Leveraging technology from the vendor's Event Manager product (same management console and collection service), Performance Advisor is a monitoring platform for SQL Server that can assist in the optimization of SQL Server performance and/or system troubleshooting. Both real-time and historical metrics can be examined through the tool, and both SQL and Windows specific metrics are collected and presented (including side-by-side, and in the case of the network, CPU, and memory charts, integrated views that show how much of each resource is being utilized specifically by SQL Server components).

Metrics are displayed in a calendar-like chronological fashion, with the vendor noting support for days and months of collected data, alongside jobs or other events for visual correlation.

Among the types of data collected and presented are:

- Disk usage analysis, including disk activity in real-time, graphical views of disk topology, and disk space utilization by DB and file. The vendor states that the product is able to highlight data movement bottlenecks at the DB file, disk, or controller level.

- SQL-specific analysis, including top procedures, batches and statements (metrics for the multiple execution of same-statements are aggregated), trend analysis of queries, and support for E-mail or pager alerts when a query exceeds a specific duration or contains a specified keyword.

- Displays of blocking chains and deadlocks (E-mail and pager alerts also supported)

A "Quick Trace" feature can be used to collect/save and correlate process and performance metrics (including totals CPU, I/O, network, batches, transactions, cache misses, recompiles, cursor operations, and others) and can be triggered on demand or automatically in response to specified conditions for later forensics.

Performance Advisor is available now. Licensing is per monitored SQL Server instance, with both single licenses and 5-pack licenses available. Single server licensing is $1,495, however they require an additional maintenance contract for the first year ($299). 5-Packs are priced at $4,495, which includes the first year of maintenance.

Contact the vendor for further information.

product submission by DatabaseJournal Staff

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