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 connectionsMeasure realistic conditions and connections

Measure over enough time to capture typical work rhythmsMeasure over enough time to capture typical work rhythms

Establish baselines early in deploymentEstablish 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 MonitoringReal-Time Monitoring

Logged MonitoringLogged 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 Format Description When 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 FileSequential, 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: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