Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

VII.2.1. Laying the Right Foundation for Performance Monitoring

Before getting started with a detailed performance monitoring tool review, here are a few tips that you can use to make this important effort as productive as possible.

VII.2.1.1. Change one variable at a time

For overworked administrators facing performance nightmares, it's often tempting to rush ahead and make many optimizations at one time. Unfortunately, this makes it nearly impossible to figure out which of the alterations worked. Consequently, you're always better off changing one setting at a time, and then monitoring the results of your modification.

VII.2.1.2. Focus on graphical tools

While SQL Server has matured over the years, Microsoft has done an excellent job of providing increasingly sophisticated graphically based management and monitoring tools. Still, many character-based techniques are available that you can use to stay on top of performance, but currently, you'll get the most mileage by focusing on these graphical tools (which the balance of the chapter describes). Of course, if you're curious, you're free to look at the output of performance-related stored procedures and other character-based utilities.

VII.2.1.3. Set performance policies

SQL Server ships with a collection of highly capable system management best practices. Known as policies (accessible through the SQL Server Management Studio's Management folder), implementing these recommendations can give you a leg up on performance. For ...