Someone comes running in and asks, “Are you doing something on the SQL Server right now? Can you take a look at it? It seems really slow.” It’s one of the most common complaints we get about our databases – and yet, most of us don’t have a written plan with what steps to take, in order.

I do this for a living, so I’ve had to make a written checklist to handle it. I’ll give you the exact same checklist I use, then walk you through several performance emergencies. I’ll show you how I use open source scripts like sp_WhoIsActive, sp_BlitzFirst, sp_BlitzCache, and more to find the root cause fast. We won’t cover performance tuning – our goal in this hour is just to have a written triage process so we don’t look like bumbling idiots. Let’s get good at this!

For more videos like this, check out the PASS DBA Fundamentals YouTube channel. They’ve got stuff like:

• The Junior DBA Workout Plan with Erik Darling
• Shortcuts from an Impatient DBA with Andy Mallon
• SSMS Shortcuts & Secrets with Kendra Little