a lot of detail. Working without a baseline Working without a baseline Start broad and zero in on problems. Start broad and zero in on problems. Look at wider counters (i.e. CPU performance). Look at wider counters (i.e. CPU performance).

Evaluate objects Tools Tools Working with a baseline Working with a baseline Working without a baseline Working without a baseline Dont fix anything yet! Dont fix anything yet!

Interpret findings Gather subject matter experts Gather subject matter experts You cant do it all – dont try You cant do it all – dont try Gather their thoughts Gather their thoughts Make everyone come up with what they think Make everyone come up with what they think Agree on common interpretations Agree on common interpretations Dont sweat the small stuff Dont sweat the small stuff Table differences Table differences Dont fix anything yet! Dont fix anything yet!

Create an action plan Decide on the fixes Decide on the fixes Decide who should implement Decide who should implement Decide risks and rewards Decide risks and rewards Detail timelines Detail timelines Create backup plan Create backup plan Implement Implement Monitor for change, report Monitor for change, report

Methodology review 1. Gather component list 2. Evaluate objects 3. Interpret findings 4. Create an action plan

Resources SearchSQLServer.com Performance and Tuning: SearchSQLServer.com Performance and Tuning: InformIT.com: InformIT.com: (Click on Reference Guides, then SQL Server) SQL-Server-Performance.com: performance.com SQL-Server-Performance.com: performance.comhttp://sql-server- performance.comhttp://sql-server- performance.com Administrators Guide to SQL Server 2005 Administrators Guide to SQL Server 2005