By Ronald Barrett
A new feature of SQL Server 2008 is the SQL Extended Events (a.k.a. the X-Event Infrastructure), while event reporting is not a new feature in SQL Server products. X-Event is an exciting new event infrastructure that allows for detailed traces of what is happening within the SQL Server. X-Event has support for sending events to the Windows, and integrating with system level events.
The Microsoft SQL Server TechNet Virtual Lab: X-Event Infrastructure takes you through four labs focusing on the following SQL operations areas:
1. Queryable Schema
2. Procedure & Kernel Analysis
3. Procedure Usage
4. Long Running Queries
The first demonstration shows how X-Event groups metadata into channels and keywords, grouping the results into packages and the objects in the packages.
The next demo takes you through the process of creating a log file that exports results to a .csv file to show how the SQL Server X-Event data is merged into the ETW (Event Tracing for Windows). The demo shows. The results of stored procedures for the SQL Server and Disk IO for the session.
TIP: Step J. calls for launching the xeetw.csv file; this link is not immediately seen when running the demo. To locate the file, go to the first pane ( the command line interface), and scroll to the right. You will see the xeetw.csv file. Double clicking will launch the Excel file.
The third demo shows the ability to get aggregate results from a query. It also shows how to cross-examine the database for results about bottlenecks and failures, rather than reviewing trace logs. The demo shows how the event sessions are created in the system tables of the database.
Finally we take a look at how we can create and alter statements to get precise results for the events that are considered. We also learn how to filter these results and extend data already collected, along with other available actions.
This lab was a challenge, but definitely a worthwhile one. It definitely helps to keep your skills sharp. I have worked some with T-SQL in the past, since most of my job has been database management; I have not done tremendous amounts of querying. However I have done tons of analyses of events and traces in order to track a problem and resolve it. The X-Event Infrastructure certainly is a great tool for querying and resolving issues in SQL Server 2008. This virtual lab certainly whets the appetite and leaves you wanting to dive deeper into the subject.