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DBADave
Constraint Violating Yak Guru
366 Posts |
 Posted - 2005-11-08 : 16:49:44
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| It's budget time and I'm trying to determine what tools to purchase in 2006. Have you found it beneficial to have a real time monitoring tool such as SQL Diagnostic Manager (SQLdm) by Idera or Spotlight from Quest Software? I've traditionally used Perfmon for monitoring SQL Servers over a period of time, but was curious if a real time monitoring tool would be worth the money. I have a new employer, where I am the only DBA supporting over 50 production SQL Servers and 6 development servers. It will take some time before I can implement various scripts to alert me of hardware or SQL Server performance issues so I'm hoping a tool or two can help, at least with our more critical servers. We do have MOM, so it's not as if I don't have any tools helping me.I'm also looking into purchasing SQLCompare, by Red-Gate, and LiteSpeed, by Quest. Litespeed would only be used initially on one server, where the backup is 200GB. Any thoughts on these tools would be helpful.Thanks, Dave |
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-08 : 17:29:16
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| I highly recommend SQLCompare and LiteSpeed. We use both. I also would recommend NetIQ if you have the money although MOM is close enough of a product to just use that. In fact, they used to be the same product. I've only seen Spotlight used by Oracle DBAs. They find it very beneficial. I didn't for SQL Server, at least when I looked at it a couple of years ago.Tara Kizer |
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robvolk
Most Valuable Yak
15732 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-08 : 20:41:50
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| LiteSpeed definitely, if you can get only one tool that's the one to get.I personally would lean towards the Quest monitoring tools. I haven't done a side-by-side with Idera's stuff but Quest definitely impressed me more, and seemed a lot easier to get up to speed with them quickly. |
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DBADave
Constraint Violating Yak Guru
366 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 09:44:46
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| How about Red-Gate's SQL Log Rescue vs. Lumigent's Log Explorer? Have you tried either?Dave |
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Rovastar
Starting Member
38 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 13:28:23
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quote:
Originally posted by DBADave
It's budget time .....I am the only DBA supporting over 50 production SQL Servers and 6 development servers. Thanks, Dave
I recommend hiring someone to help you. :) |
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 14:31:28
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| I saw a demo of Log Rescue while at the PASS conference. It looked cool. I'm sure it is rather similar to Log Explorer. We don't use either. They would be useful tools if you use SIMPLE recovery model in production or if you want to catch someone doing something.Tara Kizer |
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DBADave
Constraint Violating Yak Guru
366 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 16:47:16
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Rovastar,I like your suggestion, unfortunately since I'v been here for only 3 months I would have a difficult time convincing management. I will say it's something I'll probably bring up next year.  Tara,I'll look into Log Rescue a little more. It's quite a bit cheaper, although does not have the same functionality as Log Explorer. I believe both products require FULL recovery mode, not SIMPLE. Thanks for the input, Dave |
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tkizer
Almighty SQL Goddess
38200 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 16:52:39
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quote:
I believe both products require FULL recovery mode, not SIMPLE.
I don't know what I was thinking. Of course they do! They read the transaction log. D'oh!Tara Kizer |
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DBADave
Constraint Violating Yak Guru
366 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 17:05:08
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 An occasional brain cramp is allowed near the end of a long day  |
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jen
Master Smack Fu Yak Hacker
4110 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-09 : 21:31:51
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| i used lumigent once when I was still a beginner because some programmer placed an "on error resume next" statement in a header/details transaction set.It was really really helpful and we would have purchased but I decided to just create backup/restore procedures to make sure that whatever I need I can retrieve from a backup...much cheaper for us --------------------keeping it simple... |
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ghettit
Starting Member
1 Post |
Posted - 2005-11-22 : 17:58:42
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| can spotlight monitor SP response times in realtime and alert based on a configurable threshold? |
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derrickleggett
Pointy Haired Yak DBA
4184 Posts |
Posted - 2005-11-22 : 21:46:34
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| We have Lumigent Log Explorer which has helped us out at times. It's an inexpensive product that has good value in sticky situations. I wouldn't ever live without SQL LiteSpeed again if I can help it. It's a great product. You might want to look at the Foglight products for Windows and SQL Server also from Quest. I think they provide good value for the money. Quest Spotlight is nice, but extremely expensive in my opinion. I would love to have it. I just can't justify the cost when we have performance monitor with predefined templates that work almost as well.MeanOldDBAderrickleggett@hotmail.comWhen life gives you a lemon, fire the DBA. |
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Thoughts on real-time monitoring tools???