Cumulative Update 1 to the RML Utilities for Microsoft SQL Server Released

 

Cumulative Update 1 to the RML Utilities for Microsoft SQL Server Released

Version 9.01 of the RML Utilities for Microsoft SQL Server has been released.  This release of the RML Utilities provides support for SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2008.  Additionally this release of the RML Utilities for SQL Server contains important software updates, enhanced features and reports, and performance and scalability improvements.

To download the current web release of the RML Utilities for SQL Server visit the following Microsoft Web site:

RML Utilities for SQL Server (x86) - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7edfa95a-a32f-440f-a3a8-5160c8dbe926

RML Utilities for SQL Server (x64) - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b60cdfa3-732e-4347-9c06-2d1f1f84c342

The updated help file for the RML Utilities is now in PDF format and includes:

• A document map for easier navigation.

• A What's New section that highlights the major enhancements in this release.

• A Quick Start for new users that will give you an introduction to each utility included in the RML Utilities suite with hands on exercises.

• Updated sections dedicated to each utility with sample usage and detailed information:
  • ReadTrace
  • Reporter
  • OStress
  • ORCA
  • RML Language Reference

To open the Help file after you install the RML Utilities, click Start , point to All Programs , point to RML Utilities for SQL Server , point to Help and then click RML Help.

Problems and Assistance

The utilities are provided as free downloads from the Microsoft Web site. There is no obligation or guarantee that a fix or change will be made for a reported issue. Formal support is not available, however the e-mail alias sstlbugs@microsoft.com is available for questions and problem reports.

Known Issues

The following are current outstanding issues and we will update with any late breaking changes.  Check back for the latest updates.

• The –A and –H filter options for ReadTrace may not work for SQL Server 2008 trace files.
• Comparison Overview Reports:  When you click on the CO (Comparison Only) or BO (Baseline Only) the charts in the rendered report may not display correctly if the data is based on only a single query.
• ReadTrace may  launch Reporter in comparison mode if you launch Reporter after having previously launched Reporter with a Comparison database.

What Are the RML Utilities?

If you are not familiar with the RML Utilities for Microsoft SQL Server read on. 

The Microsoft SQL Server support team uses several internally written utilities to ease the work that is related to a typical customer support case.  One such utility suite is the Replay Markup Language (RML) Utilities for SQL Server.  Database developers and system administrators can use the RML Utilities to work with Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

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 hotifx.
• You update a stored procedure or a function.
• You update an index or create an index.

The RML Utilities are very useful if you want to simulate application testing when it is impractical or impossible to test by using the real application.  For example, in a test environment, it may be difficult to generate the same user load that exists in the production environment.  You can use the RML Utilities to replay a production workload in a test environment and assess the performance impact of changes such as an upgrade to SQL Server 2008 or application of a SQL Server service pack.  Additionally you can use the RML Utilities to analyze and compare various replay workloads.  This kind of regression analysis would otherwise be a difficult process that you would have to perform manually.

The Help file contains a "Quick Start" topic.  This topic includes a brief exercise that will familiarize you with each RML utility. To open the Help file after you install the RML Utilities, click Start , point to All Programs , point to RML Utilities for SQL Server , point to Help and then click RML Help.

Published Wednesday, November 12, 2008 3:01 PM by psssql

PSS SQL Server Engineers : Cumulative Update 1 to the RML Utilities for Microsoft SQL Server Released