Utility Database Chris

In case you wanted to know… Microsoft SQL Server MVP o Spent most of the last 15 years administering SQL Server 2

Session Notes Growing presentation o Feedback is welcome The Demo’s in your environment o This is just the starting point o Demo is designed to show you potential options - customize Ask Questions Feel free to me My environment o SQL Server Denali o Local Install o No Reporting Services on local install Quiz Time o Is my impression accurate

Quiz Time Do you have Daily Tasks o Check jobs o Check disk space o Read error Logs o Validate performance Processors Disk Procedure Execution Checking Indexes o Documenting growth How do you do it?

What is a Utility Database? A user defined, created database Keeps information on your server about your server Keeps the information you want as long as you want it Presents information you want the way you want to see it This is your database Acts as a repository for you the DBA

Is this your Daily To do?

Why use a Utility Database? Centralize your information Forecast your usage Ease your daily tasks Automation See potential issues before they happen o Understanding the baseline o Be one step ahead One View

Focus Your Efforts

My Report Delivered by every day o My daily check list Mixed counter information o Hardware information Processor Utilization Disk Space Free o SQL Server information Error logs Failed Jobs Report run times o Business information Performance Indicators Identity Checks

Demo Building your database

Approach Styles With a table between the query and the DayCheckList Table DBCC FreeProcCache Using CLR Why all the nested procedures When to archive the data

Demo Building Your Report

What’s Next Thresholds Alerts Auto Re-index o Ola Hallengren ( DMV’s o Glenn Berry ( Other than SQL Server o WMI Don’t reinvent the wheel

Go Global Start small o Add one at a time, see the use and then make a list of what items you need long term Change the Schema Add servers o SSIS o Linked Servers Options o Data Collector o 3 rd party tools Report Server o ExecutionLog2

Summary Utility databases answer questions like: o What procedure performs the worst? o Is the performance getting better or worse? o What is the percentage of growth on my databases? o What errors have been registered in the error log? o What jobs failed last night? o Can the database support the work load you are asking it to. o When will you need to upgrade

Questions Thank you, your feedback is welcome