Summary

Monitoring SQL Server regularly and gathering the performance data is the key to identifying performance problems. You have learned which counters in Performance Monitor you need to watch to discover performance problems. This chapter also covered how to create a SQL trace on the server side to reduce the impact of gathering events inside SQL Server. You have also learned how to use the Showplan XML to get the graphical query plan using SQL Profiler or SQL Server Management Studio. As you have noticed, Dynamic Management Views and functions are extremely helpful, gathering a lot of useful information about the SQL Server and the operating system. You will learn more about performance tuning T-SQL in the next chapter.