Module 10: Preparing to Monitor Server Performance

Overview Introduction to Monitoring Server Performance Performing Real-Time and Logged Monitoring Configuring and Managing Counter Logs Configuring Alerts

Lesson: Introduction to Monitoring Server Performance Why Monitor Performance? Multimedia: Creating a Performance Baseline Guidelines for Establishing a Baseline

Why Monitor Performance? By monitoring performance, you obtain data that you can use to:  Understand workload and its effect on system resources  Identify resource-use trends  Test proposed configuration changes  Diagnose and optimize the system Uncover bottlenecks

Multimedia: Creating a Performance Baseline This presentation explains the general steps for creating a performance baseline A baseline is the level of system performance that you decide is acceptable

Guidelines for Establishing a Baseline Measure realistic conditions and connections Measure over enough time to capture typical work rhythms Establish baselines early in deployment

Lesson: Performing Real-Time and Logged Monitoring What Is Real-Time and Logged Monitoring? What Is Task Manager? What Is the Performance Console? Why Monitor Servers Remotely? Practice: Performing Real-Time Monitoring

What Is Real-Time and Logged Monitoring? Real-Time Monitoring Logged Monitoring Monitors the system Processes and updates data from the operating system Documents the state of memory, processor, storage and network Monitors the system Processes and updates data from the operating system Documents the state of memory, processor, storage and network Collects and stores data for a span of time Detects bottlenecks and records system changes Performed in Performance Logs and Alerts Collects and stores data for a span of time Detects bottlenecks and records system changes Performed in Performance Logs and Alerts

What Is Task Manager? Task Manager functionality:  The Applications tab  The Processes tab  The Performance tab  The Networking tab  The Users tab

What Is the Performance Console? The Performance console contains System Monitor and Performance Logs and Alerts A tool for collecting real-time system performance data A tool for managing Logs and Alerts

Why Monitor Servers Remotely? Prevent performance data distortion Monitor multiple servers simultaneously

Practice: Performing Real-Time Monitoring In this practice, you will: Perform real-time monitoring on a local computer Perform real-time monitoring on a remote computer

Lesson: Configuring and Managing Counter Logs What Is a Counter Log? Counter Log File Formats Why Schedule Counter Logs? Practice: Configuring and Managing Counter Logs

What Is a Counter Log? Performance counters measure performance Counter logs store performance data over time

Counter Log File Formats Log File FormatDescriptionWhen to use Text File (Comma delimited) Comma-delimited log file (.csv)Export to spreadsheet Text File (Tab delimited) Tab-delimited log file (.tsv)Export to spreadsheet Binary File Sequential, binary-format log file (.blg) Record intermittent data instances Binary Circular File Circular, binary-format log file (.blg) Record continuously to same log file SQL Database Name SQL database and log set Collect enterprise level performance data

Why Schedule Counter Logs? Schedule counter logs to: Create a performance baseline Determine the effect of replication between domain controllers Identify bottlenecks resulting from morning login or evening remote access Monitor evening backups for bottleneck Scan for bottleneck related system slowdowns Create a performance baseline Determine the effect of replication between domain controllers Identify bottlenecks resulting from morning login or evening remote access Monitor evening backups for bottleneck Scan for bottleneck related system slowdowns

Practice: Configuring and Managing Counter Logs In this practice, you will: Create a counter log Schedule a counter log

Lesson: Configuring Alerts What Is an Alert? Limitations of Alerts What Is Event Viewer? What Is EventCombMT? Practice: Configuring and Viewing Alerts

What Is an Alert? A feature that detects out of range values A counter setting called a threshold A mechanism that:  Logs events  May send a message  May start a counter log  May initiate a program A measure based on baselines

Limitations of Alerts Permissions constrain alert creation Dependent services constrain alert actions Example: Messenger service Faulty remote connections impair the reliability of alerts

What Is Event Viewer? A tool for viewing and configuring event logs A way to view the application log A collection of log files with a 16 MB default size Filter events based on type, source, computer, and time

What Is EventCombMT? A utility for parsing event logs on multiple servers Searching can be based on:  Event ID  Event type  Source  Log Finds alerts on many servers quickly

Practice: Configuring and Viewing Alerts In this practice, you will: Configure an alert View the alerts using Event Viewer View the alerts using EventCombMT

Lab: Preparing to Monitor Server Performance In this lab, you will examine various scenarios and select the appropriate monitoring technique