There are a couple options here. Remember, that since SQL 2005, Maintenance Plans are basically just SSIS packages. The wizard just provides an interface with limited SSIS actions...

Bangers and mash?

Have you guys had a look at this post?

In SSMS Object Explorer window, Connect>Integration Services. Choose the server where saved the package. Expand out Integration Services until you see your package, right-click and choose Export package. ...

I can't say I know much about clustering but this still appears to be true in 2012:

Instances per computer

Thanks to calvo who originally posted this info.

Edited twice to fix the...

Thanks MyDoggieJessie. Was just starting to feel like our focus was too much on:

If the index is trying to grow...it needs SPACE, and it's important to remember to...

Maybe I'm missing something here but how does knowing which index is the largest help with the contention created by the contradictory autogrow settings?

You can do this with the standard reports.

Right-click your database, select Reports>Standard Reports>Disk Usage by Top Tables

You understand from MyDoggieJessie's response...

Lowell, that list was so good I had to briefcase it. Should help when job hunting and for resume tweaking.

Ah never mind. Somehow I browsed past Jared's without seeing it. His is better, paramaterized.

Why not something like this?

SELECT

'Job Name' = j.name

'Step Name' = s.step_name

FROM

sysjobs j

INNER JOIN sysjobsteps s ON j.job_id = s.job_id

WHERE

s.command like '%SP_SOME_STORED_PROCEDURE%'

I second Kevin's suggestions. Make sure you're doing your benchmarking with SQL Server (and anything else non-standard) turned off.

HD Tach may not be the best tool for the job....

Lifehacker routinely recommends KeePass.

I guess what I'd say depends on the situation. Is your boss or your are your users coming to you saying "Hey, application X is really slow" where application...

Top 3 hits I get are:

1) A Codeplex project[/url] for an API (with samples)

2) A Technet article

3) A whitepaper from Microsoft.

Have you tried this?