Chapter 18Performance MonitorIn This Chapter Performance Monitor capabilities Performance Monitor basics Six quick steps to using Performance Monitor The five faces of Performance Monitor How to collect data In-depth analysis: memory bottlenecks, disk bottlenecks, networkbottlenecks Analysis: file and print servers, application serverNestled in the Administrative Tools program group you will findPerformance, which launches Performance Monitor. This unassumingtool embodies many of the powers of Windows 2000 Server. By the end of thischapter, I think that you will agree that Performance Monitor is a lot morepowerful than you previously thought.Here is where the pedal meets the metal. Performance Monitor is a tool to bemastered so that you can optimize and continually improve the performanceof your Windows 2000 Server network. Although Task Manager (discussed inChapter 20) provides several measurements similar to those presented byPerformance Monitor, it is the latter that enables us to track long-term trendsand measurements such as those discussed in Chapter 17.Performance Monitor is referred to as Performance, System PerformanceMonitor, and System Monitor in some of the Windows 2000-relateddocumentation and in peer-group discussions. That’s because in the earlybeta cycle of Windows NT Server 5.0 (which was renamed Windows 2000Server), the tool known as System Monitor was really Performance Monitor.I’ll use the term Performance Monitor in this chapter.4620-1 ch18.f.qc 10/28/99 12:19 PM Page 569The Power of Performance MonitorSome of the best deals about Windows 2000 Server are the no-cost utilitiesthat are included, such as Performance Monitor. While Novell includes itsown form of “performance monitor” (MONITOR.NLM) for free with NetWare, Ithink you will quickly agree that Windows 2000 Server’s PerformanceMonitor, with its many capabilities, is one of the best tools you never had topay for (see Figure 18-1).Figure 18-1: Performance MonitorHere are some features of Performance Monitor:■ Logs and saves historical performance data■ Charts data in realtime■ Monitors server-based applications on an individual basis (with its owncounters)Using individual object and counters is a big deal when it comes to theeffective rollout and management of Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft offersseveral courses on Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 deployment, administration anddevelopment (see www.microsoft.com for more information).570 Part VI: Optimizing Windows 2000 Server■ ■4620-1 ch18.f.qc 10/28/99 12:20 PM Page 570■ Provides several realtime and historical views of memory, server, disk,and network performance■ Enables you to observe the effects of changes to your system■ Alerts you to system-related problems immediately■ Monitors multiple servers using one session of Performance Monitor■ Runs several sessions of Performance Monitor (just try loading multipleinstances of MONITOR.NLM on a NetWare server and see what happens)■ Saves specific analysis configurations via workspaces■ Exports data to other applications including Microsoft Excel andMicrosoft SQL ServerComparing Performance Monitor to NetWare MONITOR.NLMLet’s contrast Windows 2000 Server Performance Monitor with the NetWareMONITOR.NLM application (see Figure 18-2). MONITOR.NLM provides arealtime, snapshot view of how your network and server are functioning.MONITOR.NLM lives for the moment, but as we know, moments are fleeting.Serious performance analysis demands we view our data both in currentsnapshots and from a historical perspective. Performance Monitor enablesyou to do both. As an old NetWare CNE, I can attest to the value of Windows2000 Server Performance Monitor over NetWare MONITOR.NLM. I’verecommended and selected Windows 2000 Server (and Windows NT Serverpreviously) over NetWare in several cases on the basis of PerformanceMonitor alone. This is truly one of the best-kept secrets about Windows 2000Server, one that I’m about to share with you in detail.Figure 18-2: Novell NetWare MONITOR.NLMChapter 18: Performance Monitor 571■ ■4620-1 ch18.f.qc 10/28/99 12:20 PM Page 571It is essential you employ Performance Monitor for at least a bare-bonesanalysis so that you can monitor the health of your patient (your server andnetwork) over its life from cradle to grave. Rest assured that time spentlearning and using Performance Monitor is akin to the time you spendperforming system backups: time well spent! Many network professionalshave embraced Performance Monitor and employed it to its full extent.Taking full advantage of Performance Monitor, with all of its bells andwhistles, is mandatory for larger LANs and WANs. Needless to say, I’ve foundPerformance Monitor to be a welcome and wonderful addition to myconsulting bag of tricks. This said, welcome to performance analysis viaPerformance Monitor.Performance Monitor is a strong tool for both developers and networkengineers. But when you look at that long list of counters associated withnumerous objects, please understand that most of the counters don’t applyto those of us on the networking side of the aisle. In fact, the mission of thischapter is to present the most important Performance Monitor counters thatapply to managing your Windows 2000 Server network. Developers areadvised to consult the Windows 2000-related Software Developer Kit (SDK)for more information about the appropriate use of Performance Monitorcounters vis-à-vis application development.Performance Monitor basicsMost of us know Performance Monitor as an X/Y coordinate graphingapplication that’s kinda fun. But Performance Monitor is much more thanthat. If all you ever wanted are pretty charts, you can achieve that smallvictory using a variety of Microsoft “front office” applications like Excel,PowerPoint, or even Word. For example, you could use Excel to chart thenumber of users on your network and possibly dupe your superiors intoincreasing your networking budget because your chart shows the number ofusers growing. That might work in the smallest of companies, but seriousperformance analysis requires serious use of Performance Monitor. But moreon that in a moment. First, let’s discuss the basics.Performance Monitor is launched as an application from the AdministrativeTools group via the Performance menu option. It runs as an MMC snap-in, sothat also means you may launch Performance Monitor by simply launchingan MMC and then adding the Performance