Complete a Microsoft SQL Server collection

This article describes how to run a Microsoft SQL Server collection.

Before you begin, you must have the Live Optics collector. See Download the Live Optics collector for further information. 

1. Open the Live Optics collector and select Workloads. Choose SQL Server from the list of asset types.
   
   
   
2. The following screen displays two collection methods to choose from:
   • • SQL Server Config & Performance using Optical Prime (Recommended) - This option provides the most detailed results and should be used for all scans.  
     • Config Data Only - This option only should only be used as a backup in the event of an issue with WMI connectivity. Performance data is not collected, and only basic configuration results are provided.
       
       

Option 1 - SQL Server Config & Performance using Optical Prime

1. Select SQL Server Config & Performance using Optical Prime.
   
   
   
   
2. On the Upload Options screen, Establish a secure (HTTPS) connection to the Live Optics web service is selected by default. Click Next.
   
   
   
   
3. On the following screen enter a project name and click Next. 
   
   
   
   
4. An encrypted SIOKIT file is created each time a collection run is completed, and is used as a backup in case of a network connection issue between the Live Optics collector and the Live Optics web service. It must be uploaded manually to the Live Optics web portal to view the results of your scan. See Uploading an SIOKIT file in the Live Optics collector or Uploading an SIOKIT file in the Live Optics portal for further information. You can change the file name on this screen if you wish, then click Next to continue. 
   
   
   
   
5. On the following screen you can choose if you wish to use your previous scan configuration settings (if an Optical Prime scan has been run previously), or reset and add new targets to scan. 
   
   
   
   
6. On the following screen are several data collection options:
   
   
   1. • Add Remote Server – Collects configuration and performance data from servers remotely. Use this option to remotely add your Microsoft SQL Servers.
      • Add Local System – Scans the local machine hosting the Live Optics collector. This option is typically used collect configuration and performance data from a single server where remote collection is not possible.
      • Search Active Directory – Scans an Active Directory for Windows systems only. If there are non-Windows systems registered within the Active Directory, they are not scanned and must be added manually.
      • Import Server List – Scans multiple physical or virtual hosts directly using an imported text file containing IP addresses.
        
        You can also choose to change the duration of the data collection. The duration ranges from 10 minutes to 7 days. 24 hours is selected by default.
        
        
        
        
7. Add your chosen servers and click Start Capture to begin the data collection. The following screen displays the status on the collector run. You can view the real time data collection in the Live Optics dashboard by clicking the link next to the Stop button.
   
   
   
   NOTE: While the Live Optics collector is running, you cannot log out or restart the host machine. Doing so terminates the collector run and may cause errors in the collected data. It is recommended that the machine running the Live Optics collector is locked while completing a collection.
   
   
8. When the collection is complete the following screen displays:
   
   
   
   
9. Click Quit to close the collector, or Run Another Collection to start a new Live Optics collector run.
10. Your collection results are automatically sent to the Live Optics web service and can be viewed immediately. To view your projects results, log on to the Live Optics web portal and select your project from the Recent Projects list displayed on the main dashboard.
    
    
    
    
11. The following screen provides detailed configuration, performance, and other data in useful graphs and tables. 
    
    NOTE: The highlighted SQL Server tab appears only for projects that have been streamed to the Live Optics web portal using the Establish a secure (HTTPS) connection to the Live Optics web service option.
    
    

Option 2 - Config Data Only 

1. On the Upload Options screen, select Config Data Only, and click Next.
   
   
   
   
2. On the following screen, enter an SQL Server Name, Username, and Password, or choose Windows Authentication. To run a successful SQL Server config collection, you must have the VIEW SERVER STATE permission enabled on each SQL server Instance. Click Next to connect to the SQL Server instance.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Upload Options screen, select your preferred upload method, and click Next.
   
   
   • Upload my collection data to the Live Optics web portal automatically is selected by default.
   • I will upload later (requires upload of generated SIOKIT file) is used where an Internet connection is not available. Instead, an encrypted SIOKIT file is created and saved locally. This must be manually uploaded to the Live Optics web service later. 
     
     
     
     
4. Enter a name for your project, and click Next.
   
   
   
   
5. An SIOKIT backup file can also be created. Enter a name and click Create File, or click Skip to continue without creating an SIOKIT file. 
   
   
   
   
6. When the collection is complete the following screen displays. Click Quit to close the collector, or Run Another Collection to start a new Live Optics collector run.
   
   
   
   
7. If you selected:
   
   
   • Upload my collection data to the Live Optics web portal automatically – your collection results are automatically sent to the Live Optics web service and can be viewed immediately.
   • I will upload later (requires upload of generated SIOKIT file) – your collection run was captured in an SIOKIT file which must be uploaded to the Live Optics web service to view your results. See Uploading an SIOKIT file in the Live Optics collector or Uploading an SIOKIT file in the Live Optics portal for further information.
      

     NOTE: It is recommended that you use the Live Optics collector to upload SIOKIT files as there is a file size limit of 750MB when using the Live Optics portal to upload SIOKIT files.
     
     

8. To view your project results, log on to the Live Optics web portal and select your project from the Recent Projects list displayed on the main dashboard.