SQL Monitoring Software PRTG
A comprehensive database monitoring tool
Microsoft SQL, Oracle SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL
Reduce downtime,
optimize performance
Important SQL
queries at a glance
Paessler PRTG as SQL monitoring software
Jump to the topic of your choice
- SQL server monitoring tool: Three good reasons to go with PRTG
- SQL Server monitoring: The right PRTG sensors for the various database systems
- Switching to PRTG safe and easy
- An introduction to SQL monitoring with PRTG
- 3 examples: Detailed SQL server monitoring with PRTG
- Requirements for SQL monitoring
- SQL Server performance monitoring: The values to consider
- Free SQL Server monitoring tools
- FAQ: SQL Server monitoring
SQL server monitoring tool: Three good reasons to go with PRTG
Concise overview
PRTG measures the time an SQL query needs for its entire request, including the establishment of the connection, the execution of the query, the handling of the transaction, and the termination of the connection.
The execution time appears immediately on your PRTG dashboard. You can also monitor and process your query's return values.
Easy setup
PRTG comes with preconfigured sensors for all major databases, such as Microsoft SQL and Oracle SQL, which are often used by larger companies, and MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Overall solution
PRTG lets you monitor your entire network. Servers, routers, switches. You get one centralized monitoring tool for everything. If the problem lies somewhere other than in the SQL database like in the data center, you'll be notified at once.
SQL Server monitoring: The right PRTG sensors for the various database systems
MySQL
MySQL is an open-source database management system that runs on almost all platforms. Keep a constant eye on performance with our MySQL monitoring tool. Monitor the reachability and response times of your databases. Learn more about MySQL monitoring here.
The right sensors for monitoring MySQL:
Among other things, the MySQL v2 Sensor monitors the response time of an entire request as well as the response time of an individually defined query.
SQL Server
SQL Server is a data platform from Microsoft. It is a relational database management system and it is touted as an intelligent database that increases the execution speed of database operations and optimizes the processing of queries.
Sensors for monitoring SQL Server:
Among other things, the Microsoft SQL v2 Sensor monitors the response time of an entire request as well as the response time of an individually defined query. PRTG also comes with WMI Microsoft SQL Server sensors that measure the performance of the database. The sensors are available for several versions of Microsoft SQL, including 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
More on WMI monitoring
PostgreSQL
PostgreSQL is a free, object-relational database management system. PostgreSQL is developed by an open source community and complies as much as possible with the SQL standard. It also has its own specific extensions, which makes it popular among system administrators and developers.
Sensor for monitoring PostgreSQL:
Among other things, the PostgreSQL Sensor monitors the response time of an entire request as well as the response time of an individually defined query.
Oracle SQL
Along with Microsoft and IBM, Oracle has one of the leading relational database management systems (RDBMS). Oracle SQL does not fully comply with the SQL standard, partly because its first versions were released before SQL was formalized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Our sensors for monitoring Oracle SQL:
Among other things, the Oracle SQL v2 Sensor monitors the response time of an entire request as well as the response time of an individually defined query.
SAP SQL
Looking to monitor your SAP databases? With PRTG, you can obtain monitoring data by way of CCMS and SAP or directly from SAP. You’ll enjoy fully agentless monitoring that far surpasses the capacities of standard monitoring tools such as SAP Solution Manager.
More on SAP monitoring
Other SQL database systems
Do you use another SQL-based database system? Our ADO SQL v2 Sensor monitors any data source made available via OLE DB or ODBC. As a result, you can also use it to monitor your cloud database when other sensors are inappropriate for doing so.
How PRTG defines sensors
In PRTG, “sensors” are the basic monitoring elements. One sensor usually monitors one measured value in your network, e.g. the traffic of a switch port, the CPU load of a server, the free space of a disk drive. On average you need about 5-10 sensors per device or one sensor per switch port.
www.k2netsolutions.com
One of the 500,000 PRTG customers: the Vienna Music Association
“We were especially worried about the functioning of our online tickets sales system, which thanks to PRTG runs like a charm. In particular, now we are much better prepared for peak hours. And even when bottlenecks arise, the monitoring software shows us exactly where the problem lies so we can take action immediately.”
Peter Hamm, Vienna Music Association IT Director.
Over 800 sensors are used to monitor the software and hardware in this famous concert hall. Online ticket sales, tickets, and appointments are stored in an SQL database.
PRTG lets you keep an eye on your SQL databases – even on the go
PRTG is set up in a matter of minutes and can be used on a wide variety of mobile devices.
“The greatest advantage of PRTG? You get to rest easy.“
Steffen Ille, Bauhaus-University of Weimar, Germany
3 examples: Detailed SQL server monitoring with PRTG
Ticket system
A company uses a ticket system to process orders. During peak hours, several orders arrive at the same time. PRTG quickly sees that the ticket system is overloading and sounds the alarm. Designated workers are informed by way of customizable notifications, and can quickly take action before the system crashes.
Online store
Most online stores have a direct link to their warehouse management systems. As sales increase, a company’s stock decreases. PRTG promptly informs designated workers so they can order new goods. Even suppliers can be informed via the PRTG notification system.
Visitors
How many visitors are currently on your website? How much was generated today in sales? How high are your current online advertising costs? PRTG provides easy-to-understand visuals on this and other data, data which, for example, can be displayed on a screen during a company meeting.
Trusted by 500,000 users and recognized
by industry analysts as a leader
by industry analysts as a leader
“Fantastic network and infrastructure monitoring solution that is easy to deploy and easier still to use. Simply the best available.”
“Software is absolutely perfect, Support is superior. Meets all needs and requirements, this is a must have solution if you are needing any form of monitoring.”
“The tool excels at its primary focus of being a unified infrastructure management and network monitoring service.”
Requirements for SQL monitoring
SQL Server Monitoring with PRTG can be used with the following SQL server versions:
- MS SQL: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or later
- Oracle: Oracle 10.2 or later
- MySQL: MySQL server 5.0 or later
- PostgreSQL: PostgreSQL 7 or later
Find out more about setting up a database monitoring scenario with SQL server sensors in our online manual.
SQL monitoring: definition, examples, uses, costs
Definition
SQL (structured query language) is a database language. Queries are performed with SQL to process database information. Several different manufacturers, including Oracle and Microsoft, use SQL for their databases.
Examples
1. You can execute a query with SQL sensors to extract and monitor the following information from your online store's database: number of one-off orders, total number of orders, average order value, and names of customers.
SELECT count(idorder), sum(value), avg(value), GROUP_CONCAT(customer SEPARATOR ', ')
from test.order
For more detailed information on this example, please see the following post in our knowledge base: https://kb.paessler.com/en/topic/70618
2. Since SQL sensors only display strings and are unable to monitor them directly, in this article we describe how you can send an SQL query and still obtain a sensor status that is based on strings.
Assume you request the "emotional state" of your colleagues, a request that returns strings:
SELECT
[Name],[EmotionalState]
FROM
[employee];
Rebuild the query so the status is mapped according to integer values:
SELECT
[Name],
CASE
WHEN [EmotionalState] = 'Good' THEN 1
WHEN [EmotionalState] = 'Sad' THEN 2
WHEN [EmotionalState] = 'Angry' THEN 3
ELSE 0
END as EmotionalState
FROM
[employee];
Now all you have to do is define the corresponding lookups and you will already get a sensor status that is based on strings.
Uses
It is highly recommended that you use professional monitoring to monitor your SQL server or SQL databases. Complex SQL queries can have negative effects on database performance. PRTG allows you to monitor and optimize SQL performance. The results: increased customer satisfaction and employee productivity. With the right SQL statement, you can also keep an eye on the size of log tables. You will immediately notice if there is a sudden jump in the number of log entries, which may be a sign of some major problems in your database.
Find out more about log monitoring here >
Costs
PRTG offers a flexible licensing model for both SQL server monitoring and general network monitoring. Get started with our free version, then customize your license to meet your own specific needs.
Practical tip: “Hey Stephan, do you have any tips for VoIP monitoring?”
“To simulate a telephone that uses the same network as your real IP telephone, simply set up our QoS Reflector Script on a Raspberry Pi and connect the latter to the desired point on the network. By doing so, you can guarantee that you are measuring the right network path with our QoS Round Trip Sensor. This is important because VoIP traffic is usually treated with priority.”
Stephan Linke, technical support at Paessler AG
SQL Server performance monitoring: The values to consider
Overall performance: Total response time
In PRTG, an SQL sensor displays the total response time (execution time) of a request, i.e. the time required to establish the connection, execute the query, deliver the query, and close the connection. SQL Server performance is displayed in milliseconds (ms). If a threshold value is exceeded, you’ll be notified at once.
Query performance: Response time of a single request
In PRTG, an SQL sensor displays the response time of an individually defined query. This is also displayed in milliseconds. Here too, you will define the threshold value that triggers the PRTG alarm. The execution depends, among other things, on how well the query is written.
Database load
PRTG comes with WMI sensors that can be used to check the load of your database. These sensors display the total number of connections, the total number of logins/logouts per second, and statistics on memory, access methods, and much more.
CPU performance
Hardware also plays a role in the performance of your SQL Server. In addition to the database, you should therefore always monitor the CPU. By doing so, you can keep a constant eye on the load of your CPU as well as its temperature.
Memory/RAM
RAM overloads can also cause SQL databases to malfunction and crash. PRTG monitors the RAM of hardware in Windows, Linux, and Unix systems.
More on RAM monitoring with PRTG
Free SQL Server monitoring tools
SQL Server Management Studio
Microsoft offers a number of tools for SQL Server. As of version 17.2, SQL Server Management Studio comes with its own performance dashboard. This dashboard provides you with an overview of CPU bottlenecks, read and write operations, and much more. However, the dashboard is not a monitoring tool in that it does not provide for permanent and automated monitoring.
PRTG SQL Server monitoring tool
PRTG offers 100 free sensors that you can use for as long as you like. What’s more, the free version of PRTG comes with the dashboard, the reporting engine, and the notification system. If your monitoring requirements are limited, then this version may be all you ever need. For more comprehensive monitoring, simply choose from one of our custom licenses. Note: you'll need around 10 sensors for each of the devices you wish to monitor.
FAQ: SQL Server monitoring
What is SQL Server
monitoring?
SQL Server monitoring lets you keep a constant eye on the performance of your SQL databases. The process is continuous and automated, allowing you to immediately identify dips in performance and intervene at once.
How do I monitor the performance of my SQL Server?
You can monitor the performance of your SQL Server with an SQL sensor. Such a sensor will automatically send monitoring data to your PRTG dashboard. You should also monitor your server hardware (CPU, RAM, etc.).
What will I see on an SQL Server monitoring dashboard?
All your SQL Server monitoring data is sent to your PRTG dashboard. This dashboard is centralized and customizable. It includes data on your hardware, traffic, applications, and anything else that you monitor in your network. If something goes wrong, you’ll not only be notified by the PRTG alarm but can also see the malfunction on your dashboard.
How do I automate my SQL Server monitoring?
PRTG is an automated monitoring tool that saves you lots of precious time. If something goes wrong in your network, PRTG notifies you at once. What’s more, you can also define your own threshold values and notification settings.
Which monitoring tools are available for my SQL Server?
In addition to PRTG, there are tools such as Nagios, SolarWinds, and WhatsUp Gold. Some tools are proprietary while others are open source. Some monitor your entire network while others specialize in a single thing such as SQL databases. And finally, each tool differs with regard to price and performance. The advantages of PRTG: You get one central monitoring tool for your entire network. PRTG is an all-in-one monitoring software. All our licenses come with the full range of features. See our comparison of monitoring tools.
“Easy to implement and configure with good technical support.”
R. v. S., ICT Manager at Heinen & Hopman Eng BV
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ScriptRunner
With ScriptRunner, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor.
PRTG makes your job easier
Our monitoring software frees you to focus on other tasks by promptly notifying you of potential issues.
Save effort
PRTG gives you one central monitoring tool for your servers and entire network. Enjoy a quick overview of your whole infrastructure via our dashboard and app.
Save time
Getting started with PRTG is a breeze. Setting up or switching from another network monitoring tool is easy thanks to the auto-discovery and pre-configured device templates.
Save money
80% of our customers report substantial cost savings with network monitoring. Your costs of licenses will likely pay for themselves within weeks.
We asked: would you recommend PRTG?
Over 95% of our customers say yes!
Paessler AG conducted trials in over 600 IT departments worldwide to tune its network monitoring software closer to the needs of sysadmins.
The result of the survey: over 95% of the participants would recommend PRTG – or already have.
PRTG: The multi-tool for sysadmins
Adapt PRTG individually and dynamically to your needs and rely on a strong API:- HTTP API: Access monitoring data and manipulate monitoring objects via HTTP requests
- Custom sensors: Create your own PRTG sensors for customized monitoring
- Custom notifications: Create your own notifications and send action triggers to external systems
- REST Custom sensor: Monitor almost everything that provides data in XML or JSON format
Also of interest:
Server Monitoring: Web, mail, virtual... PRTG provides comprehensive monitoring for all your servers. Get tips and information on the right sensors for monitoring here.
PRTG monitors the quality of your VoIP-connections. By preventing malfunctions and verifying service level agreements, you’ll save time and money. Read more about IP SLA Monitoring here.
VMware monitoring: PRTG is a long-time, certified VMware technology partner. Our monitoring tool lets you monitor the full range of VMware products. Find out more on our VMware Monitoring page.
Real-Time Monitoring: By monitoring your network in real time, you’ll be sure to always know what is going on inside it. PRTG runs in the background and promptly notifies you if a problem arises.
Still not convinced?
More than 500,000 sysadmins love PRTG
Paessler PRTG is used by companies of all sizes. Sysadmins love PRTG because it makes their job a whole lot easier.
Still not convinced?
Monitor your entire IT infrastructure
Bandwidth, servers, virtual environments, websites, VoIP services – PRTG keeps an eye on your entire network.
Try Paessler PRTG for free
Everyone has different monitoring needs. That’s why we let you try PRTG for free. Start now with your trial.
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PRTG |
Network Monitoring Software - Version 23.2.84.1566 (May 24th, 2023) |
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Hosting |
Download for Windows and cloud-based version PRTG Hosted Monitor available |
Languages |
English, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese |
Pricing |
Up to 100 sensors for free (Price List) |
Unified Monitoring |
Network devices, bandwidth, servers, applications, virtual environments, remote systems, IoT, and more |
Supported Vendors & Applications |
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Combining the broad monitoring feature set of PRTG with IP Fabric’s automated network assurance creates a new level of network visibility and reliability.