SQLBits 2011

Through the virtual looking glass - monitoring virtualised SQL

Virtualisation changes the way you need to monitor the performance of a virtualised instance of SQL Server. In this session I will demonstrate a balanced and well-rounded approach to performance monitoring in the virtual world along with best practices to avoid poor virtualised performance.

Using demos and theory this session shows how virtualisation changes the way we need to monitor the performance of a virtualised instance of SQL Server.  By simulating bad resource contention and overloading we will see how SQL Server’s own performance counters and wait stats along with Perfmon’s counters react to CPU, memory and storage pressures.  Some performance counters in the virtual world hide issues, while others exaggerate it, the purpose of this session is to demonstrate a balanced and well-rounded approach to performance monitoring in the virtual world along with best practices to avoid poor virtualised performance.