Part 4. Performance Tuning and Optimization

Edited by Kalen Delaney

There are many different aspects to performance tuning for SQL Server, including tracking down hardware and network issues, monitoring the SQL Server service’s use of memory and processor resources, analyzing the causes of blocking, and investigating suboptimal index usage and query plans, to name only a few areas. Performance problems can result in a general slowdown of SQL Server and the applications running against it, or can just impact individual queries or processes, or even individual users.

Because there are so many areas that could be the source of performance problems, there is no one best way to troubleshoot poor performance. Most SQL Server professionals have a few areas of the product where they tend to focus, so those people might start their troubleshooting efforts in one of those areas.