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Foglight for SQL Server (Cartridge) 5.9.3.10 - User Guide

Introduction to this Guide Using Foglight for SQL Server
Viewing the Databases Dashboard Overview Dashboard Advisories Dashboard Monitoring Data Replication Monitoring SQL Performance Reviewing Memory Usage Reviewing the Instance Activity Reviewing Database Usage Reviewing the Services Using the HADR Drilldown Using the Logs Drilldown Reviewing Configuration Settings Viewing User-defined Performance Counters and Collections
Monitoring Business Intelligence Services Administering Foglight for SQL Server
Configuration Settings Managing Foglight for SQL Server Agent Settings Reviewing Foglight for SQL Server Alarms Generating Reports Monitoring SQL Server instances on VMware servers
Glossary
A
Access methods Adhoc SQL Plans Alarm Alert Allow updates Anonymous subscription Authentication AutoClose AutoGrow Automatic Discovery AutoShrink B Batch BCP (Bulk Copy Program) Blocking Books Online Bound trees Buffer Buffer cache Buffer pull Bulk copy Bulkinsert Bulk load C Cache CAL Calibration Cardinality Cartridge Chart Checkpoint process Client network utility CLR Compile Connect Connection Connectivity software CPU Usage Cursors D Data access components Data file Data storage engine Database Database object DataFlow DBCC DBID DBO Deadlock Disk queue length Disk transfer time Disk utilization DiskPerf Distributing instance Distributor DMO Drilldown DTC DTS E Error log Event alert Execution contexts Extended stored procedures Extent External procedures F File Filegroup File cache Foglight Agent Manager Foglight Management Server Foreign key Forwarded records Free buffers Free list Free pages Free potential Free space Freespace scans Full text search G GAM Ghosted records Growth increment GUID H Hash buckets Hashing Heap Hit rate Hit ratio Host name Host process I I/O Index Indid Integrated security Intent Locks J Job K Kernel memory Kernel mode Kill L Latch Lazy writer Licensing Lightweight pooling Lock Lock area Lock escalation Lock mode Log Log cache Log writer Logical I/O LRU LSN M Master MaxSize MDAC Metric Misc.normalized trees Model Monitor page file N Named pipes Net library NIC Null O OBID Object plans OLAP OLAP service OLTP Optimizer Optimizer cache osql P Page life expectancy Paging Panel Parse Parser Per seat licensing Per server licensing Performance alert Physical I/O Physical read Physical write PID Pinned Plan Plan cache Potential growth Prepared SQL plans Primary key Privileged mode Procedure cache Procedure plans Process Profiler Publication database Publisher Publisher databases Publishing server Pull subscription Pulse Push subscription Q Query plan R RAID Random I/O Read ahead Recompile Referential integrity Relational data engine Replication procedure plans Role Rollback S sa Schema locks Sequential I/O Session Severity SGAM Shared locks Show advanced options SMP Sort, Hash, Index Area SPID Spike Spinner SQL Agent Mail SQL Mail SQL Plans SQL Server Agent SQL Server authentication SQL Server books online Standard deviation Stolen pages Stored procedure Support service SYSADMIN role T TDS TempDB Temporary tables and table variables Threshold Torn page detection Transaction Trigger Trigger plans Truncate Trusted U UMS Unused space User connection area User mode V Virtual log file VLF W Waitfor Windows authentication mode Working set
Reference
SQL PI Repository Cold Backup Procedure SQL Performance Investigator Metrics
Active Time All SQL Agents CPU Usage All SQL Agents Resident Memory Usage Availability Average Physical I/O Operations Average SQL Response Time Backup Recovery Wait Blocked Lock Requests Checkpoint Pages CLR Wait CPU Usage CPU Wait Cursor Synchronization Wait Database Replication Wait Deferred Task Worker Wait Degree of Parallelism Disk Utilization DTC CPU Usage DTC Resident Memory Usage Distributed Transaction Wait Executions Ended Executions Started External Procedures Wait Full Scans Full Text Search CPU Usage Full Text Search Resident Memory Usage Full Text Search Wait Free Buffer Wait Hosted Components Wait IO Bulk Load Wait IO Completion Wait IO Data Page Wait IO Wait Latch Buffer Wait Latch Wait Latch Savepoint Wait Lazy Writes Lock Wait Lock Bulk Update Wait Lock Exclusive Wait Lock Intent Wait Lock Requests Lock Schema Wait Lock Shared Wait Lock Update Wait Lock Wait Log Buffer Wait Log Flushes Log Other Wait Log Synchronization Wait Log Wait Log Write Wait Memory Wait Network IO Wait Network IPC Wait Network Mirror Wait Network Wait Non SQL Server CPU Usage Non SQL Resident Memory Usage OLAP CPU Usage OLAP Resident Memory Usage OLEDB Provider Full Text Wait Other CPU Usage Other Miscellaneous Wait Other Wait Overall CPU Page Life Expectancy Page Splits Parallel Coordination Wait Physical I/O Physical Memory Used Physical Page Reads Physical Page Writes Probe Scans Plan Cache Hit Rate Range Scans Rec Ended Duration Remote Provider Wait Run Queue Length Samples Service Broker Wait Session Logons Session Logoffs SQL Agent CPU Usage SQL Agent Resident Memory Usage SQL Executions SQL Mail CPU Usage SQL Mail Resident Memory Usage SQL Recompilations SQL Response Time SQL Server Background CPU Usage SQL Server Cache Memory SQL Server Connections Memory SQL Server Connections Summary SQL Server Foreground CPU Usage SQL Server Resident Memory Usage SQL Server Swap Memory Usage Synchronous Task Wait Table Lock Escalation Target Instance Memory Total CPU Usage Total Instance Memory Virtual Memory Used
Rules Collections and Metrics

Reviewing the Distributor Agents

The Distributor Agents pane displays the following replication agent types, indicating for each type the number of agents and the highest severity level:

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Merge — in merge replications, the Merge job first applies the initial snapshot to the subscribing server (Subscriber). Then it connects to the publishing and subscribing servers to update both sides with each incremental data change that takes place.
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Distribution — in both transactional and snapshot replications, the Distribution job applies the initial snapshot to the subscribing server. In transactional replications, this job also transfers (downloads) newly added transactions stored in the distribution database to the subscribing server.
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Queue Reader — in transactional replication with the queued updating option, this agent moves (uploads) changes made at the subscribing server back to the publishing server, by reading messages stored in a Microsoft SQL Server queue or a Microsoft Message Queue. Then it applies those messages to the publishing server.
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IMPORTANT: Unlike the Distribution agent and Merge Agent, the Queue Reader agent is an optional component. Only one Queue Reader Agent job exists to service all publishing servers and publications for a given distribution database.
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Snapshot — in all replication types, the Snapshot agent, which runs on the distributing instance, prepares and maintains the snapshot and synchronization operation. This agent prepares the snapshot files, which contain the schema and data of the entities that are to be published (both tables and database objects). The agent stores the files in the snapshot folder, and tracks synchronization status by recording the synchronization jobs in the distribution database.
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Log Reader — in transactional replications, the Log Reader agent monitors the transaction log of each published database. It copies the transactions marked for replication from the log to the distribution database.
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Misc. Jobs — various replication maintenance jobs, which are automatically created by Microsoft.
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NOTE: Some of the miscellaneous jobs are not started by default. In which case a Warning icon appears near the job’s name, and its status is Not Started. It may be advisable to start such a job manually at some point; for example, to clean up the distribution tables.

Selecting a specific agent type’s row (for example, Merge) and clicking it opens the Replication Agents drilldown, displaying only the selected agent type. For details, see Monitoring the Replication Agents .

Reviewing the Subscription Process

The Subscription pane provides data regarding the following components of the subscription process:

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Subscribing servers — displays the total number of subscribing servers (Subscribers) that are currently making data available to other locations through replication, by hosting one or more Subscription databases. This number includes both subscribing servers that reside on the same computer as the distributing instance and subscribing servers that reside on remote computers.
Clicking this row displays a pop-up, which contains the Subscribing servers and Subscription databases tables. Each of these tables shows the displayed entity’s name, status and highest severity level.
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NOTE: If more than one subscribing servers exist, clicking each subscribing server on the table displays only the subscription databases residing under the selected server.
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Subscription databases — displays the total number of subscription databases that reside under all currently subscribing servers.
Clicking this row displays a pop-up that contains a table of all subscription databases. This table is identical to the one shown when clicking the Subscribing server row, except for the filtering by server, which is carried out by clicking the Server column.
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IMPORTANT: Clicking each subscription database’s row opens the Replication Subscriptions drilldown, which only displays subscriptions stored on the selected subscription database. To view the entire list of subscriptions from all subscription databases, click the Subscriptions toolbar button.
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Subscriptions — displays the total number of subscriptions that are currently receiving selected publications through the selected instance, along with an icon that indicates the highest severity level.
Clicking this row opens the Replication Subscriptions drilldown, which allows reviewing subscriptions by their type. For details, see Monitoring the Replication Subscriptions .

Reviewing Data Flow Indicators

The data flow indicators provide a representation of the average delivery rate of each of the replication agent types, except for Misc. Jobs. A numerical value indicates the average number of commands transferred using the specified agent during the specified time range.

Clicking each flow displays a pop-up that contains a description of the flow, and a chart that shows the relevant data plotted over the specified time range.

Monitoring the Replication Publications

The Replication Publications drilldown allows viewing more detailed information about all publications distributed using the selected instance.

To investigate the requested publication:
1
Select which publication type to display, by selecting the tile that represents the requested type: Snapshot, Transactional, Transactional with update, Merge or All.
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IMPORTANT: In each of these tiles, it is possible to filter the display to show only publications with a specific severity status, by clicking the icon that represents that status. For example, Not Started.
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Review the requested publication data on the Publications table:
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Severity — the highest severity level
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Status
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Publishing server name
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Publication database name
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Publication type
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Number of subscriptions
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Agents taking part in the transaction — Log Reader, Queue Reader, and Snapshot agents
3
Click the publication’s row to access the Publication Details screen.
The Publication Details Screen

The Publication Details screen allows tracking the process of publishing the selected publication, by displaying all components involved in the process and providing links for further investigation.

Figure 8. The Publication Details screen.

 

Similar to the Replication home page, this screen contains the following panes, each representing a stage at the replication process:

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Publication Data — provides the publication-related data that appears on the Replication home page, that is, publishing server, publication database, and publication name, and the following data:
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Type — the publication type (transactional, snapshot, and so on).
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Status — can have one of the following values: Running, Failed, Retrying, Idle, and Not started.
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Last synchronized — the time and date when the publication data items residing on the subscribing and publishing server were most recently synchronized. This parameter is highly significant for publications configured to run continuously.
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Due to expire — displays the time and date when the subscription expires, if changes recorded in the distribution database are not yet synchronized with the subscribing server.
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NOTE: The value displayed on the Due to expire field is set by adding the number of hours defined in the Retention value to the value displayed in the Last synchronized field. For example, if the most recent synchronization took place on 17:00, and the retention period is 14 hours, the value displayed here is 7:00.
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Retention — indicates the predefined distribution retention period. If by the end of this period there are changes in the distribution database that have not been delivered to the subscribing server and synchronized, the subscription expires and drops.
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Agents used by Publisher — displays the replication agent used for replicating the publication data to the subscribing server.
The agent types displayed on this pane for each publication type are as follows:
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In snapshot, Transactional and Merge publications — Snapshot and Log Reader.
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In Transactional with update publications — Snapshot, Log Reader and Queue Reader.
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IMPORTANT: To view a detailed representation of the agent’s actions using the Replication Agents drilldown, click the requested agent’s row. The Replication Agents drilldown appears, with the clicked agent’s row selected in the All Agents table. For details, see Monitoring the Replication Agents .
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Subscription Data — provides the following data regarding each of the publication’s subscriptions:
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Subscription database
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Subscription status — can have one of the following values: Running, Failed, Retrying, Idle, and Not started.
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IMPORTANT: To view a detailed representation of a specific subscription using the Replication Subscriptions drilldown, click the requested subscription’s name. The Subscription Details screen opens, which provides detailed data about the selected subscription. For details, see The Subscription Details Screen .
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