Todd's World: Description of the Replay Markup Language (RML) Utilities for SQL Server

INTRODUCTION

The Microsoft SQL Server support team uses several internally written utilities to ease the work that is related to a typical customer support case. Database developers and system administrators can also use these utilities to work with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or with Microsoft SQL Server 2005. These utilities are collectively called the Replay Markup Language (RML) Utilities for SQL Server.

MORE INFORMATION

You can use the RML Utilities for SQL Server to perform the following tasks:

•You can determine the application, the database, the SQL Server login, or the query that is using the most resources.

•You can determine whether the execution plan for a batch is changed when you capture the trace for the batch. Additionally, you can use the RML Utilities for SQL Server to determine how SQL Server performs each of these execution plans.

•You can determine the queries that are running slower than before.

After you capture a trace for an instance of SQL Server, you can use the RML Utilities for SQL Server to replay the trace file against another instance of SQL Server. If you also capture the trace during the replay, you can use the RML Utilities for SQL Server to compare the new trace file to the original trace file. You can use this technique to test how SQL Server behaves after you apply changes. For example, you can use this technique to test how SQL Server behaves after you do the following:

•You install a SQL Server service pack.

•You install a SQL Server hotfix.

•You update a stored procedure or a function.

•You update an index or create an index.

This version of the RML Utilities for SQL Server supersedes the earlier version. The earlier version of the RML Utilities for SQL Server is described in Microsoft Knowledge Base article 887057. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 887057 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/887057/) Description of the SQL Server Performance Analysis Utilities Read80Trace and OSTRESS

The earlier version of the RML Utilities for SQL Server supports the SQL Server 2000 trace file format only. This version of the RML Utilities for SQL Server supports the SQL Server 2005 trace file format and the SQL Server 2000 trace file format. If SQL Server 2005 is installed in your environment, you should always use this version of the RML Utilities for SQL Server even if you do not process SQL Server 2005 trace files. This version of the RML Utilities for SQL Server contains important software updates, new features, and performance improvements.

How to obtain the RML Utilities for SQL Server

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
Download the RMLSetup_X86.msi package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7EDFA95A-A32F-440F-A3A8-5160C8DBE926&displaylang=en)

Download the RMLSetup_AMD64.msi package now. (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=B60CDFA3-732E-4347-9C06-2D1F1F84C342&displaylang=en)

Note Microsoft provides the RML Utilities for SQL Server as-is. Microsoft Customer Support Services (CSS) does not provide support or updates for the RML Utilities for SQL Server. If you have a suggestion or if you want to report a bug, use the e-mail address in the Help file (RML Help.xps).