Monitoring and Managing Server Performance

1. Monitoring and Managing Server Performance Lecture 10

2. Server Monitoring • To become familiar with the server’s performance – typical behavior • Prevent problems before they occur • Diagnose existing problems or resource shortage

3. Benchmarks or baselines • Normal server characteristics/patterns to diagnose problems and identify components to be upgraded • Acquired by generating statistics about the system during no user activity periods and during normal activity periods, as well as during slow, average and peak periods • Gather benchmarks, and then frequently monitor server performance • Provide a basis for comparing data collected during problem situations with data showing normal performance conditions

4. Sample benchmarks • Test benchmarks of disk, CPU, memory, and network response before releasing a new operating system, server hardware, or a complex application to users • Slow, typical, and heavy usage of disk, CPU, memory, and other server resources for each server, combined network and server resources • Growth of use of network and server resources at specific intervals, such as every six months to a year

5. Accessing Server Services • You can access server services through Server Manager or the Computer Management tool • Check the status of running services • Start, stop, pause and restart services • Check service dependencies

6. Windows Task Manager • To monitor processes/applications • To view CPU/memory/networking stats • To view logged on users

7. Performance Monitor • Objects, instances, counters • Monitor in real-time or log in files • Processor, Memory, PhysicalDisk, Logical Disk objects and counters – meaning and troubleshooting

8. Performance Logs and Alerts • Allows you to record information for later use/analysis • Counter and Trace Logs • Allows you to setup alerts for certain conditions.

9. Event Logs • Application • Security • System

10. Implementing the SNMP Service • Used for network management on TCP/IP-based networks • Provides administrators with a way of centrally managing workstations, servers, hubs, and routers from a central computer running management software • SNMP can be used for the following: • Configuring network devices • Monitoring the performance of a network • Locating network problems • Monitoring network usage

11. Implementing the SNMP Service (continued) • SNMP provides network management services through agents and management systems • SNMP management system (a computer running management software) • Sends and requests information from an SNMP agent • SNMP agent (any computer or network device running SNMP agent software) • Responds to the management system’s request for information

12. Implementing the SNMP Service (continued) • Microsoft operating systems and components compatible with SNMP: • Windows Server 2008 • Windows Server 2003 • Windows 2000 Server • Windows 2000, XP, and Vista • WINS servers • DHCP servers • Internet Information Services servers • Microsoft RAS and IAS servers Hands-On Microsoft Windows Server 2008