Total database file size

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Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)
2 6,116 0 , ,
This custom metric measures the total database file size (data files and log file combined). An increase in this metric signals that a database was grown. When not done by the DBA, this is an autogrow. Excessive autogrow events should be prevented as this can result to file fragmentation. Try to manually grow files before […] Read more

Low physical/external memory

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Rating: 4.7/5 (3 votes cast)
3 13,587 0
Determining if your operating system is causing memory issues within your SQL Server instance can be a challenge. One way around it is to use the sys.dm_os_ring_buffers to show when server memory is low. Read more

Low virtual memory

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Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)
2 11,377 0
Determining if your SQL Server instance is experiencing memory issues within the SQL Server Virtual Address Space (VAS) can be a challenge. One way around it is to use the sys.dm_os_ring_buffers. Read more

Top buffer cache object

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Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
0 13,345 0 ,
This metric measures the amount of memory used in the buffer cache by the largest object (based on the number of pages). It checks the sys.dm_os_buffer_descriptors to identify the object, and returns the relative percentage used. Read more

Hash warnings (last hour)

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Rating: 3.0/5 (3 votes cast)
3 15,641 0 ,
This metric measures the number of hash warnings events in the last hour. A hash warning event means that part of the data processed for a hash operation was written to tempdb. Read more

Out of memory errors

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Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)
2 13,045 0 , ,
The number of out of memory errors that have occurred within a rolling five minute window. If you just want to keep an eye out for any memory errors, you can watch the ring buffers for the Out of Memory error alert when it gets registered there. Read more

Buffer pressure

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Rating: 4.0/5 (5 votes cast)
5 17,404 1 , ,
Trying to determine if you have pressure in your buffer allocations can be difficult. Buffer cache hit ratio is an almost useless metric, so you need a mechanism to let you know if there’s a problem in that area. Read more

What are custom metrics?

The SQL Monitor custom metric feature lets you run T-SQL queries against your SQL Servers to collect specific data. You can analyze and receive alerts about your custom data just like everything else SQL Monitor collects.

But what if you don’t want to write your own queries? No problem. Redgate has brought together a range of quality custom metrics for you to use in SQL Monitor, which are all are free, tried and tested. You can install straight away, and use the resources on this site to help you write your own.

See the Getting Started guides

What is SQL Monitor?

SQL Monitor is a SQL Server performance monitoring tool that gives you real-time and historical SQL Server performance data with alerts and diagnostics.

With its embedded expertise from SQL Server experts and MVPs, it gives you the information and advice you need to find and fix issues before users are even aware.

Find out more about SQL Monitor

Featured custom metrics

  • Total database file size

    by Hugo Kornelis | 6,116 views |

    This custom metric measures the total database file size (data files and log file combined). An increase in this metric signals that a database was grown. When not done by the DBA, this is an autogrow. Excessive autogrow events should be prevented as this can result to file fragmentation. Try to manually grow files before […] Read more

  • Number of active backups and restores

    by SQL Monitor Team | 4,776 views |

    This metric will display the total number of active backups and restores on a server. This can be used to correlate with other metrics to explain why disk IO and CPU usage could have changed. Read more

  • Full backup to odd path

    by Eelco Drost | 4,405 views |

    This custom metric queries the MSDB database to search for multiple paths for a full backup Read more

See all custom metrics