Chapter 11: Maintaining and Optimizing Windows Vista

Using System Monitoring Tools Before optimizing Windows Vista’s performance, monitor critical subsystems to determine how your system is currently performing. What system bottlenecks are present in your system? 2/41

Determining System Performance Need to do 5 things to monitor the system effectively –Create Baselines –Identify System Bottlenecks –Determine Trends –Test Configuration Changes and Tuning Efforts –Create Alert Thresholds 3/41

Creating Baselines Baseline: snapshot of current system performance Gives a point of comparison against a system that is not running optimally Create baselines at the following times, using the Reliability and Performance Monitor Utility –When system is first configured: no system load –Regular intervals of typical usage –Whenever changes are made to the software or hardware configuration 4/41

Identifying System Bottlenecks Bottleneck: a system resource that is inefficient compared to the system as a whole Reliability and Performance Monitor will allow us to measure various system components in order to spot and correct bottlenecks. –Upgrading your processor will not improve performance, if RAM is the bottleneck 5/41

Determining Trends Proactive versus Reactive Proactive Management: solve the problem before the problem happens Watch system baselines for increasing demands for RAM or Processor Time, and decreases in drive space 6/41

Testing Configuration Changes and Tuning Efforts When you make configuration changes or tune your computer, you should measure the effects of those changes. Follow these recommendations: –Make one change at a time –Repeat monitoring with each change you make –As you make changes, check the Event Logs. –If you suspect network performance issues, compare the performance of a networked version with a local version. 7/41

Using Alerts for Problem Notification Reliability and Performance Monitor can alert you when certain system thresholds have been reached. –Example: Alert the Administrator when disk 2 has less than 10% free space available 8/41

Reliability and Performance Monitor Selecting the Appropriate View ←Report View (logical text based) → Histogram View (bar graph based) ← Line View (default line graph based) 9/41

Adding Counters 10/41

Performance Monitor Properties General Properties –Kind of data to be displayed and how often it is updated Source Properties –Current activities or a log file Data Properties –Counters being tracked Graph Properties –Type of graph and properties Appearance Properties –Colors and fonts 11/41

Reliability Monitor 12/41 New feature of Vista that provides and overview of the computer stability. Provides details of the cause of any instability Software: Installs/Uninstalls updates and drivers Application Failures: Hangs or crashes Hardware Failures: Disk / Memory Windows Failures: OS or boot failures Miscellaneous: such as unexpected shutdown

Reliability Monitor 13/41

Data Collector Sets Used to collect data into a log so that it can be reviewed 14/41

Monitoring and Optimizing Memory Two areas of memory to monitor: –Physical RAM (checks 1 st ) –Page File (logical memory) (checks 2 nd ) Thousands of times slower than RAM Important counters to monitor: –Memory > Available Mbytes Should be greater than 20% of available RAM –Memory > Pages/Sec How many times, data not in RAM and had to go to HD Should be below 20 and optimally around 4 or 5 –Paging File > % Usage Under 70% If memory seems to be a bottleneck: –Add RAM –Optimize page file settings –Run less memory-intensive applications 15/41

Monitoring and Optimizing the Processor Important counters to monitor: –Processor > %Processor Time Amount of time answering requests Should be less than 85% –Processor > Interrupts/Sec Hardware interrupts per second Should be less than 3,000 –System > Processor Queue Length Should not be a queue or two for any extended time If the processor seems to be a bottleneck: –Run applications that are less CPU- intensive –Upgrade the CPU –Add a CPU if your computer supports multiple processors 16/41

Monitoring and Optimizing the Disk Subsystem Important counters to monitor: –PhysicalDisk > %Disk Time Sum of the logical disk on the Physical Disk –LogicalDisk > % Disk Time Individual logical disk –Time busy for Read/Write –Should be less than 90% –PhysicalDisk > Current Disk Queue Length –LogicalDisk > Current Disk Queue Length –Number of outstanding disk requests waiting to be processed –Should be less than 2 –LogicalDisk > % Free Space –Free disk space available –Should be at least 15% 17/41

Monitoring and Optimizing the Disk Subsystem If the disk subsystem seems to be a bottleneck: –Use faster disks or hardware controllers –Confirm that you are using the latest drivers for your disk host adapters –Take advantage of disk striping if possible Multiple Disk Spindles Multiple I/O channels –Add another disk controller for load balancing –Use Disk Defragmenter To consolidate files and make them contiguous 18/41

Monitoring and Optimizing the Network Subsystem Important counters to monitor: –Network Interface > Bytes Total/Sec All Protocols –TCPv4 > Segments/Sec Only TCPv4 If the network subsystem seems to be a bottleneck: –Use only the network protocols you need –Use network cards that use your computer’s full bus width –Use faster network cards: 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps instead of 10Mbps 19/41

Memory Diagnostics Tool Used to test your computer’s memory 20/41

Problem Reports and Solutions Replaces Dr. Watson –Control Panel>System and Maintenance>Problem Reports and Solutions Enables you to track system problems and check for solutions to those problems. 21/41

Tools to Discover System Information System Information –Shows details about your Hardware, Software, and Resources –Run MSINFO32.EXE from the command prompt Task Manager –Shows Applications and processes currently running, as well as CPU and Memory usage. –Right Click on any empty area of the task bar Performance Information and Tools –Provides a numerical score, letting you know how well the system is performing. –Control Panel>System and Maintenance>Performance Information and Tools 22/41

System Information 23/41

Task Manager 24/41

Performance Information and Tools 25/41

System Tool in Control Panel 26/41 Main Screen –Top Portion –Edition of Windows Vista –System Section –Processor speed and quantity –Physical memory –System type (32bit or 64bit) –Computer name, domain, workgroup settings –Windows Activation: Can change the prod. Key

System Tool in Control Panel 27/41 Device Manager Hardware installed and their settings Remote Settings Where you can configure Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop System Protection Where you can configure restore points Advanced System Settings Advanced settings for Performance Let windows choose what’s best Profiles Startup options Specifies default OS, and how to recover if there’s a failure

System Tool in Control Panel 28/41

System Configuration View and troubleshoot how Vista starts, and what programs and services launch at startup Run MSCONFIG.EXE 29/41

Task Scheduler Completely overhauled for Vista Used to schedule actions to occur at specified intervals 30/41

Scheduling Tasks with Task Scheduler Triggers, Actions, and Conditions 31/41

Event Viewer Completely overhauled for Vista Tracks events that occur in the system Old, familiar logs: –Application –Security –System And some brand new logs: –Setup Pertains to domain controller information –Forwarded Events Information from other systems. 32/41

Remote Desktop Remote Desktop is a service that allows you to remotely take control of your computer from another location. For example, you could access your work computer from home or while traveling on business. 33/41

Remote Assistance Compatible with: –Windows XP –Windows Server 2003 –Windows Vista Used to request assistance from another user 34/41

Differences between Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop Remote Desktop only allows one user to see the desktop at a time. Remote Assistance allows both local and remote users to see the desktop. Remote Desktop does not require an invitation to connect. Remote Assistance requires the remote user to invite assistance. 35/41

Safeguarding Your Computer and Recovering from Disaster Prepare for disaster: it’s not fun, but it’s better than being unprepared when disaster strikes. –Be Proactive rather than Reactive Windows Vista Recovery Techniques: –Event Viewer –Safe Mode –Last Known Good Configuration –Startup Repair Tool –Backup and Restore Center –System Restore 36/41

Advanced Boot Options Accessed by pressing F8 at startup Options: –Safe Mode –Safe Mode with Networking –Safe Mode with Command Prompt –Enable Boot Logging –Enable Low-Resolution Video (640x480) –Last Known Good Configuration (advanced) –Directory Services Restore Mode –Debugging Mode –Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure –Disable Driver Signature Enforcement –Start Windows Normally 37/41

Startup Repair Tool Boot from the original media Used to correct problems related to missing or corrupted system files by restoring from the Windows Vista Media Cannot repair hardware failures Cannot recover personal files that have been corrupted, damaged by viruses, or deleted 38/41

Backup and Restore Center 39/41

Backup and Restore Center Used to perform the following tasks: –Back up files –Restore files –Change automatic backup settings –Create an image of your entire computer –Restore an image of your computer –Restore a previous version of files on your computer using System Restore –Create a restore point using System Protection 40/41

Backing Up Files with Backup and Restore Center Backup and Restore Center can back up the following: –Pictures –Music –Videos – –Documents –TV shows recorded with Windows Media Center –Compressed files (.zip,.cab,.iso) –Additional files that do not correspond to any of the other categories 41/41

Backup and Restore Center Limitations Backup and Restore Center will NEVER back up the following: –System files –Program files –User Profile Settings –Files encrypted by EFS –Files on FAT partitions –Files in the Recycle Bin –Temporary Files –Web-based 42/41

Creating an Image with Windows Complete PC Backup Used to create a snapshot image of your entire computer, including: –Programs –System Settings –Files –Everything! 43/41

System Restore Creates restore points that can be used to restore system files and settings to an earlier point in time Will not affect personal files Restore points are created: –Every day –Before installing applications or drivers –Before significant system events –Before restoring files with System Restore –Manually upon request 44/41