In information technology, a dashboard is a user interface that, somewhat resembling an automobile's dashboard, organizes and presents information in a way that is easy to read. However, a computer dashboard is more likely to be interactive than an automobile dashboard (unless it is also computer-based). To some extent, most graphical user interfaces (GUI <http://searchWinDevelopment.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid8_gci213989,00.html>s) resemble a dashboard. However, some product developers consciously employ this metaphor (and sometimes the term) so that the user instantly recognizes the similarity.a product might obtain information from the local operating system in a computer, from one or more applications that may be running, and from one or more remote sites on the Web and present it as though it all came from the same source. Hewlett Packard developed the first such product, which began as a tool for customizing Windows desktops. Called /Dashboard/, the HP product was subsequently acquired by Borland and then a company called Starfish. Microsoft's /Digital Dashboard/ tool incorporates Web-based elements (such as news, stock quotes, and so on) and corporate elements (such as e-mail, applications, and so on) into Outlook. Dashboards may be customized in a multitude of ways and named accordingly, generally, for example as a general /corporate/ or enterprise <http://searchWinIT.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid1_gci212065,00.html> dashboard, or more specifically, as a CIO <http://searchCIO.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid182_gci213620,00.html> or CEO <http://searchCIO.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid182_gci1271045,00.html> dashboard.
A software-based control panel for one or more applications, network devices or industrial machines. Dashboards display simulated gauges and dials that look somewhat like an automobile dashboard.
What is the SQL Server DBA Dashboard?
The SQL Server DBA dashboard tool is both a DBA and a TSQL programmer
tool. The main goal of this tool is to allow DBAs and programmers to
quickly identify performance, SQL Agent and disk space issues associated
with a single instance of SQL Server. The dashboard tool can be
installed and run against any SQL Server 2005 SP2 or SQL Server 2008
instance.
The dashboard provides 39 different performance and disk space related reports with a single click from the main dashboard page. These different reports provided information in the following areas:
* Identifies the worst performing TSQL Statement and Stored Procedures, based on different criteria like CPU, I/O and elapsed time
* Performance counter measurements
* Shows summarized and detailed SQL Server Agent Job failures
* Displays CPU consumption overtime
* Reports on Index Fragmentation
* I/O usage by database <#>
* Tracks backup history
* Tables without indexes
* Unused and missing Indexes
There are two different dashboards within the SQL Server DBA <#>
Dashboard. There is one dashboard for DBAs and another one with a subset
of reports targeted for SQL Server programmers/developers <#>. The main
reason for having two different dashboards has to do with permission.
The programmer/developer dashboard only requires "VIEW SERVER STATE"
permissions; where as the SQL Server DBA Dashboard requires "sysadmin"
permissions.
Architecture/Components that make up the SQL Server DBA Dashboard:
The dashboard is made up of a single DLL, a database (SS_DBA_Dashboard),
a SQL Server Agent job and a series of Reporting Services RDL files. As
already stated the SQL Server DBA Dashboard contains two different
dashboards, one for DBAs and another for programmers.
The DLL file contains most of the code used to obtain the information displayed in the dashboard reports. The DLL assembly is used to create external stored procedures in the SS_DBA_Dashboard database. In additions to SPs being created in this database there are a couple of tables to hold a small number of statistical records. This database should grow very little, if any after the first use of the dashboard.
The DLL and database needs to be installed on each SQL Server instance you want to monitor with the dashboard tool. The RDL files can be stored in a single location or multiple locations. The RDL files are designed to only to be executed from within SQL Server Management Studio. In fact, only two RDL files "DBA_Dashboard_Main.rdl" and "Programmer_Dashboard_Main.rdl" files should be referenced when bringing up a Custom Report from within SSMS. These two RDL files pass parameters to the other RDL files, so if you try to invoke the other RDL files directly from SSMS they will fail.
Any instance where the DLL and SS_DBA_Dashboard have been installed can be monitored using the two dashboards. The two main RDL files mentioned above can be rendered on any client computer that has SSMS installed. The only requirement is that the client computer be running SQL Server SP2, the user/computer can access the RDL files, a valid registration can be made between the client computer and the server being monitored with SSMS, and the user using the dashboard has the permission to execute the SPs in the SS_DBA_Dashboard database.
** -- "To me, music that breaks your heart is the music that stays with you forever. It's one thing to be melancholy and one thing to be sophisticated, but when you get the two of them together in a way people can relate to, then I think you're on to something. You want the sophistication to lie in the purity of the sound, the beauty of the arrangements, and the quality of the performances."-Trumpeter Chris Botti -- Chela Robles AIM and E-Mail: cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxx Skype: jazzytrumpet WindowsLive Messenger: cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxxxx I Volunteer for a non-profit organization called Bookshare, to find out more go to: http://www.bookshare.org -- On 8/6/2010 1:44 PM, Kim Friedman wrote:
Hi, I read this message about dashboards (the computer ones, not the ones in cars), and I haven't the faintest idea what one is supposed to do when encountering a dashboard. I'm afraid I think: "huh? What is that for? Why do they call it a dashboard?" In short, this is beyond my purview and I'm stumped. Can someone explain this dashboard thing to me in simple terms and show me what you'd do if you came across one? I'm willing to learn. Regards, a confused Kim Friedman. __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5348 (20100806) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com To unsubscribe from this list send a blank Email to bksvol-discuss-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put the word 'unsubscribe' by itself in the subject line. To get a list of available commands, put the word 'help' by itself in the subject line.
