Windows Performance Monitor
The Performance Monitor in Windows Server 2008 R2, shown in Figure 9,
has been modified since Windows Server 2008 as it no longer includes
the Reliability Monitor snap-in. The Performance Monitor is composed of
three main components: monitoring tools such as Performance Monitor,
Data Collector Sets, and a reporting component. The Performance Monitor
can be launched from within the Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Manager or
from the Start, All Programs, Administrative Tools menu.
Using Performance
Monitor, administrators can identify bottlenecks and pinpoint resource
issues with applications, processes, or hardware. Monitoring these items
can help identify and resolve issues, plan for capacity changes, and
help establish baselines that can be used for analysis in the future.
Upon launching the Performance Monitor, a summary of system performance
is displayed, showing current memory, disk, processor, and network
loads.
Performance Monitor
Many IT
professionals rely on the Performance Monitor because it is bundled with
the operating system, and it allows you to capture and monitor every
measurable system object within Windows Server 2008 R2. Using the tool
involves little effort to become familiar with it. You can find and
start the Performance Monitor from within the Performance Monitor program under Monitoring Tools in the console view. The Performance Monitor, shown in Figure 10,
is by far the best utility provided in the operating system for
capacity-analysis purposes. With this utility, you can analyze data from
virtually all aspects of the system both in real time and historically.
This data analysis can be viewed through charts, reports, and logs. The
log format can be stored for use later so that you can scrutinize data
from succinct periods of time.
Data Collector Sets
As mentioned
previously, Data Collector Sets are a collective grouping of items to be
monitored. You can use one of the predefined sets or create your own to
group together items that you want to monitor. Data Collector Sets are
useful for several reasons. First, data collectors can be a common theme
or a mix of items. For example, you could have one Data Collector Set
that monitors only memory or a Data Collector Set that contains a myriad
of items such as memory, disk usage, processor time, and more. Data
Collector Sets can also be scheduled to run when needed. The Data
Collector Sets section of the Performance Monitor is shown in Figure 11.
Reports
As previously
discussed, the Performance Monitor includes an updated reporting
mechanism and several template performance and diagnostic reports for
use. In addition, reports can also be created manually or generated from
Data Collector Sets. Three system reports are included for diagnosing
and assessing system performance: LAN Diagnostics, System Diagnostics,
and System Performance. The following steps outline the process to view a
System Diagnostics report. Figure 12 shows a sample System Diagnostics report.
To create and view reports in Performance Monitor, do the following:
1. | Expand Data Collector Sets and System in the console tree of Performance Monitor.
|
2. | Right-click
on either the System Diagnostics or System Performance sets and select
Start. Windows will begin collecting data for the report.
|
3. | When you have collected enough data, right-click the collection set again, and select Stop.
|
4. | Expand
Reports, System and click the collection set you chose earlier.
Double-click the report listed under that performance set.
|
5. | The report will be compiled and displayed, as in Figure 34.12. |
