SQLSaturday 664 - Troubleshoot SQL Server performance problems like a Microsoft Engineer
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The document discusses tools used by Microsoft engineers to troubleshoot SQL Server performance problems when assisting customers. It describes how the Performance and Diagnostic Monitor (PSSDiag) collects diagnostic data from a SQL Server and how Microsoft engineers analyze the collected data using tools like SQL Nexus and PAL to identify issues, root causes, and solutions.
SQLSaturday 664 - Troubleshoot SQL Server performance problems like a Microsoft Engineer
- 1. Sponsors
- 2. Troubleshoot SQL Server performance problems like a Microsoft Engineer Marek Maśko
- 3. About the Author Marek Maśko • Principal Database Analyst at Sabre • Working with SQL Server for ~7 years • SQL DBA, Dev & Architect • MCP since 2012 • Contact Information: LinkedIn: https://pl.linkedin.com/in/marekmasko Twitter: @MarekMasko
- 4. Scenario • Users report performance issue • You know nothing about the server and the database What do you do?
- 5. Microsoft Customer Support Service • Users report performance issue • You open the MS Support Case • MS CSS gives you PSSDiag package and asks you to run it • You run it and collect the data • Than you upload collected data to the MS workspace • MS CSS returns with: ‒ Comprehensive report about your SQL Server state ‒ Issue’s root cause explanation ‒ Solution and/or list of recommendations How they do it?
- 6. Tools Data collection • PSSDiag / SQLDiag • DiagConfig / DiagManager Data analysis • SQL Nexus • PAL Tool
- 7. PSSDiag
- 8. PSSdiag • Developed as a side project at Microsoft • Mainly used by CSS and PSS teams • Wrapper on other MS tools • Based on SQLDiag • Two versions: ‒ Internal ‒ External • Dramaticaly simplifies performance data collection
- 9. SQLDiag • It’s a command line utility delivered with SQL Server • Located in the installation Binn directory • It’s main purpose is to collect diagnostic data PSSDiag SQLDiag Collectors
- 10. What does it collect? • Event Logs • Performance Monitor Counters • Server Configuration • Error Logs • Profiler Trace • Blocking information • PerfStat Scripts • Spinlocks, query statistics, query hashes • There is a possibility to add your own custom collectors!
- 11. How to run it? Security • Windows authentication is default • SQL authentication ‒ Prompt for password • The account used to run it ‒ Must be able to login into target instances ‒ Must be a member of the sysadmin role ‒ Must be a member of Administrators Configuration • Requires an XML configuration file (specifies what to collect)
- 12. Resource hit • PSSDiag itself is negligible • Collectors are efficient • Profiler tracing is expensive • Select output folder carefully • Do not capture more than you need • Always test and monitor!
- 13. Diag Manager
- 14. Diag Manager • GUI tool used to create configuration files • Can be downloaded for free from: https://github.com/Microsoft/DiagManager
- 15. SQL Nexus
- 16. SQL Nexus • Created as a side project at SQL Support Escalation team • Process the output of PSSDiag/SQLDiag into a database and runs Reporting Services reports on top of it • Allows users to create own collections and reports • Can be downloaded for free from: https://github.com/Microsoft/SqlNexus
- 17. Key Features • Fast data loading and processing • SQL Trace data aggregation using advanced logic and pattern recognition for intelligent statement execution grouping • Supports multiple databases to store several performance analysis data sets • Visualize loaded data via reports • Extensibility!
- 18. SQL Nexus reports • Built-in reports for: ‒ Environment configuration ‒ Blocking ‒ Wait statistics ‒ Resource utilization ‒ Interesting events ‒ Missing indexes ‒ Data Statistics ‒ Virtual file stats
- 19. PAL Tool
- 20. PAL Tool • PAL – Performance Analysis of Logs • Can be downloaded for free from: https://github.com/clinthuffman/PAL • Allows you to set custom thresholds or use threshold already configured for your workload
- 21. PAL Wizard • Carefully choose options and answer questions • Processing will take time
- 22. PAL Output • Graphs with thresholds • Alerts summarized in time slices
- 23. PAL Output • The output is color coded to let you know the areas to focus on ‒ You do have some control over this through the threshold files ‒ Not everything in red actually means something • You must know what to look for
- 24. When to Use Which Tool? PSSDiag / SQL Nexus • More targeted performance analysis • Need to view SQL internal resources (waits, blocking chains, query plans) • Short timespan for collection PAL • Great for overall system performance • Benchmarks • Long timespan for collection
- 25. Thank you!
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