System Performance Monitoring

The System Monitor Windows 2000 tool replaces the Windows NT Performance Monitor tool (although I think it is the same tool, renamed for marketing reasons, and to make certification testing more confusing). System Monitor uses:

• Objects - A part of the computer system or operating system such as the processor, logical disk, memory, thread and other objects.
• Instances - When there are more than one occurance of an object such as threads.
• Counters - Used to measure some characteristic of an object. Specific counters are available for specific objects to measure their performance or use.

System Monitor can be used as was Performance Monitor to do some of the following:

• Create a baseline after system installation to compare system performance over time.
• Monitor system resource use.
• Find any performance problems.
• Determine bottlenecks to performance.
• Monitor changes in performance over time.

To start System Monitor select "Performance" in administrative tools. This tool runs on Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 2000 servers. Alternatively Performance Monitor may be started on the command line by typing "perfmon"

Ways to View Statistics

• Alerts - The administrator can be notified when a counter exceeds or falls below a preset value. Saved as *.pma file. The computer for the alert along with object, counter, and threshold value must be specified. A specified program may be run if an alert is triggered.
• Chart - The default view. Graphs and histograms (vertical bar charts) are used. To switch to histograms, use the menu item "Options", "Chart" selection. The Gallery section has Graph and Histogram radio button selections. Graphs display data every second and display 100 seconds worth of data. Chart file saved as *.pmc. A particular counter may be highlighted by clicking on the counter and pressing the backspace key. Chart Options include:
• Legend checkbox?
• Value Bar checkbox?
• Vertical Grid checkbx?
• Horizontal Grid checkbox?
• Vertical Lables checkbox?
• Vertical maximum textbox (Default is 100).?
• Gallary section - Graph and Histogram checkboxes?
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• Update Time section - Periodic Updates and Manual Updates checkboxes with Interval (seconds) textbox.?

Statistical values displayed include:

• Last - The most recent measurement of the counter on the chart.
• Average - The average measurement of the counter on the chart.
• Minimum - The lowest measurement of the counter on the chart.
• Maximum - Highest measurement of the counter on the chart.
• Duration - The amount of time on the chart.
• Log - Used to create data in log files for future analysis. Data can be acquited from several systems in one log file. Log files can be used to create charts, reports, or alerts by sending them back through performance monitor. Saved as *.pml. This information may be exported to a spreadsheet or database.
• Report - Used to show a large number of objects and counters at one time. It is a list of counters and their average values. Saved as *.pmr.

Objects and Counters

• Cache - Level 2 cache. Data Map Hits %
• Logical Disk* - % Free Space
• Memory* - Counters:
• Pages/Sec - How much RAM and virtual memory on the hard drive are being swapped. If above 5 or 6 on average, more RAM is needed.
• Network interface* - Counters:
• Bytes Total/sec
• Objects - Process and thread counts
• Paging file - Virtual memory. Counters:
• % Usage - The amount of the paging file being used. Create a larger paging file or add RAM if the number is near 100%.
• Physical disk - Counters:
• Disk Queue Length - The number of disk reads and writes in queue to be done. - If above 4 or 5 on average, a faster hard drive is needed.
• Average disk Sec/Transfer
• % disk time - The percent of time the disk is busy doing reads or writes. A high number near 100% indicates a disk or drive controller bottleneck.
• Process - Currently running programs. Counters:
• % Processor Time - The percent of time the processor is used by this process object including all its threads.
• Processor* - Counters:
• % Processor Time - A number close to 100% indicates the processor is a bottleneck.
• Redirector
• Server - Counters:
• Bytes Total/Sec - The total number of bytes sent through or received through all network cards on a computer by the server service.
• System - NT Performance. File Read or Write Operations/Sec
• Thread - Thread performance. Counters:
• % Processor Time - The percent of time the processor is used by this thread object