Configuring and monitoring performance counters in the SQL Server agent (4301510)

Where are the Performance Counter metrics collected by the SQL Server agents stored in the topology?

The Performance Counters view allows configuring user-defined performance counters and their Unit of Measurement/Indicator. The counters created in this view are accessible using the User Metrics drilldown.

Each user-defined performance counter is collected and plotted over the specified time range in the User Metrics drilldown. The User Metrics drilldown is used only for displaying the user-defined performance counters; any creation or management operation of these counters is carried out using the Performance Counters view.

Use this view to add user-defined collections of performance counters to a specified agent by selecting them from the complete list of available performance counters. The user-defined counters value refers to raw data, which is derived directly from the counter provider.

Windows Performance Counters can be monitored using the "Performance Counters" panel in the SQL Server agent.

The collect metrics for the Performance Counters can be found in the following location in the Foglight topology

Management Server | All Data | DBSS_Data_Model | SQL-Server Data Model | Clusters | {Instance_Name} | Instances | {Instance Name} | User Def Permon Counters

Individual topologies are stored under this location depending on the counter type being used (e.g. Percents, Seconds, Bytes).

To retrieve performance counters for a specific agent:

1. Navigate to the Databases Dashboard and select a SQL Server database agent
2. Click Settings, then Administration

   

3. Select the Performance Counters menu item

   

4. Select an agent from the pulldown list.
5. Click Add Counters at the bottom of the screen.
   The Retrieving Performance Counters progress bar appears. Upon successful completion of this operation, the Add Counters dialog box appears.

   

6. Select the requested counters. For each counter select the matching instance and unit.
7. Click Add.
8. After adding all of the requested counters, click Close to exit the Add Counters dialog box.
   All of the newly added performance counters now appear in the table.
   To delete unwanted counters, select the requested counter and click Remove. To add more counters, repeat Step 2 to Step 5.
9. After carrying out all of the requested changes, save the changes before switching to another view.