Access SQLdm Help. Monitor SQL Server performance Alert on SQL Server metrics Report on SQL Server performances Updated: 4/27/2012 8:54 AM.

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1 Access SQLdm Help While the Release Ntes prvide yu with the mst current infrmatin regarding SQLdm, the main Help gives yu the detail yu need t understand SQLdm and hw it prvides an unprecedented level f diagnstic infrmatin n the health, perfrmance, and status f SQL Server instances acrss yur envirnment. Yu can use the main SQLdm Help t: Mnitr SQL Server perfrmance Alert n SQL Server metrics Reprt n SQL Server perfrmances Updated: 4/27/2012 8:54 AM

2 Welcme t SQLdm Want t knw what's different abut this release f SQLdm? See the fllwing sectins: New features in this release Issues fixed in this release Knwn issues Previusly fixed issues Recmmended Idera slutins Want t access the main dcument fr SQLdm? See Getting Started. What is SQLdm? SQL diagnstic manager (SQLdm) prvides an unprecedented level f diagnstic infrmatin n the health, perfrmance, and status f SQL Server instances acrss yur envirnment. Yu can view, diagnse, and reprt n critical perfrmance statistics frm a central pint f cntrl. Using a unique agentless architecture, SQLdm gathers diagnstic infrmatin in real time, keeping database administratrs and managers infrmed by prviding custmized alerts. Easy t install and use, SQLdm is an indispensable SQL Server management tl that benefits bth experienced and junir database administratrs. What is SQLdm Mbile? SQL diagnstic manager (SQL dm) Mbile is a Web applicatin that displays real-time SQL Server perfrmance dashbards n a variety f mbile devices, including iphne, ipad, Andrid and Blackberry. SQLdm Mbile includes the Idera Newsfeed technlgy. The Idera Newsfeed is a revlutinary new way fr DBAs and managers t cllabrate, share knwledge, and keep clse tabs n their mst critical SQL Server issues. Hw SQLdm helps Whether yu need immediate diagnstic infrmatin r want t gather data fr lng-term capacity planning, yu can use SQLdm t help: Increase SQL Server availability Prvide a cmprehensive view f current perfrmance Prvide cntinuus, unattended mnitring Stre data in the centralized SQLdm Repsitry database Imprve the prductivity f bth skilled and nvice database administratrs With clear, easy-t-understand charts and reprts, yu can track standard SQL Server perfrmance metrics, trend histrical perfrmance data ver time, and practively identify ptential perfrmance prblems.

3 Find answers This dcumentatin set includes a cmprehensive nline Help system as well as additinal resurces that supprt yu as yu install and use the prduct. Yu can als search Idera Slutins, available at the Idera custmer service prtal ( Hw d I print the Help tpics? Select the tp level nde in the table f cntents and click the Print buttn. Cntact Idera Please cntact us with yur questins and cmments. We lk frward t hearing frm yu. Fr supprt arund the wrld, please cntact us r yur lcal partner. Fr a cmplete list f ur partners, please see ur the idera website. Sales GO.IDERA ( ) (nly in the United States and Canada) Sales sales@idera.cm Supprt GO.IDERA ( ) (nly in the United States and Canada) Website Hw t use Help This Help system can be accessed either thrugh the Help menu r by pressing F1 n yur keybard while n the windw yu wuld like mre infrmatin. T search fr tpics that explain the specific infrmatin yu need, select the Search All Help tab, type in the keywrd in the space prvided, and click Search fr a list f all the tpics that cntain the keywrd yu entered. Hw d I print the Help? 1. Select the tp-level nde in the table f cntents and click the Print buttn. 2. Check the Print the selected heading and all subtpics bx t pen yur print dialg. Abut Idera At Idera, we deliver a new generatin f tls fr managing, administering, and securing yur Micrsft Windws Servers, including SQL Server, SharePint, PwerShell and Micrsft Dynamics. We emply numerus industry experts wrldwide wh are devted t bringing prven slutins t yu, the administratr. Idera prvides slutins that help yu ensure server perfrmance and availability and reduce administrative verhead and expense. Our award-winning prducts install in minutes, cnfigure in hurs and deply wrldwide in days. Idera is a Micrsft Gld Certified Partner headquartered in Hustn, Texas, with ffices in Lndn, UK, Melburne, Australia, and Sa Paul, Brazil.

4 Idera prducts Our tls are engineered t scale - frm managing a single server t enterprise deplyments with thusands f servers. Idera prducts cmbine ease f use with a design that installs in minutes, cnfigure in hurs, and deply wrldwide in days. T learn mre abut Idera prducts, visit Legal ntice Idera, Inc., DTx, IntelliCmpress, Pint admin tlset, Pintbackup, Pintcheck, PwerShellPlus, SharePint enterprise manager, SharePint security manager, SharePint diagnstic manager, SharePint backup, SharePint perfrmance mnitr, SQLcheck, SQL change manager, SQLcnfig, SQL cmparisn tlset, SQL cmpliance manager, SQLcmpliance, SQLcm, SQL defrag manager, SQL diagnstic manager, SQLdm, SQL mbile manager, SQLpermissins, SQLsafe, SQLsafe Freeware Editin, SQLsafe Lite, SQLscaler, SQLschedule, SQL schema manager, SQLsecure, SQLsmarts, SQLstats, SQLtl, SQL tlbx, SQL virtual database, SQLvdb, virtual database, Idera, BBS Technlgies and the Idera lg are trademarks r registered trademarks f Idera, Inc., r its subsidiaries in the United States and ther jurisdictins. All ther cmpany and prduct names may be trademarks r registered trademarks f their respective cmpanies Idera, Inc., all rights reserved. THIS DOCUMENT AND THE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE FURNISHED UNDER AND ARE SUB- JECT TO THE TERMS OF A LICENSE AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN SUCH LICENSE AGREE- MENT, IDERA, INC., PROVIDES THIS DOCUMENT AND THE SOFTWARE DESCRIBED IN THIS DOCUMENT "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW DISCLAIMERS OF EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS; THEREFORE, THIS STATEMENT MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE LICENSE AGREEMENT BEFORE INSTALLING OR USING THIS DOCUMENTATION OR SOFTWARE. Sme cmpanies, names, and data in this dcument are used fr illustratin purpses and may nt represent real cmpanies, individuals, r data. This dcument culd include technical inaccuracies r typgraphical errrs. Changes are peridically made t the infrmatin herein. These changes may be incrprated in new editins f this dcument. Idera, Inc., may make imprvements in r changes t the sftware described in this dcument at any time Idera, Inc., all rights reserved. U.S. Gvernment Restricted Rights: The sftware and the dcumentatin are cmmercial cmputer sftware and dcumentatin develped at private expense. Use, duplicatin, r disclsure by the Gvernment is subject t the terms f the Idera, Inc., standard cmmercial license fr the sftware, and where applicable, the restrictins set frth in the Rights in Technical Data and Cmputer Sftware clauses and any successr rules r regulatins.

5 7.2 Release Ntes SQL diagnstic manager (SQLdm) prvides an unprecedented level f diagnstic infrmatin n the health, perfrmance, and status f SQL Server instances acrss yur envirnment. Yu can view, diagnse, and reprt n critical perfrmance statistics frm a central pint f cntrl. Using a unique agent-less architecture, SQLdm gathers diagnstic infrmatin in real time, keeping database administratrs and managers infrmed by prviding custmized alerts. Easy t install and use, SQLdm is an indispensable SQL Server management tl that benefits bth experienced and junir database administratrs. Learn abut key new features in this release Review issues fixed by this release Review previus features and fixed issues See knwn issues See list f recmmended Idera Slutins 4/27/2012 8:54 AM New features and fixed issues SQLdm 7.2.x prvides the fllwing new features and fixed issues Fixed Issues SQLdm nw displays an accurate Physical I/O metric n the Blcking view f the Sessin tab. SQLdm n lnger displays XML dcument related errr messages t users wh upgrade t SQLdm 7.2 with a SQL 2005 repsitry. T learn mre abut that cause f this issue and the related Micrsft article, see Micrsft Supprt Article , "FIX: When yu cnvert a TEXT clumn t a VARCHAR(MAX) clumn, an NTEXT clumn t a NVAR- CHAR(MAX) clumn, r an IMAGE clumn t a VARBINARY(MAX) clumn, the riginal NULL values in these clumns may becme empty strings in SQL Server 2005." An issue causing sme users t receive an errr message when attempting t view details fr a mnitred SQL Server instance n lnger ccurs. When this issue ccurred, the results were replaced by a large red X. Bth the Alerts and Custm Area views in SQLdm Mbile nw display yur custm cunters regardless f whether yu defined unique categry names. By default, SQLdm assigns the categry Custm t all custm cunters New Feature SQL Server 2012 RTM supprt SQLdm supprts the use f SQL Server 2012 RTM versin. Users wh implement the SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn functinality shuld nte that while SQLdm seamlessly mnitrs servers with this feature enabled, it des nt currently administer r diagnse issues with AlwaysOn Fixed Issues Users wh have implemented SQLdm 7.2 with SQL Server 2012 RC0 in a nn-prductin envirnment may experience issues with data display n the Tempdb Summary and Database Files views after upgrading t SQLdm Upgrading t SQL Server 2012 RTM their test envirnment will remedy this issue.

6 Users wh implemented SQLdm 7.2 with SQL Server 2012 RC0 in a nn-prductin envirnment nw receive an accurate name and versin number fr SQL Server 2012 RTM when viewing the Cmpatibility Level fr a mnitred SQL Server 2012 RTM instance. 7.2 New Features Mnitring SQL Server virtual envirnments Get cmplete insight int the perfrmance f yur virtualized SQL Server databases. Mnitr and track VMware-specific perfrmance cunters allwing yu t get a cmplete perfrmance picture f the SQL Server envirnment. Tw VMrelated reprts prvide perfrmance trends and a summary f yur virtualized envirnment. Fr additinal infrmatin abut cnfiguring the new VM functinality, see Cnfigure yur virtual machine cnnectins. SQL Server 2012 experimental supprt SQLdm 7.2 is SQL Server 2012 RC0 cmpatible. This versin f SQLdm is nt certified against newer builds f SQL Server and shuld nt be used with these builds in a prductin envirnment. Idera prvides experimental supprt while yu use yur installatin in a testing envirnment t ensure the features yu rely n mst are wrking as r better than expected. Users wh implement the SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn functinality shuld nte that while SQLdm seamlessly mnitrs servers with this feature enabled, it des nt currently administer r diagnse issues with AlwaysOn. Fr additinal infrmatin abut SQLdm and SQL Server 2012, see SQLdm Requirements. SQLdm Mbile views SQLdm Mbile features a new server dashbard specifically fr tablets and incrprated VMware mnitring data. Fr additinal infrmatin abut the new SQLdm Mbile features, see SQLdm Mbile Help. Reprting n Tempdb Statistics Yu can nw run the Tempdb Statistics reprt t quickly identify and keep tabs n tempdb perfrmance-related issues. Fr additinal infrmatin abut the new tempdb reprt, see Tempdb Statistics reprt. SQL Server Memry Usage Percent cunter available fr custm reprts Yu can nw select the SQL Server Memry Usage Percent cunter when creating a custm reprt. Fr additinal infrmatin abut creating a custm reprt, see Custm reprts. Updated alert ntificatin functinality SQLdm nw allws yu t suppress alert ntificatins when a mnitred SQL Server instance returns t an OK status. Click Tls > Cnsle Optins. On the Ntificatins tab, check the Never shw cnsle alert ntificatins when the server status ges t OK check bx, and then click OK. Fr additinal infrmatin abut the Management Cnsle ptins, see Cnfigure Cnsle Optins. CPU Statistics reprt nw available in a custm range f hurs The CPU Statistics reprt nw includes an ptin fr yu t select a custm date range and view results in hurs. T select this range, click Reprts > CPU Statistics. Select the apprpriate mnitred SQL Server instance, and then select Custm Range frm the Perid drp-dwn list. Use the calendar tl t select the range, and then click OK. Select Hurs frm the Sample drp-dwn list t view yur results in hurs. Fr additinal infrmatin abut the CPU Statistics reprt, see CPU Statistics reprt.

7 Input hw lng SQLdm waits befre raising an alert fr a lng-running jb Users can nw tell SQLdm t run fr a lnger time befre raising an alert fr the SQL Server Agent Lng Running Jb (Percent) alert. T access this feature, pen the Cnfigure Alerts dialg bx, select SQL Server Agent Lng Running Jb (Percent), and then click Advanced. On the Jb Filters tab, update the number f secnds SQLdm shuld wait befre alerting using the D nt raise an alert until it has run fr at least x secnds. Fr additinal infrmatin abut cnfiguring jb exclusins, see Cnfigure Jb Exclusins. 7.2 Fixed Issues Users with a large number f databases n lnger ntice a perfrmance issue caused by leaving the SQLdm Dashbard pen fr a lng perid f time. The Value Cnfiguratin windw in SQLdm n lnger displays blank clumn headings but includes alert state icns t easily identify the cntent. Yu can access the Value Cnfiguratin windw by clicking Edit n the Alert Cnfiguratin windw. The Lgin Time clumn f the Sessins Details page nw uses the lcal time n the client server fr the timestamp. Yu can access the Sessins Details page by clicking Sessins > Details while viewing a mnitred SQL Server instance. SQLdm n lnger displays an errr message when a user attempts t view tempdb detail fr a SQL Server 2000 mnitred instance. Users can nw successfully run the Tp Tables by Grwth reprt fr their mnitred SQL Server 2000 instances. SQLdm n lnger displays an errr message when a user attempts t use PwerShell cmdlets t cnfigure Query Mnitr. The CLR Enabled alert nw prperly functins after triggering an Infrmatinal alert. The Exprt t Excel functin n the Tempdb Sessins view n lnger fails fr users wh had cells in the Last Cmmand clumn cntaining mre that 32,767 characters. The Database Statistics reprt results frmat is updated and n lnger causes any issues in viewing accurate results fr users with large databases. SQLdm n lnger displays and errr message when a user attempts t schedule an delivery f the Tp Tables by Fragmentatin reprt. The Repsitry nw prperly saves Query Mnitr data while the grming jb runs. SQLdm nw cnsistently generates and maintains histrical snapshts f yur mnitred SQL Server instances. "OutfMemry" exceptins seen in SQLdm 7.0, and cause the Cllectin Service t crash The Table Fragmentatin (Percent) alert nw changes t gray shading if the alert is raised fr mre than 12 hurs. An issue with the Query Manager that caused "OutfMemry" exceptins and a Cllectin Service crash n lnger ccurs. Users n lnger experience an errr during installatin that caused an errr when attempting t validate the user accunt used t perfrm the install. Perfrmance updates including query aggregatin and grming changes imprve SQLdm data cllectin and prcessing efficiency. SQL Server authenticatin n lnger ccasinally fails fr users attempting t use a passwrd cntaining the qutatin mark (") special character. When yu delete a database, the system is grmed t remves all references t that database. Nw the feature als grms the deleted database frm the [SQLServerDatabaseNames] table.

8 Previus features and fixed issues This build includes many fixed issues, including the fllwing updates frm previus releases New Features There are n new features fr SQLdm Fixed Issues Imprvements nw allw SQLdm t return data fr the Sessin Details page mre quickly and avid a timeut due t slw r n respnse. 7.1 New Features New SQL Server dashbard SQLdm nw features a cmpletely redesigned dashbard, which dramatically expands the display f yur perfrmance data and simplifies the view f the verall health f a SQL Server instance. Fr additinal infrmatin abut the new dashbard, see the SQL Server perfrmance verview. New Tempdb mnitring Yu can nw quickly identify and reslve tempdb perfrmance-related issues with the new tempdb mnitring and diagnstic views. Fr additinal infrmatin abut the new tempdb mnitring functinality, see tempdb status summary. New SQLdm Mbile views The fllwing new views in SQLdm Mbile make diagnsing perfrmance issues even easier while yu're n the g: Blcking Chain View Sessins > Tp Wait Custmer View Tempdb Mnitring View Fr additinal infrmatin abut SQLdm Mbile, see SQLdm Mbile Help. View and cpy SQL Agent Jb messages frm the Jb Histry list SQLdm nw allws users t view SQL Agent Jb messages frm the Jb Histry list. Right-click the apprpriate jb, and then select View Message. A cpy feature allws yu t cpy the existing message and then paste it int a different applicatin. Fr mre infrmatin abut SQL Agent jbs, see hw t Mnitr SQL Agent Jbs. 7.1 Fixed Issues SQLdm Repsitry timeuts n lnger cause the SQLdm services t stp fr sme users. This release f SQLdm fixes an issue that caused SQLdm t display an errr message when sme users attempted t cnfigure alerts. SQLdm perfrmance imprvements decrease the amunt f time spent waiting fr page lading and prcesses t cmplete. The CLR Enabled alert nw prperly retains settings when the user changes the alert state t Infrmatinal. SQLdm n lnger experiences an issue when a user adds servers t a custm view. Imprved cllectin functinality crrects an issue causing sme users t see an incrrect SQL CPU Usage statistic. Refreshing the SQL Agent Jbs view n lnger deselects all selected rws.

9 The SQLdm Service Availability chart n the Services tab n lnger incrrectly displays, "Unable t mnitr" when the server is available. SQLdm n lnger displays an errr message when users wh upgrade t SQLdm 7.0 attempt t edit their custm cunters. SQLdm n lnger displays the errr message, "An INSERT EXEC statement cannt be nested," fr sme users wh attempt t run a reprt when SQLdm Applicatin Security is enabled. SQLdm users mnitring SQL Server instances by IP address instead f name n lnger receive the errr message, "The server yu are trying t access is nt mnitred by Idera SQL diagnstic manager," when attempting t view histry fr a mirrred database. Users wh have clustered servers n lnger receive the errr message, "Errr interpreting Services Cllectr: Invalid length parameter passed t the substring functin" when attempting t use the Shw Real Time View functin. 7.0 New Features New SQLdm Mbile interface SQLdm nw ffers a Web applicatin (SQLdm Mbile) that displays real-time SQL Server perfrmance dashbards n a variety f mbile devices, including iphne, ipad, Andrid and Blackberry. SQLdm Mbile includes the Idera Newsfeed technlgy. The Idera Newsfeed is a revlutinary new way fr DBAs and managers t cllabrate, share knwledge, and keep clse tabs n their mst critical SQL Server issues. New Alert Templates SQLdm nw ffers alert templates, which allw a user t cnfigure generic alert settings t apply t mnitred SQL Servers r grups f servers all at nce. Yu can create and assign alert templates t any f yur mnitred SQL server instances. New Infrmatinal Alerts Infrmatinal alerts allw yu t set a threshld that triggers a status that des nt affect the verall status f the server within SQLdm. Yu can use infrmatinal alerts t ntify an administratr f the state f a particular metric fr a server r trigger secndary prcesses that culd take actin t prevent issue escalatin. Imprved Alert Respnse Usability Alert Respnse rules, which cnfigure hw SQLdm respnds when an event triggers an alert, are easier t create and manage due t an updated interface and prcess. Users can nw apply an alert respnse rule t all metrics quickly and easily. Imprved Ntificatin Times fr Unrespnsive SQL Server Instances SQLdm can nw alert yu mre quickly when ne f yur mnitred SQL Server instances becmes unrespnsive fr any reasn. Althugh the default is set t 30 secnds, yu can adjust the interval at which the Cllectin Service checks whether yur SQL Server instances are up r available. If a cnnectin is nt cnfirmed within the specified time, SQLdm creates an Unable t Cnnect alert. Imprved Metrics Cllectin The Cllectin Service nw: Uses a different SQL Server metric t determine the CPU Busy Value fr instances running SQL Server 2005 r later. This change prevents timeut errrs during the metric cllectin prcess. Uses separate prcesses t cllect table grwth and fragmentatin metrics. This apprach ensures quiet time data cllectin des nt delay alerts abut ther metric threshlds. Is able t efficiently cllect errr lg metrics fr SQL lgs that are large r infrequently cycled.

10 Imprved Repsitry Perfrmance The SQLdm Repsitry database will perfrm mre efficiently due t the fllwing enhancements: New Reprts The Repsitry grming jb nw: Calls the index maintenance in a separate step. Using SQL Server Management Studi, yu can nw disable this step and then later run yur wn index maintenance script after the grming jb cmpletes. Better handles I/O and CPU demands when prcessing data. Several stred prcedures used by SQLdm Repsitry were updated. SQLdm nw ffers the fllwing new reprts: 7.0 Fixed Issues Alerting Updates The Metric Threshlds reprt is fr users wh want t view a list f metric threshlds fr a mnitred SQL Server instance. The reprt includes the metric name, descriptin, and threshld fr their infrmatinal, warning, and critical alerts. The Disk Details reprt lists key disk metrics fr a specific SQL Server instance. This reprt ffers Disk Time Per Read, Disk time Per Transfer, Disk Time Per Write, Disk Reads Per Secnd, Disk Transfers Per Secnd, and Disk Writes Per Secnd. SQLdm nw ffers the fllwing updates t alerting: SQLdm nw accesses the crrect database when a user duble-clicks an assciated Fragmentatin alert n the Active Alerts tab f the SQLdm Tday page. When yu use this feature, SQLdm displays the affected database infrmatin n the Tables & Indexes pane f the Databases tab. Editing an alert respnse n lnger causes SQLdm t display an errr message when attempting t save yur changes. This issue affected users wh manually changed XML detail in the repsitry, and then attempted t save additinal alert respnse changes using the SQLdm Cnsle. SQLdm nw prperly captures custmer errr detail when Errr: 0, Severity: 19, State: 0 ccurs. This issue affected users using the SQL Server errr lg alert. The SQLdm scheduled alert refresh is n lnger dependent n table statistics befre cmpleting a full refresh and pssibly triggering alerts. Because table grwth and fragmentatin can be lng-running prcesses, SQLdm was delayed in delivering alerts. These items were remved frm the scheduled alert refresh fr a mre respnsive alert system. SQLdm nw raises an alert when a mnitred SQL Server instance des nt respnd within the default 30 secnds. Yu can cnfigure the respnse time in the Server Prperties. SQLdm nw checks t make sure that the WMI services are running befre trying t cnnect t a mnitred SQL Server instance. If SQLdm detects that previus attempts t cnnect are causing multiple cnnectins, it will stp mnitring that server and triggers an alert. All real time views in SQLdm will display an errr message explaining the issue. SQLdm autmatically resumes mnitring nce the number f cnnectins drps belw the default f 30 cnnectins. Fragmentatin Mnitring Updates SQLdm nw ffers the fllwing updates t yur table fragmentatin mnitring:

11 SQLdm nw accurately cllects table fragmentatin data n tables within the entered size range. An issue causing SQLdm t cllect table fragmentatin data n tables less than the entered minimum size n lnger ccurs. Large tables n lnger cause a blck when cllecting table fragmentatin n a mnitred SQL Server instance. This issue ccurred when multiple very large tables were invlved. Fragmentatin data fr ppulating the rerganizatin panel n all tables in a database is nt cllected. The rerganizatin query in SQLdm 6.1 and SQLdm 6.2 can timeut befre table statistics are cllected. Fr mre infrmatin, refer t Idera Slutin SQL Server Statistics Updates SQLdm nw ffers the fllwing updates t the functinality that cllects and analyzes yur SQL Server statistics: The Sessins view nw retains any custm filtering when viewing yur Histrical Snapshts. Custm filtering acrss all snapshts helps yu quickly determine changes needing yur attentin. The Histry Brwser n the Queries tab nw allws yu t scrll when yu have large amunts f data. The SQL Server Physical I/O chart n the Resurces tab nw displays values in secnds instead f raw values. Displaying results in secnds prvides yu with mre accurate real-time analysis. Users with mirrred databases n lnger receive an errr message that the mirrr is nt mnitred when the database is actually mnitred. This issue affected users viewing their mnitred mirrred database infrmatin in the real time view n the Mirrring pane f the Databases tab. SQLdm nw includes a new cunter fr cllecting CPU stats. This new cunter include a number f imprvements ver the previus cunter, which ccasinally suffered an errr due t reaching maximum capacity cumulative CPU time. SQLdm n lnger displays an errr message when a user stps the Sessin Detail Trace and then refreshes the view. Previusly, users received the errr message, "Errr starting Sessin Details cllectr System.InvalidOperatinExceptin: BeginExecuteReader: CmmandText prperty has nt been initialized." Users with very large numbers f tables n lnger cause the CPU t reach maximum threshld during table statistics cllectin. New prcesses allw SQLdm t read large data sets in smaller chunks t avid cllecting unnecessary data and causing a strain n CPU resurces. Users wrking n diagnstics while trubleshting can nw add a cnfiguratin file entry t limit the prcedure cache rw cunt. The new key is maxrwcuntprcedurecache, which has a default value f This release includes imprvements t the repsitry grming prcess, which fixes grming f the ServerActivity table and reslves an issue causing ccasinal deadlcks during grming. Reprting Updates SQLdm nw ffers the fllwing updates t reprting: Unauthrized users can n lnger access data fr restricted SQL Server instances when viewing a reprt thrugh SQL Server Reprting Services. This issue affected all users wh restrict access t specific instances using Applicatin Security features. This update imprves data security and prevents cnfusin when a user unwittingly views data fr the wrng instance. Users can nw select up t 10 Windws, SQL Server, and/r custm cunters when creating a custm reprt. These additinal cunters prvide mre flexibility and detail in yur reprts. If a custm cunter cntains special characters (<>%-), then yur custm reprt generatin fails with the errr: Field names must be CLS-cmpliant identifiers. A CLS-cmpliant Custm Cunter name uses the fllwing rule: the first character f an identifier can be an uppercase r lwercase, titlecase, mdifier, r ther letter,

12 r letter number. The subsequent characters can be any f the previusly-mentined characters, plus nn-spacing r spacing cmbining marks, decimal numbers, cnnectr punctuatin, and frmatting cdes. 6.6 New Features Identify Database File Disk Activity Immediately identify which database files are causing the mst disk activity t be perfrmed n a particular drive. Mnitr Additinal Jb Statuses and Steps Mnitr additinal jb cmpletin statuses such as success, retries, as well as cmplete jb step mnitring. 6.6 Fixed Issues The Active Waits cllectr n lnger causes the SQLdm Cllectin Service t fail during cntinuus wait mnitring. Filters n the Query Waits view while in Histry Mde nw wrk crrectly. Null hst names, lgin names, and applicatin names n lnger cause an exceptin with Query Mnitr cllectin. Time znes with half hur GMT ffsets nw display prperly in the desktp client. 6.5 New Features Alert Frecasting Prevent SQL Server perfrmance prblems by finding ut what alerts are likely t ccur in the next 12 hurs, based n past perfrmance and current activity. Enhanced Query Mnitring Easily identify wrst perfrming queries fr a particular system resurce such as CPU, I/O, Reads, r Writes and drilldwn t view the query details and histry. SNMP Traps Capture and send SNMP(Simple Netwrk Management Prtcl) alerts t a Netwrk Management System, allwing fr easy integratin with enterprise mnitring slutins. 6.5 Fixed Issues Features The fragmentatin percentage nw updates crrectly n the Table and Indexes view. System prcesses can nw be mnitred in the histry brwser s that system prcesses blcking trees will appear n the Blcked Sessins view. "Lg Full" alerts nw prperly cnfrm t the Autgrw Settings ptin under Advanced Optins. The Sessins2005 batch n lnger causes a delay in server refreshes. The Oldest Open Transactin alert threshld has been increased t a maximum f 99,999 minutes t allw yu t better cnfigure threshlds. Direct send f SNMP Traps is nw available. A timing issue n the Query view n lnger causes a delay. Query view perfrmance has been increased when wrking with databases with many bjects. A disk idle cunter prblem that caused delays in Plyserve Server envirnments has been reslved. Disk View Custmizatin Ability t custmize the Resurces > Disk view t select frm 12 different disk perfrmance cunters.

13 Additinal Disk Cunters SQLdm nw cllects, alerts n and displays Disk Reads, Writes and Transfers per secnd Fixed Issues 6.2 Features Fixed a calculatin issue with the Lg Full alert that prevented it frm being generated crrectly. Fixed a prblem that caused a refresh delay n Sessins views ther than Server waits. Fixed a prblem that caused the Buffer Cache metric t increase unexpectedly in the SQLdm cnsle. Identify Server Resurce Bttlenecks Quickly determine which resurces the server is waiting n thrughut the day and causing the biggest bttleneck n yur system. Identify Query Resurce Bttlenecks Immediately identify what databases, applicatins, statements, r users are waiting the mst fr resurces and what particular wait stat is the biggest bttleneck. 6.2 Fixed Issues 6.1 Features Arithmetic verflw errrs encuntered when using Sessin CPU time and Sessin Blcking Alerts in certain envirnments The Tp Queries reprt nw includes advanced filters Fixed a prblem that caused Data cllectin t timeut and fragmentatin alerts t stp generating SQLdm nw allws a maximum value f 9999 minutes instead f 999 minutes. Alerts can nw be cnfigured t accmmdate jbs that run lnger than 16 hurs and 40 minutes n a regular basis. Fixed a link in fragmentatin alerts t pen the real-time view f the server Details have been added t the deadlck alert and ntificatin . Fixed an issue with the reindex batch that was failing n tables that did nt have a clustered index. In additin, fixed a syntax issue that caused rebuild issues.. Crrected issues with temp table clumns that were executing incrrectly and causing SQLdm 6.1 t cnsume significantly mre resurces in quiet time than previus versins f SQLdm. Fixed an issue with the way that nulls were handled in the Cllectin service when mnitring SQL Server 2008 that wuld cause a "Lading" message t appear n the SQLdm dashbard. Fixed a timeut issue that was causing SQLdm t stp cllecting data. The Buffer Cache and Prcedure Cache charts n the Memry view have been cnslidated and Page Life Expectancy has been added. Fixed several prblems that can cause the schedule refresh t stall in situatins where WMI has an errr. In additinal, changes were made t make failures in the refresh mre apparent via alerts. Added SQL Server 2008 R2 supprt 6.1 Fixed Issues Windws Vista and Windws Server 2008 d nt include key cunter statistics required t calculate the Disk Busy % value. This prevents the OS Disk Time alert frm activating. In additin, the Disk Busy % metric value is reprted as

14 zer in all assciated graphs and tables. Fr mre infrmatin n this issue and hw t gather this metric, see Micrsft KB ( When adding Windws system custm cunters, sme cunters may nt display in the Cunter Name list. This can happen when frmatted classes are nt created by the Operating System yu are attempting t access. If the cunter yu want t add t SQLdm is missing, add the cunter manually. SQLdm calculates several metric values differently than in previus versins. While individual data pints may nt cmpare accurately with SQLdm, the perfrmance trend data fr yur imprted metrics is valid. Fr servers and path names that include special characters such as % r #, SQLdm may incrrectly reprt the remaining disk space as zer. In rder t filter the results in the Lgs view f the Management Cnsle, lgs alerts must be enabled. If yu have a large number f munt pints n a mnitred SQL Server instance, they may nt appear n the Disk Busy: Per Disk chart. Right-click the chart and select Filter Clumns t limit the number f munt pints displayed. Knwn issues Idera strives t ensure ur prducts prvide quality slutins fr yur SQL Server needs. If yu need further assistance with any issue, please cntact Supprt ( The fllwing issues are knwn in SQLdm 7.2: Installatin and cnfiguratin cnsideratins Phase ut SQLdm Windws 2000 and.net 2.0 supprt SQLdm is mving t n lnger supprt Windws 2000 r the.net 2.0 framewrk fr the Management Cnsle. While SQLdm 7.2 and prir versins will cntinue t perate with Windws 2000, future releases will supprt the.net 4.0 framewrk. Fr mre infrmatin n additinal ptins, see the sftware requirements. Phase ut SQLdm mbile manager Idera is annuncing end f life fr SQL mbile manager (SQLmm). On Octber 1, 2012, all supprt fr SQLmm will stp and the SQLmm trial site will be decmmissined. Als, any remaining installatins f SQLmm 3.6 r earlier that use the Idera redirectrs will n lnger wrk. T cntinue using a Web-based mnitring slutin that is accessible frm yur smart phnes r tablet devices, upgrade t SQLdm 7.0 r later, and deply SQLdm Mbile. Idera discntinued distributin f SQL mbile manager in Octber SQLdm Mbile des nt supprt Micrsft IIS Express SQLdm Mbile requires the standard versin f the Micrsft IIS Web Server, versin 7.0 r later. Fr mre infrmatin, see the SQLdm Mbile requirements. SQLdm Repsitry cmputer must run Micrsft SQL Server 2005 SQLdm 7.0 and later requires Micrsft SQL Server 2005 r later running n the cmputer that hsts the SQLdm Repsitry database fr all installatins. Registering a SQL Server instance that uses an Alias Name When registering a SQL Server instance using the alias name, an alias must first be created n the cmputer that hsts the SQLdm Management and Cllectin Services. If the instance uses Named Pipes, Named Pipes must be enabled in the SQL Server netwrk cnfiguratin f the aliased SQL Server instance.

15 Management Service des nt start when the accunt permissins are incrrect If the accunt yu specified fr the SQLdm services des nt have System Administratr privileges n the SQL Server instance hsting the Repsitry database, the setup prgram cannt start the SQLdm Management Service. This issue nly ccurs during installatin. After installatin, when yu pen the SQLdm Cnsle, yu may receive an errr message stating that there is n valid license available. T reslve this issue, use the Management Service Cnfiguratin wizard t specify credentials fr a Windws accunt r SQL Server lgin that has System Administratr privileges n the SQL Server instance hsting the Repsitry database. Yu can start the Management Service Cnfiguratin wizard frm the Prgrams menu. OS Metric Cllectin requires lcal administratr permissins T cllect OS Metrics n yur SQL Server instances, the SQL Server service accunt n the mnitred SQL Server requires lcal administratr permissins. SQLdm Repsitry upgrade may fail when the Repsitry is busy If yu attempt t perfrm an upgrade t SQLdm while the repsitry is very busy, the installatin can fail due t a SQL Server timeut errr. The system will shw that SQLdm has been uninstalled, hwever the repsitry shuld still be intact. We recmmend yu back up the repsitry befre beginning an upgrade. SQLdm Reprting des nt supprt Micrsft Reprting Services 2000 SQLdm nly supprts Micrsft Reprting Services 2005 and SQLdm Mbile & Newsfeed installatin cannt be changed r repaired using Add/Remve Prgrams T successfully change r repair yur SQLdm Mbile & Newsfeed installatin, uninstall the applicatin and cmpnents, and then run the setup prgram t reinstall yur deplyment. SQLdm Mbile & Newsfeed upgrade may fail t remve the service fr the previus versin When upgrading SQLdm Mbile & Newsfeed, it is pssible that the service fr the previus versin alng with the Add/Remve Prgrams entry is nt deleted. While this has n affect n the perfrmance f SQLdm and SQLdm Mbile & Newsfeed, yu can safely disable the SQLdm Mbile & Newsfeed Service. SQLdm Mbile nline Help may nt pen n Andrid devices The SQLdm Mbile nline Help may nt pen when accessed frm the SQLdm Mbile hme page. This issue is mst likely t ccur n smart phnes r tablets running an Andrid perating system. T fix this issue: 1. Launch the native Andrid brwser. 2. Tap the menu buttn. 3. On the brwser menu, tap Mre, and then Settings. 4. Tap the Disable ppups checkbx t deselect that setting. Knwn issues in versin 7.2 Query Mnitr disregards filter fr SQL Server 2005 users Sme SQL Server 2000 users may ntice that SQLdm Query Mnitr includes SQL diagnstic manager queries in the results even if the Exclude SQL diagnstic manager queries checkbx is checked in the Advanced Query Mnitr Cnfiguratin windw.

16 File Activity des nt initially appear in histrical snapshts If while in a histrical snapsht f a mnitred SQL Server instance, yu click Resurces > File Activity, SQLdm des nt display the requested data. The data des display if yu leave the histrical snapsht, allw the pane t d a realtime refresh, and then view the snapsht. SQL Server Agent Lng Running Jb alerts d nt fire fr manually-run jbs The SQL Server Agent Lng Running Jb alerts d nt generate fr manually-run jbs. Hst OS field cntains truncated perating system names The Hst OS field in the Server Summary reprt truncates lng perating system names. Invalid alert message Sme users may receive an incrrect Unable t Mnitr alert while SQLdm is reading OS metrics. Time frmat switches frm 24 t 12 hurs Sme users may ntice the time frmat in sme views switch frm 24-hur/Eurpean/military time frmat t the 12-hur frmat. Rws Mdified since Last Update in Table Details calculated incrrectly fr SQL Server users The Rws Mdified since Last Update in the Table Details pane is currently nt prperly incrementing fr SQL Server users. Server Overview Details view may fail t prperly display Sme users may receive an errr message when attempting t view details fr a mnitred SQL Server instance. When this issue ccurrs, the results are replaced by a large red X. Previus knwn issues Tempdb Sessins view Exprt t Excel fails The Exprt t Excel functin n the Tempdb Sessins view fails fr sme users. This issue usually ccurs when the cells in the Last Cmmand clumn cntain mre than 32,767 characters. Cllectin ccasinally causes high memry usage Sme users may experience high memry usage n their server when the SQLdmManagementService.exe runs. Query Mnitr timeut The Repsitry may nt prperly save Query Mnitr data while the grming jb runs. SQL Server authenticatin passwrds cntaining qutatins marks (") fail SQL Server authenticatin may fail fr users attempting t use a passwrd cntaining the qutatin mark (") special character. If this issue ccurs, use a passwrd that cntains characters ther than a qutatin mark. Incrrect server passwrd causes mnitring accunt lckut If SQLdm attempts t cnnect t a server using an incrrect passwrd, the mnitring accunt may be lcked ut. T avid this issue, yu can click Test when changing yur passwrd t verify that the passwrd was crrectly entered. Yu can als run SQLdm under its wn accunt t prevent an accunt lckut frm affecting ther applicatins. If necessary, yu can als check yur accunt lckut plicy and set the ping interval such that it des nt check ften enugh t cause this issue.

17 Start and Stp service actins nt supprted fr virtual SQL Server instances The Start and Stp service actins are nt supprted fr virtual SQL Server instances (instances lcated n a Windws cluster nde). T start r stp a service n a virtual SQL Server 2008 instance, use the Micrsft Failver Cluster Management tl. Fr SQL Server 2005 r earlier, use the Micrsft Cluster Administratr tl t manage services. Custm cunter names must be CLS-cmpliant If a custm cunter cntains special characters (<>%-), then yur custm reprt generatin fails with the errr: Field names must be CLS-cmpliant identifiers. A CLS-cmpliant Custm Cunter name uses the fllwing rule: the first character f an identifier can be an uppercase r lwercase, titlecase, mdifier, r ther letter, r letter number. The subsequent characters can be any f the previusly-mentined characters, plus nn-spacing r spacing cmbining marks, decimal numbers, cnnectr punctuatin, and frmatting cdes. Newsfeed ntificatin links may nt wrk in Web-based mail clients When yu attempt t view the stry assciated with yur Newsfeed ntificatin, this link may return an errr if yu are using a Web-based mail client, such as the Micrsft Outlk Web App, t manage yur ntificatin s. Cntact yur mail server administratr t reslve this issue. The Exclude/Include SQL Text filter n the Query Waits view des nt wrk crrectly Exclude/Include SQL Text filter n the Query Waits view nly applies t the SQL Text that is shwn in the desktp client. Errr can be generated when editing an alert respnse rule SQL script frmatting issues can cause an "Object reference" errr t ccur. If this happens, delete the rule and create it frm scratch. IPv6 nt supprted IPv6 is nt supprted in the cnfiguratin f SNMP (Simple Netwrk Management Prtcl) alert respnses. SNMP Alert messages d nt always pass SQL text crrectly in an event SQL text that includes extended ASCII text is nt parsed crrectly when presented in the SNMP event. N indicatin that the Predictive Service has been stpped If the Predictive Service is stpped, the nly indicatin is after 2 hurs the 12 Hur Frecast will display "N Data." An errr can ccur when changing the Shw data fr the last value n the Server Waits view The errr "Invalid Argument Value f 1 is nt valid fr index exceptin" can ccur when changing the Shw data fr the last value while n the Server Waits view. If yu get this errr, clse the SQLdm Desktp and repen it t cntinue wrking. Real-time data is nt stred with histrical snapshts n the Query Waits view The date yu view n the real-time view will nt be stred if yu d nt have Query mnitring enabled. Enable Query Mnitring t ensure that all the data yu view in the real-time view is stred. Alerts generated frm the Services Heartbeat checks are nt listed with Active Alerts If the SQLdm Cllectin Service fails, an peratinal alert is nt generated. These alerts are stred in inactive alerts. Gaps between the real-time view and back-filled histrical data can be seen n the CPU view This ccurs nly when the CPU view is accessed via the Server tree. T view the infrmatin, withut any gaps, access the CPU view via the ribbn.

18 Windws system custm cunter list may nt display all Windws cunter names When adding Windws system custm cunters, sme cunters may nt display in the Cunter Name list. This can happen when frmatted classes are nt created by the Operating System yu are attempting t access. If the cunter yu want t add t SQLdm is missing, add the cunter manually. Fr mre infrmatin, see the nline help. Free disk space reprted as zer n databases with special characters Fr servers and path names that include special characters such as % r #, SQLdm may incrrectly reprt the remaining disk space as zer. Filter ptin in Lgs view must have lgs alert enabled In rder t filter the results in the Lgs view f the Management Cnsle, lgs alerts must be enabled. Munt pints may nt display crrectly n the Disk Busy: Per Disk chart If yu have a large number f munt pints n a mnitred SQL Server instance, they may nt appear n the Disk Busy: Per Disk chart. Right-click the chart and select Filter Clumns t limit the number f munt pints displayed. Fragmentatin data fr ppulating the rerganizatin panel n all tables in a database is nt cllected The rerganizatin query in SQLdm 6.1 and SQLdm 6.2 can time ut befre table statistics are cllected. Fr mre infrmatin, refer t Idera Slutin Recmmended Idera slutins Idera strives t ensure ur prducts prvide quality slutins fr yur database needs. The fllwing Idera Slutins have been recently added t the knwledge base at the Custmer Service Prtal ( Name Title 523 What infrmatin des SQLdm recrd abut deadlcked prcesses? 2102 What alerting Event Cdes are used in SQLdm 5.0 r later? 2109 CPU Used, Memry Paging and Disk Queue Length shw questin marks in the Summary view 2286 When Upgrading SQL diagnstic manager, yu receive the errr message "The repsitry is an invalid versin" 4088 Disk Busy per Disk cunter reprts 100% when the disk is knwn t be idle