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Xperf: Install Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT) with 242MB Download, Not 2.5GB Windows 7 SDK: Part 2
In my first post on Xperf , I described the simple 4.4MB download necessary to install the Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA) & the other tools which comprise the Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT), including Xperf. I was surprised to learn that the Read More...
Xperf: Install Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT) with 242MB Download, Not the Entire 2.5GB Windows 7 SDK: Part 1
Say It Ain’t So! In my first post on Xperf , I described the simple 4.4MB download necessary to install the Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA) & the other tools which comprise the Windows Performance Toolkit (WPT), including Xperf. I was surprised Read More...
SQLIOSim Parser by Jens Suessmeyer & Yours Truly
New! Improved! v.3.3.0 Now Available on CodePlex ! Preamble SQLIOSim Parser shreds the results of SQLIOSim.log.xml in seconds, allowing easier & more accurate interpretation of the output of SQLIOSim. SQLIOSim is a tool written by CSS Engineer Bob Read More...
xPerf: Once I Was Blind and Now I See
I’ve been aware of the buzz around xPerf for quite some time.  I flagged emails from Microsoft Premier Field Engineers Clint Huffman (author of PAL ) & Shane Creamer (author of Vital Signs ) who in internal DLs both cited the tool way back in Read More...
sys.dm_db_index_operational_stats: Kick Your Assumptions: Part 1
A two-part tale in which your humble correspondent interrogates databases & Very Smart Persons (VSPs), & is forced to kick his ass- umptions regarding a popular DMF. Executive Summary Documentation for the DMF sys.dm_db_index_operational_stats Read More...
Disk Partition Alignment (Sector Alignment): Make the Case: Save Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars
I recently collaborated with Microsoft PFE Daniel Janik to create a template to make the case for disk partition alignment. Perhaps your customers or stakeholders within your organization can benefit. This work was recently broadcast throughout PFE DLs Read More...
Wait Stats Introductory References
Preamble For those of you who are already facile with SQL Server wait stats, there’s nothing new here. However, if you’re a n00b, this is a great place to start. History As I commented here on SQL MVP Jason Massie’s blog , I first became aware of the Read More...
Analyzing Storage Performance by Robert Smith on the Counter-of-the-Week (COTW) Blog
In my role with MS IT's Assessment, Consulting, & Engineering ( A.C.E. ) team, I work with some of the best application perf engineers in the world. However, A.C.E. doesn't have a monopoly on talent; there are some great engineers throughout Microsoft. Read More...
Disk I/O Case Study: Classic Case of SAN Over-Subscription
SAN Over-Subscription There are a variety of challenges related to I/O performance. One common problem is "SAN Over-Subscription", which is characterized by the the following symptoms: High disk latency and Low IOPs & Throughput As MS PFE & fellow Read More...
sp_reset_connection Does NOT Reset TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL: Unexpected Behavior By Design
I've long been an advocate of the best practice of explicitly setting the transaction isolation level in my scripts. At my old day job as an enterprise architect I mandated that along with SET NOCOUNT ON , the preamble for all SProcs explicitly must declare Read More...
Disk Partition Alignment (Sector Alignment) for SQL Server: Part 4: Essentials (Cheat Sheet)
The purpose of this post is to document Disk Partition Alignment Essentials. It is intended for engineers who are already familiar with disk partition alignment yet want a “cheat sheet”. As most of you know, partition alignment is an essential best practice. Read More...
Case Study: Part 2: CXPACKET Wait Stats & 'max degree of parallelism' Option: Suppressing Query Parallelism Eliminated CXPACKET Waits & Liberated 30% of CPU
Introduction This is the second of a four-part series: Introduction to Query Parallelism Parallelism Suppression: Analysis, Remediation, & Results (this post) Parallel Query Identification & Remediation Summary Executive Summary In my first post Read More...
Case Study: Part 1: CXPACKET Wait Stats & 'max degree of parallelism' Option: Introduction to Using Wait Stats to Identify & Remediate Query Parallelism Bottlenecks
This is the first of a four-part series: Introduction to Query Parallelism (this post) Flipping the Bit Expensive Query Identification & Remediation Summary Query Parallelism The SQL Server configuration option max degree of parallelism determines Read More...
Disk Partition Alignment (Sector Alignment) for SQL Server: Part 3: PASS 2008
I've spoken publicly several times this year to crowds large-&-small: TechReady 6 (an internal Microsoft conference) Indy Tech Fest ITT Commencement Last week was my first external international conference, the Professional Association for SQL Server Read More...
Disk Partition Alignment (Sector Alignment) for SQL Server: Part 1: Slide Deck
<Note: 20081119: Deck updated w/ new graphics, perf metrics, & dynamic disk info> <Note: 20090225: Deck updated & moved to skydrive > <Note: See also Disk Partition Alignment (Sector Alignment) for SQL Server: Part 4: Essentials Read More...

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