SQL Server performance is critical for application stability and user retention. Databases can be a bottleneck in any application, so real-time analytics and performance monitoring are necessary for a production environment. With monitoring and continual optimization, your applications stay competitive with performance, and your SQL Server database will run more efficiently.
How SQL Server Performance Works
SQL Server performance measures the speed at which a database receives, processes, and returns data from a query. Good performance SQL Servers can return large data sets in milliseconds. It’s critical that database administrators monitor performance to ensure that the front-end application does not suffer from bottlenecks due to poor server hardware, configurations, or storage capacity.
At the surface, SQL Server performance depends on hardware. Hardware plays a part in performance, but poor configurations or query development can also affect server speed. Monitoring hardware performance helps keep a database running at peak performance. Administrators must also review queries to ensure they’re optimized for peak performance.
Key Factors Affecting SQL Server Performance
Database configurations are often the main issue for poor SQL Server performance. More specifically, indexing is often poorly configured and causes a reduction in performance. Table indexes order data in a way that makes it faster for the database engine to find and return data based on the query. Small databases might not feel the effects of poor indexing, but databases with terabytes of data and millions of records in a single data set will see issues in performance.
Hardware, including storage devices, is also a key factor. Storage must be fast enough to retrieve input and output data, and the CPU must be fast enough to process data requests. Caching and program execution are done in memory, so servers must have enough memory to support the database. Administrators can also monitor these factors to upgrade hardware when it becomes outdated.
Choosing the Right Infrastructure for SQL Server Performance
Peak performance can come from on-premises or cloud infrastructure. Hybrid environments are also common with corporate databases. For example, you can store archives and warm backups in the cloud, while an on-premises database with high-end infrastructure supports production queries. Another example is a business environment where public queries are processed in the cloud and internal queries are processed on premises.
Storage requirements often skyrocket for growing businesses. It’s imperative that they allot enough storage space and future growth to support applications. Organizations can leverage FlashArray™, which supports performance and latency-dependent applications like databases. Pure Cloud Block Store™ is the cloud alternative to on-premises infrastructure. Businesses porting from VMware have the option of Portworx® integration.
Common Performance Issues
Insufficient server resources are the first common SQL Server performance issue. If a server is slow, administrators should first check resource usage. Check for spikes in CPU usage, RAM usage saturation, or disk I/O errors. Both cloud and local operating systems have utilization tools to identify resource usage.
Indexing is another common issue. All tables should have primary keys and indexes on table columns commonly used in query WHERE clauses. The right index on a commonly used table column can drop query times from minutes to milliseconds.
Techniques for Optimizing SQL Server Performance
Every query sent to a production SQL Server database should be reviewed for optimization and performance. SQL Server has its own tools for identifying slow queries, but queries should only return the columns necessary for front-end functionality, use JOIN statements properly, and index table columns commonly used in JOIN and WHERE statements. CURSOR queries should be used sparingly and only when necessary. Avoid dynamic queries and use stored procedures written in SQL rather than strings.
Administrators should monitor SQL Server performance using Microsoft’s SQL Server tools or their preferred tools. Hardware should be monitored to ensure that the server has enough memory and CPU power to process queries, and storage space should be adequate for additional data to support a growing business. Cloud providers have their own tools to help administrators monitor infrastructure.
Performance Monitoring and Infrastructure Tools
Microsoft ships SQL Server with several monitoring tools. In SQL Server Management Studio, administrators can see a performance dashboard. The Database Engine Tuning Advisor helps administrators with optimization of stored procedures. System Monitor can be used on a local server or a remote server to monitor hardware usage and activity.
Third-party cloud providers have their own monitoring tools. For example, Pure Storage has its own monitoring tools and SQL Server support. The cloud tools you decide to use will depend on the services you work with. Cloud tools will send alerts to administrators when infrastructure resources are low, but administrators might choose to use Microsoft SQL Server monitoring tools for optimization. The best strategy is to try out tools to find the best fit for your business requirements.
Conclusion
To keep your applications at peak performance, monitoring the database for any bottlenecks will ensure that administrators can take proactive steps for optimization. Not only should the database tables and queries be monitored, but hardware should also be monitored to avoid system crashes from infrastructure failure. While Microsoft provides tools for SQL Server monitoring, Pure Storage also helps administrators keep up with their technology stack.
