DBAs are often asked to review the amount of available disk space on the servers they support.

For example, when creating a new database, the DBA might need to search multiple servers to determine which one has the necessary space available. Without Diagnostic Manager, this often requires the DBA to log in to each server and examine each disk drive separately to determine the free space.

Idera’s Diagnostic Manager makes this much easier.

In Idera’s Diagnostic Manager, by clicking on the database tab for any server, you can then navigate to the files button on the ribbon. There, another menu will appear with several choices (Data Files, File Groups, Transaction Logs, and Disks). By clicking on the Disk tab, you’ll see all the disks on the server, and several colors that represent the space used by the highlighted database, the log file, and any other files. The empty space available on the disk is displayed in gold. It’s a lot faster to click from one server to another in this way than have to log in to each server separately.

DB Directions, in consultation with Idera, has created a program giving you the opportunity to derive maximum benefit in the shortest time by:

• Shortening the overall learning curve
• Providing expertise on optimal configuration settings for your installation
• Establishing baselines, thresholds, rules and counters for critical alerts
• Tuning for best performance, including identifying and resolving blocking, resource, query, space and wait issues

However, these capabilities are not always available within your company when they are needed.

Technical expertise is often not enough in addressing these issues. Sometimes, being able to discuss and analyze issues with your clients is required. DB Directions staff is experienced and professional, possessing the sensitivity and awareness necessary to speak with your clients diplomatically and professionally. Our staff has multi-discipline experience in diverse business situations, allowing them to quickly create solutions to complex problems.

Customers expect systems to respond immediately.

And when you have a performance problem, it can be difficult to deal with effectively, as well as devastating if it affects your customers.

Shortening the overall learning curve

Providing expertise on optimal configuration settings for your installation

Establishing baselines, thresholds, rules and counters for critical alerts

Tuning for best performance, including identifying and resolving blocking, resource, query, space and wait issues

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DB Directions, in consultation with Idera, has created a program giving you the opportunity to derive maximum benefit in the shortest time by:

Shortening the overall learning curve

Providing expertise on optimal configuration settings for your installation

Establishing baselines, thresholds, rules and counters for critical alerts

Tuning for best performance, including identifying and resolving blocking, resource, query, space and wait issues

For example, when creating a new database, the DBA might need to search multiple servers to determine which one has the necessary space available. Without Diagnostic Manager, this often requires the DBA to log in to each server and examine each disk drive separately to determine the free space.

Idera’s Diagnostic Manager makes this much easier.

In Idera’s Diagnostic Manager, by clicking on the database tab for any server, you can then navigate to the files button on the ribbon. There, another menu will appear with several choices (Data Files, File Groups, Transaction Logs, and Disks). By clicking on the Disk tab, you’ll see all the disks on the server, and several colors that represent the space used by the highlighted database, the log file, and any other files. The empty space available on the disk is displayed in gold. It’s a lot faster to click from one server to another in this way than have to log in to each server separately.

View of the disks on my laptop

Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if you could run a report showing the available space on all your disks and servers?

Since DM has the data, I decided to see what it would take to write a query to retrieve it.

The following query will retrieve the latest disk information for all the servers that Diagnostic Manager has data for. Simply execute it against the DM repository database.

My name is Joe Lax. I’m the President of DB Directions. We’re a group of senior Microsoft SQL DBAs who help their customers keep mission critical systems running smoothly by providing expert help in all aspects of SQL Server including performance tuning, architecture, disaster and recovery planning, and best practices for maintaining and monitoring environments. To learn more about us, visit us at www.dbdirections.com or call (718) 677-0270.