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Microsoft SQL Server Monitoring

Requires Opsview Cloud or Opsview Monitor 6.7
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Opsview Supported

Microsoft SQL Server Monitoring Tools

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system. As a database server, it is a software product with the primary function of storing and retrieving data as requested by other software applications which may run either on the same computer or on another computer across a network. Microsoft markets numerous editions of Microsoft SQL Server aimed at varying audiences/workloads (ranging from small single-machine applications to large Internet-facing applications) and our Opspack allows you to monitor your Microsoft SQL server to ensure it is operating correctly every step of the way.

What You Can Monitor on Microsoft SQL Server

Opsview contains all the important service checks to make sure your Microsoft SQL Server is up and running. Service Checks for Microsoft SQL Server monitoring include:

  • Database size, memory, and agents checks
  • Database Log Information
  • SQL Stats including Server cache statistics and wait statistics
  • SQL transactions per second, time to connect and more

Service Checks

Service Check Description
Microsoft SQL - Active transactions Number of active transactions for the Database
Microsoft SQL - Check memory Memory usage
Microsoft SQL - Database size Database size (KB)
Microsoft SQL - DB Agent Service Check Microsoft SQL Agent service is started
Microsoft SQL - DB Browser Check Microsoft SQL Browser service is started
Microsoft SQL - Generic SQL server statistics SQL server stats
Microsoft SQL - List all DBs Database enumeration
Microsoft SQL - List all lock types Lock type enumeration
Microsoft SQL - List SQL cache types Cache type enumeration
Microsoft SQL - Lock statistics Lock statistics
Microsoft SQL - Log cache hit Log cache hit ratio percentage
Microsoft SQL - Log flush time Length of time to flush logs (ms)
Microsoft SQL - Log growths Log growth
Microsoft SQL - Server buffer manager Server buffer stats
Microsoft SQL - Server Latch/SuperLatch statistics Microsoft SQL latch/superlatch stats
Microsoft SQL - Server Listener Microsoft SQL Server response time on TCP port 1433
Microsoft SQL - Server Service Microsoft SQL Server Service status
Microsoft SQL - Server wait statistics Server wait stats
Microsoft SQL - SQL Server cache statistics Microsoft SQL server cache stats
Microsoft SQL - Stats SQL stats
Microsoft SQL - Time to connect Time to connect to the Database (s)
Microsoft SQL - Transactions per second Number of transactions per second for the database

Prerequisites

Ensure your Opsview Monitor version is at least 6.7.0. Check Opsview Release Notes for the latest version of Opsview Monitor.

Microsoft SQL Server Monitoring Setup and Configuration

Network Dependencies

TCP port 1433 needs to be open from the Opsview Monitor server to connect to the monitored host. For more details, see the Microsoft document Configure the Windows Firewall to Allow SQL Server Access

Creating a monitoring user

  • Create a new user, either use "Windows Authentication" or "SQL Server Authentication".

  • If using "SQL Server Authentication" remove "Enforce password expiration" and "user must change password at new login".

  • Populate the sections as below:

    • SERVER ROLES: Select “public” and “sysadmin”.

    • USER MAPPING: Leave as default.
    • SECURABLES: Click “Search..”, select “All objects of the types..”, and then “Servers” and click OK. Then scroll down the lists to find the permission titled “View server state”, and check “Grant”.
    • STATUS: Ensure “Grant” and “Enabled” are checked respectively.

Step 1: Add the Host Template

Add the Database - Microsoft SQL Host Template to your Opsview Monitor host.

Add Microsoft SQL Server Host

For more information, refer to Opsview Knowledge Center - Adding Host Templates to Hosts.

Step 2: Add and configure variables required for this host

Variable Description
MSSQLCREDENTIALS Used in authenticating to Microsoft SQL. Override the Username and Password with your credentials.
MSSQLDATABASE One instance of this variable per database you wish to monitor, the value should be set to the database name.
WINCREDENTIALS Used in authenticating to Microsoft Windows. Override the Username and Password with your credentials.

Add Microsoft SQL Server Variables Step 1
 
Add Microsoft SQL Server Variables Step 2
 
Add Microsoft SQL Server Variables Step 3

For more information, refer to Opsview Knowledge Center - Adding Variables to Hosts.

Step 3: Apply changes and the system will now be monitored

Microsoft SQL Server Service Checks