Server-side trace to files on a fast local drive is my preference. Less overhead than using the Profiler GUI no matter whether the GUI is sending stuff to screen or table elsewhere.
I've crashed servers using the Profiler GUI before.
Files can then be copied elsewhere and imported for analysis. I usually use my local machine for that.
Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability