The SQL Server Performance Solution
Ignite™ for SQL Server is the one SQL Server performance monitoring solution that identifies, analyzes and resolves all of the performance problems affecting applications and users depending on a Microsoft SQL Server instance.
Ignite doesn’t just show health metrics, it correlates the most important performance data to build a complete picture of SQL Server performance for the DBA, Developer and DBA manager. Response time, queries, sessions and server resources, are all analyzed by Ignite Performance Intelligence to show both historical and real-time conditions affecting database applications.
Response Time Analysis
Ignite applies Response Time analysis techniques to SQL Server performance management. Ignite measures time associated with each tiny operation – or Wait Type - and uses it to expose delays in end user service. This is the most important indicator, since it shows applications waiting on SQL Server to respond.
But Ignite does not stop there. It gathers real time session data, server resource levels, and query information to build a complete picture of your SQL Server performance. It analyzes historical trends of response time over 25 different dimensions – such as wait event, program, execution plan or blocking session. Then Ignite correlates the data to lead the DBA through the most important problems and solutions.
Expanded SQL Server Monitoring & Performance Analysis
Ignite 8 is the biggest expansion ever for Ignite, creating a complete SQL Server database performance solution. Now Ignite goes beyond response time to correlate real time session activity and server health. And now Ignite identifies the most important problems and leads the DBA or developer right to the solution.
Current and Historical Dashboards
Ignite 8 adds two new dashboards for instant viewing and analysis of each SQL Server instance. The Current Dashboard highlights real time problems, updated in seconds. The Trend Dashboard gives expert advice on resolving the top problems found over months, weeks and days. Performance Intelligence ties it all together to correlate the symptoms and give the complete performance picture for each instance.
Expert Advice
Expert Advice in Ignite 8 informs the DBA of the most serious SQL Server performance issues needing attention. Rather than look for clues and guess at which statistic is most important, Ignite 8 captures the expertise of Confio’s best DBAs to uncover urgent issues impacting performance.
The Top Problems analysis is based on Ignite Performance Intelligence. Top Problems finds trends and correlates events found hidden in the Performance Data Warehouse, then places alarms on each dashboard to make it obvious where to focus attention.
Real Time Sessions
Ignite 8 captures and displays real time session information, allowing DBAs to act instantly on critical SQL Server performance issues. With session counts on the dashboard, and a detailed view of Locking and Blocking conditions, DBAs have real time information needed to respond to user calls. From the Ignite home screen, DBAs are in control, able to directly trace or kill an offending session.
Server Health Resources
New in Ignite are Server Health Resource statistics to give DBAs a complete view of server operation. From the Ignite dashboard, DBAs can see CPU, memory, disk, sessions and space and can set alarms. A customizable dashboard lets users choose from 11+ different metrics to display. Only Ignite correlates server health stats with response time, query, and problem reports.
Real Time Queries
Ignite 8 adds real time charts to show execution time, most executed, and longest running queries. Real time query charts on the dashboard give an instant view of the SQLs instantly causing application delays with data only seconds old. From there, DBAs can drill deeper into real time detail on any of the 13 response time dimensions in the Performance Data Warehouse.
Agentless SQL Server Performance Monitoring
Ignite for SQL Server performance monitors SQL Server databases without installing any software on the production systems. The Igniter Suite is built on a three tier architecture, with software installed only in the middle tier. DBAs, developers and managers access the solution from their browser. The Ignite PI application is installed on any server, with the Performance Data Warehouse installed on a SQL Server test or development system. Ignite’s agentless probes reach across the network from PI to the monitored databases – SQL Server as well as other vendors – and pull performance statistics back to the Data Warehouse.
No Load on Production Systems
Using the agentless architecture, Ignite for SQL Server performance places less than 1% load on the monitored servers. For production use in the most sensitive environments, Ignite gives continuous Performance Intelligence without impacting the target system. When it is time to upgrade Ignite to access new features, all the change takes place on the Performance Data Warehouse, with nothing to change on the Client or Monitored servers. Ignite is self contained with its own captive web server, so all you need is a non-dedicated SQL Server instance to house the Performance Data Warehouse.
Ignite for SQL Server Pricing
Protect your database infrastructure with Ignite SQL Server performance monitoring. Ignite for SQL Server is priced per monitored SQL Server instance. A single instance license accommodates a server of any size, and an unlimited number of databases and users.
Ignite for SQL Server perpetual license: $1800 per monitored instance
Annual Maintenance and Support: 20%
(Prices listed are for US/Canadian licenses only. For other countries, please contact Confio).
Confio's Support and Maintenance program includes
- Technical assistance, usually within 2 business hours
- All software and feature enhancements to Ignite for SQL Server
- Right to transfer license to new instance when a server is replaced
- Web based training and performance consultation session
Multiple SQL Server instances, plus Oracle, DB2 or Sybase instances can be monitored from the same Ignite PI Server.
For pricing on Ignite for Oracle, E-Business Suite, DB2 or Sybase, please contact Confio directly.
Ignite for SQL Server Overview
Demo: How to Get the Most Out of your Trial
This 5 minute video gives a quick orientation to Ignite for SQL Server, so you know what to expect and where to look for quick SQL Server performance gains with Ignite.
See it in Action: SQL Server Advanced Features
These 2 minute videos illustrate how Ignite for SQL Server advanced features can help you.
Demo: Detecting Query Bottlenecks in SQL Server Stored Procedures
Rather than just reporting the bottleneck for the entire procedure, Ignite identifies the specific response time for each query inside a stored procedure, so you know exactly where the problem lies. The video shows how to get this information.
Demo: View Historical Blocking in SQL Server
Blocking occurs when a lock on one session causes other sessions to wait. Ignite exposes the blocker sessions and identifies how much response time impact each lock has on other applications and users. The video shows how to make the most of this information.
VMware Option
New in Ignite 8.1 the capability to manage SQL Server database performance on VMware. The VMware option adds visibility to the virtual server layers so DBAs have a complete picture of SQL Server and virtual server interaction.
Conventional database tools cannot detect the real state of server I/O, CPU and memory because they have no virtual server awareness. Ignite’s VM option correlates accurate data from the VMware host with SQL Server response time to complete the picture of database performance. Ignite lets DBAs reduce risk and improve availability when moving SQL Server databases to VMware.
Monitor Virtual Server And Database Resources
Ignite8 is the only SQL Server performance monitoring tool that exposes the multiple layers of the database and virtual machine architecture, including query response time, plus database, virtual server and physical host server resources.
Essential Capabilities for DBAs with VMware
- View VMware configuration, metrics, and events to understand what resources the database has access to and see changes before they affect the database.
- Determine if VMware is contributing to performance issues, and facilitate cooperation between DBAs and VMware admininstrators
- Track critical VMware statistics, without requiring direct DBA access to vCenter or searches through complex data
- Capture database and VMware performance history, to drill into a specific past problem and isolate the exact virtual machine and database causes.
System Requirements
Ignite 8.1 monitors SQL Server 2000, 2005 and 2008, Oracle, DB2 and Sybase databases on both physical and virtual servers. For full VMware visibility, the optional features are compatible with VMware ESX 4.X and above. vCenter 4.0 and higher is recommended. No agents are installed on any server or vCenter, and only Read-Only access must be granted by the VMware administrator without requiring DBAs to access VMware credentials.
