Data Collectors and the Management Data Warehouse

Here are resources for a past talk I’ve given on the Data Collection feature for SQL Server 2008 and higher.

Many of these links are to Books Online, but I found that many topics weren’t linked together and it was convenient for me to keep my own list.

The Data Collector

• Data Collection (main topic): http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677179.aspx
• Data Collection Terminology: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677279.aspx
• Data Collector Architecture: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677355.aspx
• Data Collector Views in MSDB: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630288.aspx
• Data Collector Sprocs: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630262.aspx
• Data Collector Logging: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677224.aspx

Custom Collections

• Query Hash Statistics query cost analysis tool:
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/bartd/archive/2010/11/03/query-hash-statistics-a-query-cost-analysis-tool-now-available-for-download.aspx
  • http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/QueryHashStatistics

The Management Data Warehouse (MDW)

• Deploying and Using the Data Warehouse: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677306.aspx
• How to View a Collection Set Report: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630283.aspx
• Bill Ramos’ series on creating SQL Reports for MDW:
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/billramo/archive/2010/06/06/mdw-overview-report-for-data-collector-mdw-report-series-part-1.aspx
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/billramo/archive/2010/06/19/mdw-overview-report-for-data-collector-server-activity-mdw-report-series-part-2.aspx
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/billramo/archive/2010/06/21/server-activity-history-report-mdw-report-series-part-3.aspx
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/billramo/archive/2010/06/28/server-activity-history-report-mdw-report-series-part-4.aspx
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/billramo/archive/2010/10/24/what-are-all-these-reports-anyways-mdw-report-series-part-5.aspx
  • http://blogs.msdn.com/b/billramo/archive/2010/11/18/may-the-source-be-with-you-mdw-report-series-part-6-the-final-edition.aspx

Newer Features that  use the Data Collector

• How to Create a UCP: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210579.aspx
• BrentO on DAC Packs: http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2009/08/sql-server-2008-r2-into-the-clouds