MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

19-20 Chapter 19 Monitoring and Optimizing System Performance
To configure an alert, follow these steps:
1. In the Performance console, expand Performance Logs And Alerts.
2. Right-click the Alerts folder, and select New Alert Settings.
3. Enter a name for the alert, and click OK.
4. On the General tab, add the counter or counters and the alert value.
5. On the Action tab, configure the action or actions to be performed when an alert
is triggered.
6. On the Schedule tab, configure the start and stop times for when the alert should
be scanned. You can turn scanning on and off manually or configure scanning to
occur on a schedule.
7. Click OK to create the alert.
How to Establish a Baseline for Performance Data
When you are ready to begin monitoring the resources on your computer, the first
thing you need to do is establish a baseline. A baseline is a measurement derived from
collecting data over an extended period of time. The data should reflect typical types
of workloads and user connections but should also include any unusual activity that
might occur. The baseline represents resource usage under normal conditions.
After you collect data on performance over an extended period of time, with data
reflecting periods of low, average, and high usage, you can determine what is acceptable
performance for your computer, and that determination becomes your baseline.
You use the baseline to determine when bottlenecks are developing or to watch for
changes in usage patterns. Determining bottlenecks will help you in troubleshooting
problems that might arise. Watching for changes in usage patterns will help you plan
for the future.
On the CD At this point, you should watch the multimedia presentation “Creating a Performance
Baseline” included in the Multimedia folder on the CD accompanying this book.
How to Identify and Resolve Bottlenecks
Deviations from your baseline are good indicators of performance problems. A bottleneck
exists if a particular component’s limitation is slowing the entire system performance.
Even if one component in your computer is heavily used, if the other
components or the system as a whole are not slowed down, there is no bottleneck.