Professional SQL Server® 2005 Performance Tuning

Chapter 13. SQL Server 2005 Performance Dashboard Reports

There are millions of deployments of SQL Server across the world ranging from the free SKU of SQL Server Express Edition to SQL Server Enterprise Edition. Each SQL Server environment is configured differently, has different business requirements, and serves different purposes. If you're a good DBA in a perfect world, you'll have a handle on many of these. You know your required up-time, integrated systems, dependencies, and so on. If something goes down, you are probably aware of it and can resolve it quickly. If you are an IT Professional who manages multiple server types or if you work in an enterprise that runs dozens of applications on top of hundreds of SQL Servers, it's impossible to know all of your systems inside and out. You rely on monitoring tools to alert you when there's a problem.

Now imagine that you work for Microsoft in SQL Server customer support. Each year you engage with hundreds of different businesses with thousands of SQL Servers. You have no prior knowledge of the environment or the business requirements. It's your job to get up to speed immediately. You need to sift through symptoms, identify the underlying problems, and minimize the impact of the resolution to bring the business back online as soon as possible. Oh, and one more thing: You have to do this remotely and your only connection with the business is through the telephone.

The challenges you face as a DBA diagnosing problems in your environment ...