What SQL Server Performance & Management Tools Do I Use?

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Several times I’ve been asked what tools are in my performance tuning and SQL Server management arsenal, so I decided to just create this blog to list them out for you. Keep in mind, these are ones I personally use. There are many more out there that the community uses. Feel free to comment with any you may use that is not on my list.

Community Tools (Free)

 

Ola Hallengren’s Maintenance Scripts- Index Maintenance, Integrity and Backup Scripts https://ola.hallengren.com/sql-server-index-and-statistics-maintenance.html

 

Glenn Berry’s Diagnostic Scripts -Various scripts based on DMVs to extract SQL Performance statistics and information  https://www.sqlskills.com/blogs/glenn/category/dmv-queries/

 

Adam Machanic sp_WhoIsActive See what is currently going on in SQL Server similar to sp_who2 http://whoisactive.com/

 

Dbatools– PowerShell modules https://dbatools.io/

 

Tiger Team Toolbox – Various Tools for diving into SQL performance via Github https://github.com/microsoft/tigertoolbox

 

PSSDiag – is a general-purpose diagnostic collection utility that Microsoft Product Support Services uses to collect various logs and data files https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/830232/pssdiag-data-collection-utility

 

SQL Nexus– Used to analyze PSSDiag results https://github.com/Microsoft/SqlNexus/wiki/Installation

 

Xperf– Windows performance tool kit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/test/wpt/

 

CPU-z -See the effect of CPU power saving and see the immediate relief that comes from changing your power saving mode https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

 

Denny Cherry and Associates Github– Misc. collection of scripts https://github.com/DC-AC

 

Grafana– Open Source tool to graphically showcase your SQL Server performance metrics no matter where they are stored https://grafana.com/grafana/dashboards

3rd Party Tools

 

SentryOne Plan Explorer (FREE)– Enhanced way to review execution plans https://www.sentryone.com/plan-explorer

 

SentryOne SQL Sentry https://www.sentryone.com/products/sentryone-platform/sql-sentry/sql-server-performance-monitoring

 

Idera Diagnostic Manager https://www.idera.com/productssolutions/sqlserver/sqldiagnosticmanager

 

Redgate SQL Monitor –https://www.red-gate.com/products/dba/sql-monitor/

About Monica Rathbun

Monica Rathbun lives in Virginia, is a Microsoft MVP for Data Platform and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. She has nearly two decades of experience working with a wide variety of database platforms with a focus on SQL Server and the Microsoft Data Platform. She is a frequent speaker at IT industry conferences on topics including performance tuning and configuration management. She is the Leader of the Hampton Roads SQL Server User Group. She is passionate about SQL Server and the SQL Server community, doing anything she can to give back. Monica can always be found on Twitter (@sqlespresso) handing out helpful tips. You can find Monica blogging at sqlespresso.com 
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