Long-running queries are one of the most common causes of SQL Server performance issues. When a query runs for an unusually long time, it can consume excessive CPU, memory, or IO resources and may also block other sessions.
In such situations, quickly identifying the problematic query becomes critical for DBAs. In this series of article on sp_WhoIsActive, we will explore how sp_WhoIsActive can help you to detect long-running queries and understand what they are doing inside SQL Server. Let's start.
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Monitoring real-time activity inside SQL Server is one of the most essential tasks for a DBA. Whether users are complaining about slow performance, reports are taking longer than usual, or your CPU suddenly spikes to 90%, the first question you ask yourself is — "What is running right now?". SQL Server offers several built-in tools such as Activity Monitor, sp_who2, and Dynamic Management Views (DMVs). During such critical moment, often these tools fall short to provide quick, accurate, and detailed insights.
To fill this gap, sp_WhoIsActive is emerged, which is opensource, lightweight, feature-rich, and incredibly efficient at showing what SQL Server is doing at any given moment. Thus, it becomes one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in a DBA’s toolkit.
In this series, I will cover installation, important output columns, diagnosing blocking, deadlocks, wait statistics, memory grants & TempDB usage, logging activity and advanced parameters. Let's start.
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