Trace output question

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Trace output question

mak101

Ten Centuries

Points: 1111
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August 28, 2012 at 12:37 pm

#266034

I need to store trace output to file. Can I store output to local machine and not on server? I do have admin rights to the sql server for not on windows box. Is there any better way?

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Sean Lange SSC Guru Points: 286609 More actions · Answer 1

mak101 (8/28/2012)
I need to store trace output to file. Can I store output to local machine and not on server? I do have admin rights to the sql server for not on windows box. Is there any better way?

It is no different than clicking SAVE in Word. You can save the trace file to the machine where you are running profiler.

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004514 More actions · Answer 2

I recommend you do not run the Profiler GUI against a busy production server. It's far more overhead than a server side trace.

Set up a server side trace, save the output to a fast local drive (local to the server)

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

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

mak101 Ten Centuries Points: 1111 More actions · Answer 3

GilaMonster (8/28/2012)
I recommend you do not run the Profiler GUI against a busy production server. It's far more overhead than a server side trace.
Set up a server side trace, save the output to a fast local drive (local to the server)

I am just following steps from

http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/performance/finding-the-causes-of-poor-performance-in-sql-server,-part-1/

But I can not store the trace file on server side, since sql server is installed on cluster and I do not have any windows server rights. How do I store the file on my local machine?

Thanks.

Sean Lange SSC Guru Points: 286609 More actions · Answer 4

mak101 (8/28/2012)
GilaMonster (8/28/2012)
I recommend you do not run the Profiler GUI against a busy production server. It's far more overhead than a server side trace.
Set up a server side trace, save the output to a fast local drive (local to the server)
I am just following steps from
http://www.simple-talk.com/sql/performance/finding-the-causes-of-poor-performance-in-sql-server,-part-1/
But I can not store the trace file on server side, since sql server is installed on cluster and I do not have any windows server rights. How do I store the file on my local machine?
Thanks.

hehe well I will certainly defer to Gail on this one...it is her article after all. 😀

_______________________________________________________________

Need help? Help us help you.

Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004514 More actions · Answer 5

You don't need windows server rights. You can run the trace as the article shows, as long as SQL Server has rights to the location it'll work, you'll just have to ask your server admin to send you the file once the trace has finished. If you don't know where to write it, ask your DBA or server admin for a location.

A server-side trace should save to a fast drive, shared storage is fine, just not network, otherwise it can have an impact on SQL

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

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

mak101 Ten Centuries Points: 1111 More actions · Answer 6

So there is no way I can store this on my c: drive, right? and its always on server side?

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004514 More actions · Answer 7

Well, you can. You'd have to save the trace to a network location or ask your server admin to map a drive. Then you'd have to set permissions on your drive for the SQL Server Service account. It's a bad idea though. A server-side trace is low impact because there's no network waits involved. Add in the need to send the trace data across the network and you could well impact the SQL Server.

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

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass