SQL Monitor

  • Is anyone using SQL Monitor to monitor their SQL instances? Per this thread http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1394075-1550-1.aspx, I'm looking to monitor about 40 instances across multiple domains. I like the regular metrics, but I'm really interested in the custom metrics too. I'd like to query certain instances for certain things and then email specific people the results if thresholds are met. Anyone doing that with this product? It looks awesome on paper, but I'd like some real world feedback. Thanks!

  • I personally prefer SQL Diagnostic Manager (praying I don't get attacked from mentioning an Idera tool on here ;-)) - In my testing I liked the way the data was presented (charts, metrics, etc) and it comes with so many "neat" features (one of which is the ability to completely customize the layout of the dashboard and built custom metrics).

    I know that's not really what you asked for in your post but thought I'd throw it out there in case you never had a chance to evaluate it

    ______________________________________________________________________________Never argue with an idiot; Theyll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience

  • scogeb (12/18/2012)


    Anyone doing that with this product? It looks awesome on paper, but I'd like some real world feedback. Thanks!

    i would say use the trial version first then though there would be some limitations for that too but you can get some light definitely

    -------Bhuvnesh----------
    I work only to learn Sql Server...though my company pays me for getting their stuff done;-)

  • I use SQL Monitor for 5 of my main instances and use Custom Metrics a lot do do what you mention, works great and very customisable. I would recommend it to anyone 🙂 PM me if you need any more details about how they work.

  • MyDoggieJessie (12/18/2012)


    I personally prefer SQL Diagnostic Manager (praying I don't get attacked from mentioning an Idera tool on here ;-)) -

    Nope, it's fine with me. If you like it, that's fine.

  • We use it here at SQLServerCentral. We expose the data at monitor.red-gate.com. It's delayed slightly and replicated to another server for the public side, but you can play with lots of it. We even have custom metrics, both performance and business related ones.

    Monitor is built to monitor and alert. That's it's focus. Some of the other products are more for digging in and troubleshooting. It depends on what's more important to you. I'd say test them, think about what you need, and then decide.

  • Steve Jones - SSC Editor (12/21/2012)


    Monitor is built to monitor and alert. That's it's focus. Some of the other products are more for digging in and troubleshooting. It depends on what's more important to you. I'd say test them, think about what you need, and then decide.

    That's what I'm looking for. I think I'd like to learn and use MS SQL's tools to dig and troubleshoot.

    Does anyone know how "heavy" it is on the monitored server? Is there anything that needs to be installed on the SQL server?

  • What tools? What are you thinking of?

    The Management Data Warehouse will do this, but it's a lot of admin, IMHO.

    Extended Events or Trace can help, but they are a little complex. Very low performance impact.

    You can roll your own with queries to the performance counters, or alerts, but this is software development, and IMHO, while you might do some of this, a lot of the alerting and framework here that you build isn't cost effective compared with the cost of tools. Lots of experienced DBAs agree with me that it isn't worth maintaining your own tools overall, though all tools will take a little development to ensure they work for you.

    There might be other tools to help here, but it really depends on your giving/developing more details on what you are trying to accomplish.

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