Tuesday, September 10, 2013

New SQL MP (6.4.0.0) & SQL Server 2012 Databases Summary Dashboard

With the release of the newest version of the SQL Server MP, version 6.4.0.0, a new dashboard is added as well, the SQL Server 2012 Databases Summary Dashboard.

This dashboard (or better predecessor) was already demonstrated at MMS 2013, back in April. So it has taken some time to arrive, but finally it’s here. And it was worth the long wait:
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Even though my fellow MVP buddy Kevin Greene has already blogged about it, there are popping up quite a few questions. I’ll do my best to answer them.

  1. Does this dashboard show ALL my SQL databases?
    No it doesn’t. This dashboard (as the name implies) only works with SQL Server 2012 databases. The related guide also states the same message, see page 66, 4th row: ‘..Displays list of SQL Server 2012 databases and their state..’

  2. I have SQL Server 2012 databases and imported the MP. But the View is lacking.
    When updating the MP through the Console, only the updates for the SQL MPs already present will be shown. This new Dashboard requires additional MPs. Therefore it’s better to download the SQL MP from the download website of Microsoft directly, unpack these MSI and import the MPs.
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    The two high lighted MPs enable the new View.

  3. Okay, I have the MPs in place. Where is the new Dashboard?
    The Dashboard can be found here: Monitoring > Microsoft SQL Server > Databases > SQLServer 2012 Databases Summary Dashboard. And yes, the name has a typo, the space between SQL and Server is missing…

  4. Message “No data” is shown. That’s all I get. Do I need to something else in order to get this Dashboard populated?
    As it turns out, this Dashboard requires some additional aggregation of data. Depending on your environment this can take a few hours up to a day. In my test environment it took about one to two hours before I got a populated dashboard.

    You can help the process by modifying the Dashboard. By default it shows data of the last two days. By modifying to show performance data of the last 8 hours, it might help you to get the Dashboard up and running. How? Simply click on the settings icon top right in the dashboard and modify the time range in the screen you get. Save the new settings and wait a while.
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  5. The DB Alerts View shows ALL Alerts! What’s happening?
    As stated in the same MP Guide (please read it Smile) states on page 70 this issue and explains it: ‘…the dashboard displays all active alerts if nothing is selected. It’s a standard querying mechanism of the default Alerts widget. Resolution: Make sure that at least one DB suites the filtering options…’

  6. Performance data for some SQL 2012 databases is shown, but not for all databases. Why?
    The same document states on the same page as Item 5 the cause: the names for those databases has special symbols, like bracers. There is no workaround for it. It’s a know SCOM issue.
I do hope this Dashboard will become available for SQL Server 2008 databases as well. It makes SCOM a bit sexier Smile.

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