The first part of our stairway series on SQL Trace examines the overview of this subsystem in SQL Server, it's architecture and the kind of information it returns.  Read more...

This is the second article in our Stairway Series on SQL Tracing. Learn how to build traces in code with T-SQL.  Read more...

In this third article of our Stairway Series on tracing, Dan Guzman goes into the method of using Profiler to help you create a custom trace of the events that you need to monitor.  Read more...

An introduction to the SQL Server default and black box traces targeted at DBAs who are new to these specialized traces. The article shows how to enable and disable the default trace feature and create a black box trace. The captured events are discussed along with how to view current and historical trace data of these traces.  Read more...

An introduction to the SQL Trace catalog views and functions used to view existing trace definitions targeted at DBAs and Developers. The article discusses T-SQL queries to view defined traces, query trace status and start/stop/delete traces.  Read more...

How to import a trace file into a table using T-SQL and the Profiler tool, for subsequent ad-hoc analysis.  Read more...

How to use SQL Jobs, scripts and SSIS to manage traces and trace data collection.  Read more...

Level 8 of this stairway series looks at the automation of your tracing using Integration Services.  Read more...

In this level you will see how to employ the Data Collector feature of SQL Server to automate management of SQL Traces among multiple servers.  Read more...

Compares and contrasts tracing using Profiler with server-side tracing, illustrating important performance differences so that one can choose the right tool for the task at hand.  Read more...