SQL Server Tips by Robin Schumacher

Diagnosing Storage and System Problems

SQL Server performance analysis can be carried out in many ways, and it seems that every database professional has their own preferred method. The process of diagnosing performance issues is somewhat likened to investment/stock analysis. There are many techniques that investors use to choose stocks for their portfolios, but most techniques can be boiled down into two basic methods: fundamental analysis and technical analysis.

Those who follow the fundamental analysis approach look for things such as continuous increases in a company’s earnings per share, sales and revenue growth rates, profit margins, and other key factors that typically indicate a company’s stock may be ready to rise. Proponents of technical analysis sneer at fundamentalists and insist that the way to pick winning stocks is by examining chart patterns of a company’s stock, along with other market-leading indicators that can signal when to buy or sell.

Even though both techniques have their advocates, there are some pretty good investment professionals who, instead of limiting themselves to one method, embrace both. The bursting of the tech bubble in the early 2000’s taught technical enthusiasts one thing: a company’s fundamentals and bottom line do matter. Fundamentalists also learned that even a stock with outstanding corporate sales and revenue acceleration could be dragged down when its peers in the same industry group decline.

To properly tackle SQL Server performance analysis, it is critical that one does not get pigeon-holed into a narrow way of thinking in terms of how to approach performance optimization. It is important to make sure that all bases are covered.

The above book excerpt is from:

High-Performance SQL Server DBA
Tuning & Optimization Secrets

ISBN: 0-9761573-6-5
Robin Schumacher

 http://www.rampant-books.com/book_2005_2_sql_server_dba.htm