understanding metrics/performance

23 Jun 2009 7:59 AM

Jack

I need to get a good understanding of SQL performance.
I have software that shows things like waits, latency, buffer, cache etc etc
but I'm not overly confident on understanding what I'm reading.....
If the scale is up near the top is that good or bad? for example.

I've looked around MS and sqlperormance.com but they seem to assume a base
knowledge already.
I am confident with T-SQL, Windows, Networking etc but don't fully
understand the performance monitoring side of things.

Something between a "X for dummies" and a knowledge base article(s) would be
great please?

23 Jun 2009 1:15 PM

Linchi Shea

> I am confident with T-SQL, Windows, Networking etc

If you are already comfortable wit SQL Server, one of the best ways to
understand the performance metrics is to experiment with various workloads
and see how these metrics react.

Linchi

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"Jack" wrote:

> I need to get a good understanding of SQL performance.
> I have software that shows things like waits, latency, buffer, cache etc etc
> but I'm not overly confident on understanding what I'm reading.....
> If the scale is up near the top is that good or bad? for example.
>
> I've looked around MS and sqlperormance.com but they seem to assume a base
> knowledge already.
> I am confident with T-SQL, Windows, Networking etc but don't fully
> understand the performance monitoring side of things.
>
> Something between a "X for dummies" and a knowledge base article(s) would be
> great please?
>
>

23 Jun 2009 1:53 PM

ELS

I don't know your version of SQL Server, but this is a good, technical start
for SQL 2005 or 2008:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc966540.aspx

Also, searchsqlserver.com has four good videos on Performance Monitor
counters:

http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/videoLibrary/0,297105,sid87,00.html#

Realize that there are *many* counters/metrics/waits/etc. that you can
monitor. I would recommend starting with the basics (memory, cpu and disk)
to create your foundation, then build up from there.

HTH,

Erin

Show quoteHide quote

"Jack" wrote:

> I need to get a good understanding of SQL performance.
> I have software that shows things like waits, latency, buffer, cache etc etc
> but I'm not overly confident on understanding what I'm reading.....
> If the scale is up near the top is that good or bad? for example.
>
> I've looked around MS and sqlperormance.com but they seem to assume a base
> knowledge already.
> I am confident with T-SQL, Windows, Networking etc but don't fully
> understand the performance monitoring side of things.
>
> Something between a "X for dummies" and a knowledge base article(s) would be
> great please?
>
>

24 Jun 2009 6:54 AM

Jack

Many thanks, I'll check out the links

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"ELS" <E**@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D3580ACA-4F3D-4EB8-A0DC-88DB868C6ED1@microsoft.com...
>I don't know your version of SQL Server, but this is a good, technical
>start
> for SQL 2005 or 2008:
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc966540.aspx
>
>
> Also, searchsqlserver.com has four good videos on Performance Monitor
> counters:
>
> http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/videoLibrary/0,297105,sid87,00.html#
>
>
> Realize that there are *many* counters/metrics/waits/etc. that you can
> monitor. I would recommend starting with the basics (memory, cpu and
> disk)
> to create your foundation, then build up from there.
>
> HTH,
>
> Erin
>
>
>
>
> "Jack" wrote:
>
>> I need to get a good understanding of SQL performance.
>> I have software that shows things like waits, latency, buffer, cache etc
>> etc
>> but I'm not overly confident on understanding what I'm reading.....
>> If the scale is up near the top is that good or bad? for example.
>>
>> I've looked around MS and sqlperormance.com but they seem to assume a
>> base
>> knowledge already.
>> I am confident with T-SQL, Windows, Networking etc but don't fully
>> understand the performance monitoring side of things.
>>
>> Something between a "X for dummies" and a knowledge base article(s) would
>> be
>> great please?
>>
>>