Troubleshooting SQL Server using system health Xevents session

MicrosoftParikshit Savjani

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System Health Xevent Session

• A True Black Box Recorder within SQL Server

• Xevent session running continuously

• Collects • The sql_text and session_id for any sessions that encounter an error that has a severity

>=20, memory-related error (701).• The callstack, sql_text, and session_id for any sessions that have waited on latches for

> 15 seconds, locks for > 30 seconds.• Deadlock detected.• The ring_buffer events for the memory broker, scheduler monitor, memory node OOM,

security, and connectivity.• sp_server_diagnostics• CLR Allocation failures

• Data Collected in ring buffer target & *.xel files in Log Folder ( 4 Rollover Files of 5MB)

Tool for folks carrying the pager

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How to make sense out of Black Box recorder data

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System Health Session Monitoring

• Increase System Health Xel File retention

• Create Import DB & Schema

• Import the xel files into the database

• Use SSRS reports to analyze the data captured by system health session

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System Health Log Retention

ALTER EVENT SESSION [system_health] ON SERVER STATE = STOP

go

ALTER EVENT SESSION [system_health] ON SERVER

DROP TARGET package0.event_file

ALTER EVENT SESSION [system_health] ON SERVER

ADD TARGET package0.event_file

(SET filename=N'system_health.xel'

,max_file_size=(25),

max_rollover_files=(5))

GO

ALTER EVENT SESSION [system_health] ON SERVER STATE = START

go

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SQL 2012 System Health Session Reporting Dashboard

Download System Health Session Reporting Dashboardhttp://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/SQL-2012-System-Health-eb753bb6

• Create Import DB and Schema:

• Import the System Health Sessions into a Database

Exec spLoadSystemHealthSession Exec spLoadSystemHealthSession @path_to_health_session='D:\XELFiles\system_health*.xel',@UTDDateDiff=-6

• Check Import Status Select * from tbl_ImportStatus

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Import Database Schema

Name Description

tbl_ImportStatus Import Stats , each step Start time

tbl_scheduler_monitor Pulls out details from RING_BUFFER_SCHEDULER_MONITOR

tbl_Resource Details from sp_server_diagnostics RESOURCE component, mainly Memory info

tbl_IO_SUBSYSTEM Details from sp_server_diagnostics IO component

tbl_SYSTEM Details from sp_server_diagnostics System component

tbl_Summary Summary States for sp_server_diagnostic_component_result individual components

tbl_OS_WAIT_STATS_byDuration Top 10 Waits since Server Restart ( not deltas)

tbl_QUERY_PROCESSING Details from sp_server_diagnostics System component

tbl_BlockingXeOutput Details of any significant blocking > 30 seconds

tbl_security_ring_buffer Security Ring buffer Details

tbl_errors Details from RING_BUFFER_EXCEPTION

tbl_waitqueries Any queries with significant waits > 15 seconds or 30 seconds depending on wait_type

tbl_connectivity_ring_buffer Details from RING_BUFFER_CONNECTIVITY

tbl_DeadlockReport Times of Deadlock occurrences

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System Health Dashboard Reports

• Open the XEventreporting.sln & deploy the reports

• Start with Dashboard Report (dashboard.rdl)

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Stored Credentials for Report

If Kerberos is not configured, you may have to store credential ls at the data sources for each report.

© 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION

Contact

Parikshit SavjaniPremier Field Engineerpariks@Microsoft.comhttp://www.sqlserverfaq.net

© 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION