Introduction to Windows Performance Monitor
Performance Monitor (perfmon) is a powerful program found in all Microsoft
servers from NT to Windows Server 2008. I think of Performance Monitor as more of
a toolbox than a single gadget. I will let you into a secret, few people
REALLY know Performance Monitor, so make a name for yourself and master this box
of tricks.
The initial learning steps are steep. To begin with, you can be
overwhelmed by the variety options. I have created a whole section
dedicated to performance monitoring (left menu). Half the pages are aimed
for the beginner, with the emphasis on learning how to use Performance Monitor;
while the other half is designed to show you how to use the counters to detect
bottlenecks.
The main reasons for Performance Monitoring
- Detecting network bottlenecks.
- Troubleshooting latency frustrations.
- Identifying server performance problems.
- Uncovering intermittent faults.
- Planning the capacity of your servers and subnets.
- Setting alerts so that you can nip trouble in the bud.
- Creating baselines when activity is low.
- Understanding the effect of your workload on resources.
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Benefits of Performance Monitoring
- Make the best use of resources. (Load balancing)
- Know where the minimum investment will produce the maximum gains.
(RAM on response times)
- Understanding what components are actually doing. (Is the Disk
mainly reading or writing?)
- Knowledge is power. Set an alert when resources are running low.
(Memory: Available bytes less than 10 MB)
Guy Recommends: The Orion Network Performance Monitor (NPM) 9.5
Solarwinds' Orion performance monitor is designed for detecting network outages.
This NPM will guide you
through troubleshooting by indicating whether the root cause is a broken link,
faulty equipment or resource overload. Because it produces
network-centric views, it is intuitive to navigate, and as result you can
see easily what's working and what's not.
Perhaps Orion's best feature is the way it suggests solutions. Moreover, if
problems arise out of the blue, then you can configure Orion NPM 9.5 to notify
members of your team what's changed and how to fix it.
If you are interested in testing a professional performance monitor on your
network, then I recommend that you take advantage of Solarwinds' offer of a
download a free trial of Orion's Network Performance Monitor.
Developing your Performance Monitoring skills
There are three parts to learning your performance monitor craft.
1) The art of choosing the best objects and counters
The first skill is in choosing the right objects and the best counters to
monitor. To make sure you do not miss a vital clue be methodical and
always check the 'big four' resource objects, memory, processor, disk and
network. I will give tips on how to choose your own counters for your particular
circumstances.
2) The science of building the log or alert
The scientific techniques are relatively easy to teach. My goal will be
to show you the shortest way to create logs and the easiest way of loading the
logs into System Monitor. You will also discover that performance monitor
has numerous features to make collecting data easier and more
profitable.
3) The knack of spotting the crucial trace that is responsible for the
problem
Once you have scientifically collected the data, the art comes in
interpreting the logs. I have identified three skills which all good
performance analysts possess:
- Knowledge of network principles and server components
- Natural talent for spotting something out of the ordinary
- Experience and confidence with performance counters
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