Windows 2000 Performance Guide

Performance Data Logging

While designed primarily for interactive use, Sysmon (and Perfmon) also supports basic data logging facilities. Data being collected can be captured to a log file, which in turn can be used as input to the program’s online display facilities. It is also possible to run multiple copies of Sysmon at once. While one copy is collecting data in real time, you can start another copy and examine a log file from a background data collection session. The Sysmon chart utility functions exactly the same way in real time as it does when it is displaying data from a file, except that the data you are viewing does not scroll off the screen, and you have additional commands to control the time range of the data you display.

Data Logging Sessions

To create a new log file using the System Monitor, select the Performance Logsand Alerts folder on the left side of the screen, and then access the Counter Logs folder. From the Action menu, select New Log Settings. After you name the new log settings, the Counter Log Properties Dialog Box appears. The Add button brings up a familiar Add Counters dialog that allows you to select the object, object instances, and counters you want to view. You also specify the collection interval, which can be in seconds, minutes, hours, or days. The shortest collection interval that System Monitor allows is one second.

Figure 2-15 expands the Performance Logs and Alerts node on the Microsoft Management Console that is used to anchor performance ...