SQL Server 2005 Performance Audit : Introduction

How to Conduct Your SQL Server Performance Audit

To make your SQL Server Performance Audit easy to perform, I have divided it into several sections. They include:

• Server Hardware Performance Audit Checklist
• Operating System Performance Audit Checklist
• SQL Server 2005 Server Configuration Performance Audit Checklist
• Database Configuration Settings Performance Audit Checklist
• How to Use System Monitor to Identify SQL Server Hardware Bottlenecks
• How to Use SQL Server Profiler to Audit Performance Issues
• How to Use the SQL Server 2005 Dashboard to Audit Performance Issues
• How to Use SQL Server 2005 DMVs and DMFs to Audit Performance Issues
• How to Audit Index Performance Audit Checklist
• Application and Transact-SQL Performance Audit Checklist
• SQL Server Database Job Performance Audit Checklist
• How to Best Implement the Recommendations from the SQL Server Performance Audit

The best way to conduct your SQL Server Performance Audit is to first review each of the above sections, and to print them out. From there, complete each section, writing down your results as you collect them. You may perform the audit in any order you like. I have only listed the above steps the way I have because this is the way I generally approach a SQL Server 2005 Performance Audit.

Note: This updated SQL Server 2005 Performance Audit is being written, section by section. New sections will be added as they are completed.