SQL Server: buffer manager: database pages

This metric tells you how many database pages are currently being occupied in the data cache. The higher the buffer manager: database pages is, the less room there is for SQL Server to cache more data pages.

Install metric...

Metrics install automatically if you have Redgate Monitor installed.

If you are using Redgate’s SQL Server monitoring tool, Redgate Monitor, you can instantly install and run this metric on your servers.

This metric tells you how many database pages are currently being occupied in the data cache. The higher the buffer manager: database pages is, the less room there is for SQL Server to cache more data pages. This means that SQL Server may have to free up data cache pages order to make room for pages being moved in from disk to the data cache, which can increase disk IO and hurt performance. If the buffer manager: database pages increases above its typical baseline value, this may indicate memory pressure for the SQL Server instance.

There are no specific thresholds for this counter as each server is different. Instead, watch baseline values and look for sudden changes in the baseline value.

Metric definition

Name

SQL Server: buffer manager: database pages

Description

This metric tells you have many database pages are currently being occupied in the data cache. The higher the buffer manager: database pages is, the less room there is for SQL Server to cache more data pages. This means that SQL Server may have to free up data cache pages order to make room for pages being moved in from disk to the data cache, which can increase disk IO and hurt performance. If the buffer manager: database pages increases above its typical baseline value, this may indicate memory pressure for the SQL Server instance.

There are no specific thresholds for this counter as each server is different. Instead, watch baseline values and look for sudden changes in the baseline value.

The T-SQL query that will collect data

Instances to collect from

Select all

Databases to collect from

master

Collection frequency

60

Use collected or calculated values

Leave the Use a calculated rate of change between collections check box unchecked

Metric collection

Enabled

Alert definition

An alert is not required