Let’s first review how to create a test database to use as a target for HammerDb. If it’s the first time we run this tool against SQL Server, we ought to create some test databases with different numbers of warehouses. This schema represents the activity of a firm with one or more warehouses. The HammerDb tools will create a database which will contain the schema and database objects used for benchmarking. We can check the stored procedure actually works with following statement:ĪND CheckDate BETWEEN ' 13:10:00' AND ' 13:33:00' Preferably, this procedure should be installed in a database reserved to DBA usage, let’s call it. So, the first step is to get back latest version of this stored procedure and set this up to the target SQL Server instance we will be testing. While HammerDb is running, we will collect performance statistics using the sp_BlitzFirst® stored procedure from the open source project called SQL Server First Responder Kit. SQL Server Performance statistics collection Collection stored procedure The installation process is straightforward and won’t be discussed. Go to to get back the latest version of HammerDB. Performance testing with HammerDb HammerDb Installation Process If we get to detailed test data, we can see that there is a preamble testing for database operations: In this example, the 3D Graphics Mark is grayed because I did the test on a virtual machine without 3D acceleration. Once the tests are done, you will get a score that you can compare to others or between computers in order to evaluate performance. We are prompted following message to which we can answer “Yes”. We will just click on “Run Benchmark” to run all the tests. We will get following window.Īs we can see, there are multiple options available. Once PerformanceTest is installed, we can launch it. The installation is pretty straightforward, so it won’t be reviewed here. The latest version for this tool is the 9 th and can be downloaded for testing (and purchase) on its dedicated web page. Getting server performance overview with PassMark PerformanceTest PassMark PerformanceTest to get a first overview of overall server performanceīenchmarking with HammerDb and collecting performance statistics with sp_BlitzFirst®.
Here are the choices made for the purpose of this article: Here are some of the tools that can be used: In conjunction with these tools, it’s worth using a database monitoring tool so that we can collect and historize performance statistics. There is a bunch of tools that we can use to do a performance test: Usage of this report template to build actual performance tests report for the serverĪctual performance test with results documentation in reportĪnalysis of performance test results (compared to a baseline)įeedback on report template for continuous improvement
If not already done, creation of a performance report template Most questions out there should lead us to following steps:Īnalysis and selection of the tools available to achieve test purposes Is there a tool that does all the tests I need to get a good insight into server performance or is it better to use two or more tools in conjunction? For newbies, there are a lot of questions that emerge: Let’s say a new physical server has been delivered and we have to test its performance in regards to its future destination, which is a database server. This document is intended for application developers and database administrators who plan to evaluate performance for any computer hosting a SQL Server instance.