Chapter 7. Using the SQL Server Profiler

by Chris Gallelli and Ray Rankins

IN THIS CHAPTER

• SQL Server Profiler Architecture

• Creating Traces

• Saving and Exporting Traces

• Replaying Trace Data

• Defining Server Side Traces

• Profiler Usage Scenarios

This chapter explores the SQL Server Profiler, one of SQL Server's most powerful auditing and analysis tools. The SQL Server Profiler will give you a basic understanding of the application and help you answer questions like the following:

• Which queries are table scanning my invoice history table?

• Am I experiencing deadlocks, and, if so, why?

• What SQL queries is each application submitting?

• Which were the 10 worst-performing queries last week?

• If I implement this alternative indexing scheme, how will it affect my batch operations?

SQL Server Profiler records activity made against SQL Server. You can direct SQL Server Profiler to record output to a window, a file, or a table. You can specify which events to trace, the information to include in the trace, how you want it grouped, and what filters you want to apply.