SQL Server Profiler records data about various SQL Server events. This data is stored in a trace file and can be used to troubleshoot a wide range of SQL Server issues, such as poorly-performing queries, locking and blocking, excessive table/index scanning, and a lot more.

For such a potentially powerful tool, Profiler is surprisingly underused. This must be due, at least in part, to the fact that it is occasionally a frustrating tool. The user interface is poor, it lacks many important features, it is poorly documented and, unless you have a lot of experience as a DBA, it is often hard to analyze the data you capture. As such, many DBAs tend to ignore it and this is distressing, because Profiler has so much potential to make a DBA’s life more productive.

This book will make it easier for you to learn how to use Profiler, analyze the data it provides, and to take full advantage of its potential for troubleshooting SQL Server problems.