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Foglight for SQL Server (Cartridge) 7.1.0 - User Guide

Table of Contents

Introduction to this Guide

Overview Running the Upgrade Wizard Migrating Agents

About Monitoring Extensions Installing and Monitoring a Single SQL Server Instance Discovering Multiple Instances to Monitor

Adding instances manually Discovering instances by host name Discovering instances by IP range Importing Instances from a File

Configuring Multiple Instances for Monitoring using Silent Installation

Contents of the Input CSV File Configuring the On Demand Data Port on the Agent Manager Concentrator

Using Foglight for SQL Server

Viewing the Databases Dashboard

Assigning Instances to Users or Groups Selecting an Instance to Monitor

Currently Selected Database Group Filtering the Display by Severity Creating Custom Database Groups Previewing the Requested Instance Components Shared by all Foglight for SQL Server Screens

Foglight for SQL Server Toolbar and Views

Breakdown and Baseline Chart Formats Home Page Toolbar

Overview Dashboard Advisories Dashboard Monitoring Data Replication

Viewing the Replication Home Page

Reviewing the Publishing Process Reviewing the Distributor Agents Reviewing the Subscription Process Reviewing Data Flow Indicators Monitoring the Replication Publications Monitoring the Replication Agents Monitoring the Replication Subscriptions Monitoring Alarms

Monitoring SQL Performance

Resource Toolbar Options Monitoring SQL Performance without SQL PI configured

Viewing Metrics Blocking History Viewing SQL Statement Details

Monitoring SQL Performance with SQL PI Configured

Activity Highlights Performance Tree Viewing Historical Metrics Resource Toolbar Options Viewing Change Tracking Viewing Execution Plans Comparing Performance

Reviewing Memory Usage

Viewing the Memory Summary

Monitoring Status Investigating Resource Pool Memory Issues Investigating Cached Memory Issues

Monitoring Buffer Cache-related Data

Reviewing the Top-consuming Objects of the Buffer Cache Tracking the Page Allocations Monitoring the Buffer Cache Hit Rates Monitoring Plan Cache-related Data Reviewing Object Types Monitoring the Plan Cache Tracking Memory Allocation to the Plan Cache by Object Type Reviewing Statistics about Plan Cache Objects

Reviewing the Instance Activity

Viewing In-depth Data about the Instance

Reviewing the SQL Server Instance Activity Viewing the SQL Server I/O activity Viewing SQL I/O Activity Data Overview Dashboard Identifying the Instance

Tracking the Instance Data Flow

Monitoring General Session Statistics Tracking logical reads Tracking compiles Monitoring the SQL memory management Tracking physical I/O activity Monitoring the disk storage Monitoring Background Processes Viewing Session Details Monitoring Locks and Latches Tracking Current Lock Conflicts Tracking Deadlocks and their Affected Objects Viewing I/O Statistics by Database Files

Reviewing Database Usage

Monitoring SQL Server Databases

Overview Transactions Backup Status Properties In Memory

Monitoring Database Details

Monitoring Database History Monitoring File Groups in the Selected Databases Monitoring data files Monitoring Transaction Logs in the Selected Database Transaction Log Space chart Monitoring Log Files Monitoring Tables and Indexes Monitoring Disk Space Monitoring TempDB Status

Reviewing the Services

Reviewing the Support Service Status

Monitoring the Status of the Current Services Tracking the Service Status History

Reviewing SQL Agent Jobs

Tracking the SQL Agent Jobs Tracking Job Execution Messages Viewing the SQL Agent Jobs History

Viewing SQL Agent Alerts

Tracking SQL Agent Alerts Tracking Recent Alert Occurrences

Monitoring SQL Server Transactions using the DTC Panel Monitoring Full-text Indexes using the Full Text Search Panel

Using the HADR Drilldown

Monitoring the Log Shipping

Tracking the Performance of Servers used in Log Shipping Viewing the Log Shipping Details

Monitoring Cluster Services

Monitoring the State of the Current Microsoft Cluster Server

Tracking the Status of the Mirroring Operation

Mirroring Table Viewing the Role and Data Flow of the Selected Database Viewing the Selected Database's Mirroring Performance History Viewing the Partner's Mirroring Page

Reviewing the Always On Availability Groups

OS Cluster Information High Availability groups table Availability group map

Using the Logs Drilldown

Reviewing the SQL Server Error Logs Reviewing the SQL Agent Error Logs

Reviewing Configuration Settings

Reviewing SQL Server Configuration

Viewing the Server Property Values Viewing the SQL Server Configuration Options

Viewing User-defined Performance Counters and Collections

Viewing User-Defined Performance Counters Viewing User-Defined Collections

Monitoring Business Intelligence Services

Permissions Monitoring Integration Services

Configuring Integration Services Monitoring Overview dashboard Packages Dashboard Terminology

Monitoring Reporting Services

Configuring Reporting Services Monitoring Monitoring Reports using the Reporting Services Panel

Reporting Services Execution

Monitoring Analysis Services

Configuring Analysis Services Monitoring Overview dashboard Unprocessed Objects Dashboard Current Activity Dashboard Monitoring Analysis Service Performance Resource Toolbar Options Performance Tree Viewing Historical Metrics Viewing Change Tracking

BI Administration Settings

Defining Connection Details Alarms

Administering Foglight for SQL Server

Configuration Settings

Reviewing SQL Server Configuration

Viewing the Server Property Values Viewing the SQL Server Configuration Options

Managing Foglight for SQL Server Agent Settings

Opening the Databases Administration Dashboard Reviewing the Administration Settings Defining Connection Details

Defining the Connection Settings for the Monitored Instances

Customizing Alarms for Foglight for SQL Server Rules

Introducing the Alarms View Viewing Alarm Sensitivity Levels for Unassigned Agents Modifying Alarm Templates Configuring Email Notifications Cloning Agent Settings Reviewing Rule Definitions

Defining Data Collection and Storage Options Defining Error Log Filtering Configuring Performance Counters Setting Options for Displaying Data in the Buffer Cache Setting Options for Displaying Data in the Plan Cache Setting Options for Displaying Data in the Locks Panel Defining Retention Policies Defining the Collection and Display of Top SQL Statements Defining the Collection of Database Indexes Configuring User-defined Collections Administering SQL Performance Investigator Configuring the On-demand Data Settings Configuring the Database to be Excluded

Reviewing Foglight for SQL Server Alarms

Alarms Displayed in the SQL Processes Panel Alarms Displayed in the SQL Memory Panel Alarms Displayed in the Background Processes Panel Alarms Displayed in the Database Details Panel

File Group Utilization Alarm Log Flush Wait Time Alarm Disk Queue Length Alarm Creating Blackouts for Selected Instances

Generating Reports

Generating Reports for a Foglight for SQL Server Instance Studying the Various Reports

Reviewing Instance-specific Reports

Monitoring SQL Server instances on VMware servers

Viewing Data Displayed on vmExplorer

Reviewing SQL Server Activity for All Instances Reviewing SQL Server Activity for a Specific Instance

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 pool 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

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

Foglight Administration — Rules Management Dashboard

Collections and Metrics

SQL Server Agent's Default Collections Access Methods Agent Alert List Agent Job List Always On Availability Groups Backup Locations Blocking History Blocking List Buffer Cache List Buffer Manager CLR Assemblies Cluster Summary Configuration Database Index Density Vectors Database Index Details Database Index Fragmentation Info Database Index Histogram Database Index List Database Information Database Properties Database Sessions (Session List) Database Summary Database Tables List Databases Deadlock DTC Information Error Log Error Log List Error Log Scan File Groups File Data Flow Statistics File Groups Files Files Drive Total Files Instance Summary Full Text Catalog InMemory OLTP (XTP) Instance Wait Categories Instance Wait Events Job Messages Latches and Locks Lock Statistics Locks List Log Shipping Log Shipping Error Logical Disks Long Running Session Memory Manager Mirroring Mirroring Performance Counters Missing Indexes Plan Cache Distribution Plan Cache List Replication Agents Replication Agent Session Actions Replication Agent Session Merge Articles Replication Agent Sessions Replication Agent Sessions by Type Replication Available Replication Publications Replication Subscriptions Reporting Services Resource Pool Session Data Session Trace SQL PI Instance Statistics SQL Server Connections Summary SQL Server Global Variables SQL Server Host SQL Server Load SQL Server Services SQL Server Throughput SQL Server Version Info SSIS OS Statistics SSIS Summary Statistics Top SQLs Top SQL Batch Text Top SQL Long Text Top SQL Plan Top SQL Short Text Top SQL Summary Traced SQL PA Usability User-defined Performance Counters User-defined Queries Virtualization XTP Session Transactions Statistics

Foglight Administration — Rules Management Dashboard


	NOTE: Foglight 7.1.0 introduces alarm templates to gather alarm rules into a domain-specific template that is easily modified and applied to targets. Avoid editing Foglight for SQL Server rules in the Administration > Rules & Notifications > Rule Management dashboard. Default rules may be modified during regular software updates and your edits will be lost. Always use the Alarm Templates dashboard.

In the Rules Management dashboard, all Foglight for SQL Server rules are displayed in the list. You can restrict the list to show only the rules installed with a cartridge. You can also search the list for a single rule or a group of rules.

To review rules:

1

In the navigation panel, under Homes, click Administration.

2

In the Administration dashboard, click Rules.

The Rule Management dashboard opens.

3

To show only Foglight for SQL Server rules, in the Search box, type the prefix: DBSS.


	TIP: Alternatively, you can select DB_SQL_Server_UI from the Cartridge list.

4

From here, you can perform the following tasks:

•

Review a short description of the rule.

•

Associate actions with rules.


	NOTE: By default, predefined Foglight for SQL Server rules do not trigger any actions.

•

Create user-defined rules.


	NOTE: User-defined rules are always managed from the Rule Management dashboard; these rules are not displayed in the Foglight Administration — Rules Management Dashboard.

For help with these tasks, open the online help from the Rules Management dashboard.

Collections and Metrics

The Foglight for SQL Server’s agent collects and stores data at all times, even when the browser window that displays the data is not active. The Collection Frequencies view in the Databases Administration dashboard includes a number of predefined collections that are sampled and stored, as well as the data collection values when sampling is carried out in online, offline, and real-time frequency modes.

For more information about working with collections, see the Foglight Administration and Configuration Guide.


	NOTE: All of the information collected according to the definitions described in this section is displayed on Foglight for SQL Server. For details, see the Foglight for SQL Server User Guide.


	NOTE: Several collections contain metrics whose name ends with Rate (for example: Physical Writes Rate and Physical Disks Rate). Such metrics, which are not documented in this guide, are used for plotting the original metric (usually called by the same name without the “Rate” suffix) on a graph for the selected time range.

SQL Server Agent's Default Collections

SQL Server Agent’s Default Collections


Column	Description
Collection Name	The collection name, as retrieved by the agent.
Display Name	The collection name, as displayed in the application’s sections to which the collection retrieves information.
Description	The name of the collection. This list is sorted in alphabetical order.
Offline Frequency	Allows defining the collection interval, in seconds, in low frequency mode (for example: 300). Low frequency mode refers to the frequency at which the agent collects data when no user is currently connected to the monitored instance.
Online Frequency	Allows defining the collection interval, in seconds, in high frequency mode (for example: 60). High frequency mode refers to the frequency at which the agent collects data when none of the currently logged-on users are in focus on a screen, which displays any of the metrics sampled by this collection.
Real-time Frequency	Allows defining the collection interval, in seconds, in real-time frequency mode (for example: 20). Fast frequency mode refers to the frequency at which the agent collects data when one or more of the currently logged-on users are in focus on a screen, which displays any of the metrics sampled by this collection.

Access Methods

This collection provides the methods used for accessing and updating logical data within an instance.


Frequency Mode	Collection Interval (In Seconds)
Real-time	20
Online	60
Offline	300

Collection Metrics


Display Name	Description
Forwarded Records	The total number of records that were retrieved by SQL Server during the specified time range. When a row in a table that does not have a clustering index is updated, and if the modified row no longer fits on the old page, SQL Server moves the row to a new page and leaves a forwarding pointer in the old page. As a result, the non-clustered indexes do not have to be modified to reflect the new row location, but will cause subsequent retrieval of this row, by means of non-clustered indexes to require an extra I/O. A high Forwarded Records rate can indicate a need for reorganizing tables (unloading/reloading) or defining clustered indexes.
Free Space Scans	The number of scans initiated to search for free space to insert a new record.
Full Scans	The number of unrestricted full scans per second (either base-table or full-index scans).
Index Searches	The number of index searches per second. These searches are used to start a range scan, reposition a range scan, revalidate a scan point, fetch a single index record, and search down the index to locate where to insert a new row.
Page Allocations	The total number of pages that were allocated to tables or indexes during the specified time range. This metric indicates how fast tables are expanding.
Page Allocations Rate	The rate per second at which pages are allocated to tables or indexes.
Page Deallocations	The total number of pages that were deallocated from tables or indexes during the specified time range. This metric indicates how fast tables are shrinking.
Page Deallocations Rate	The rate per second at which pages are deallocated from tables or indexes.
Page Splits	The number of page splits that took place within the defined time range. Page splitting occurs when an index or data page becomes full and then is split between the existing page and a newly allocated page. Excess page splitting can lead to I/O performance issues. High and increasing values may indicate that either the indexes needs to be rebuilt and / or the indexes fill factor should be increased.
Page Splits vs Page Writes	The ratio of page splits per writes. When an index or data page becomes full during an insert operation, data is split between the current page and a newly allocated page. Excessive page splitting can result in excessive disk I/O, thereby contributing to performance degradation. Higher values of this metric indicate that page splitting affects the monitored application's I/O performance. To resolve this issue, check your database file configuration, the selected index fill factor, and the rate at which your transactions are committed.
Probe Scans	The number of probe scans. A probe scan is used to directly look up rows in an index or base table.
Range Scans	The number of qualified range scans through indexes.
Skipped Ghosted Records	The total number of ghosted records that were encountered by SQL Server during scans over the specified time range. When a record is deleted from a table, SQL Server improves concurrency by not physically removing the row from index leaf levels, but marking it instead as deleted (ghosted). At some later point, a housekeeping process asynchronously removes these rows from the leaf level. Until the records are removed, SQL Server must skip the ghosted records during leaf-level scans.
Skipped Ghosted Records Rate	The rate per second at which SQL Server encounters ghosted records during scans.
Table Lock Escalations	The number of times a lock on a table has been escalated during the specified time range. Lock escalation is not necessarily a problem by itself; however, it can cause concurrency issues and lock conflicts, and can be a major contributor to blocking problems and deadlocks.

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