SQL Profiler

SQL Server Profiler is a graphical tool that helps in the monitoring of an instance of SQL Server Database Engine or Analysis Services. SQL Profiler is a tool which monitors the events and activity running on a SQL Server instance. The results can be saved to a file or inside a SQL Server table. We can replay this saved trace. Profiler is mostly used in stress testing a server, analyzing performance, debugging TSQ statements, and auditing SQL Server activity.

See below image to see how to open SQL Profiler


See below list for the Key terms associated with profiler.

Event is an action that is generated within an instance of a SQL Server Database Engine. These could be login failure, connection failure or any disconnection. It will include events such as T-SQL statements, remote procedure call batch status, the start or end of a stored procedure, the start or end of statements within a stored procedure and so on.. These are displayed in the trace in a single row intersected by data columns with descriptive details.

Event Class is an event that can be traced and contains all of the data that can be reported by the event. For example SQL: Batch completed for instance is an event class

Event Category defines the methodology used for grouping events within the SQL Server Profiler. For instance lock events will be categorized under Lock event category.

Data Column is an attribute of an event class that is captured in the trace.

Template is the default configuration for a trace. It includes the event classes that are required for monitoring.

Trace captures data based on selected event classes, data columns and filters.

Filter Data can be filtered by specifying criteria of selection during the execution of an event. This feature is used to reduce the size of the Trace.



Event Selection Tab


You can use fn_trace_gettable function to read the trace file.