Extended Events To Find High Cpu Usage In Sql Server!

I once used Extended Events in SQL Server to pinpoint high CPU usage during a critical performance issue. It helped me trace a rogue query that was consuming resources, and tweaking it instantly improved the system’s responsiveness.

Extended events to find high cpu usage in sql server help identify high CPU usage by capturing detailed query and performance data. This powerful tool allows pinpointing resource-intensive queries and optimizing them effectively.

Stay tuned with us as we dive deeper into how to use Extended Events to find high CPU usage in SQL Server. We’ll explore tips and tricks to optimize your system performance effectively!

Table of Contents

How To Find Cpu Utilization History In Sql Server?

To find CPU utilization history, you can use the sys.dm_os_ring_buffers DMV or query sys.dm_os_sys_info for recent CPU usage. Tools like Performance Monitor (PerfMon) also provide detailed CPU usage over time.

Additionally, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) reports can show CPU usage trends. You may also enable the Query Store to analyze resource usage for specific queries. Extended Events or SQL Profiler can help track CPU-intensive queries over time. This gives a full picture of past and present CPU performance.

Also Read: Emby Ffmpeg High Cpu Avi – Quick Solutions Here!

How To Check Which Query Is Taking More Cpu In Sql Server?

Use the sys.dm_exec_query_stats DMV to find queries consuming the most CPU. Combine it with sys.dm_exec_sql_text to get the query text. Tools like Query Store in SSMS can also identify resource-heavy queries easily.

Extended Events can capture live queries with high CPU usage. SQL Profiler or third-party tools like SQL Sentry are also helpful. Once identified, you can optimize the query to reduce CPU usage.

What Is The Process To Set Up Extended Events In Sql Server?

Process to Set Up Extended Events in SQL Server

Setting up Extended Events in SQL Server is straightforward and involves the following steps:

Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS):

Start by launching SSMS and connecting to your SQL Server instance where you want to monitor performance.

What Is The Process To Set Up Extended Events In Sql Server?

Go to Management > Extended Events:

In Object Explorer, expand the “Management” node, and you’ll see an “Extended Events” folder. Right-click it and select “New Session Wizard” to create a new event session.

Name Your Event Session:

Give your event session a meaningful name that reflects what you’re monitoring, like “HighCPUUsageSession.” This helps you identify it later.

Choose Events to Track:

The wizard will show you a list of events you can track. For high CPU usage, look for events like:

sql_batch_completed: Tracks completed SQL batches.
rpc_completed: Tracks completed stored procedures.
query_post_execution_showplan: Captures the execution plan for queries. Select these events and click “Next.”

Apply Filters to Narrow Results:

To avoid capturing unnecessary data, you can set filters. For example, you can filter by:

CPU time greater than a specific value (e.g., cpu_time > 1000).
Duration of the query.
Specific databases or users.
Filters make sure you’re only capturing high CPU usage events.

Define Data Storage Options:

Choose where the event data will be saved. You can save it to a file for later analysis or review it in real-time using the SSMS Live Data view. If saving to a file, specify the file path and maximum size.

Review and Create the Session:

Review your selections in the wizard and click “Finish” to create the session. Once created, the session will appear under the “Extended Events” folder.

Start the Event Session:

Right-click the session you just created and select “Start Session” to begin monitoring. If you chose real-time viewing, you can right-click and select “Watch Live Data” to see events as they occur.

Analyze the Captured Data:

View the collected data to identify CPU-heavy queries. Use the Extended Events Viewer in SSMS to sort and filter columns like CPU time, duration, or query text. This will help you pinpoint the root cause of high CPU usage.

Stop or Disable the Session When Done:

After you’ve finished troubleshooting, stop or disable the session to reduce overhead. Simply right-click the session and choose “Stop Session” or “Disable.”

Also Read: Gpu Above 90 But Cpu At 10 – What You Should Know!

What Are Extended Events In Sql Server?

Extended Events is a lightweight performance monitoring framework in SQL Server. It helps capture detailed information about events like query executions or system activities. Compared to SQL Profiler, Extended Events use fewer resources, making them more efficient.

You can customize events to track specific performance metrics, like CPU or memory usage. It’s built into SQL Server and integrates well with Management Studio. Extended Events are powerful for identifying and resolving performance issues.

How Can Extended Events Help Identify High Cpu Usage?

Extended Events allow you to capture and monitor events related to high CPU usage. You can track queries, stored procedures, and tasks consuming the most resources. By setting up a session, you can filter data to only capture CPU-intensive events.

The collected data helps pinpoint which queries or operations are causing spikes. It’s efficient and doesn’t slow down your system like older tools might. Extended Events make troubleshooting high CPU usage much faster and precise.

Can Extended Events Identify Specific User Queries Causing High Cpu Load?

This is one of the most powerful uses of this tool. Here’s how it works and why it’s effective:

Tracks Resource Usage at Query Level

Extended Events can capture detailed information about individual queries running on the server. It records metrics like CPU time, execution duration, and resource waits, allowing you to pinpoint specific queries consuming the most CPU.

Filters to Focus on High-CPU Queries

When setting up an Extended Events session, you can apply filters to only capture queries with high CPU usage. For example, you can configure a filter like cpu_time > 1000, so it only logs queries that use more than 1000 milliseconds of CPU time. This reduces noise and focuses on the most problematic queries.

Identifies Query Text and Execution Plans

Extended Events sessions can collect the query text (SQL code) of the high-CPU queries, so you can see exactly which query is causing the issue. It can also capture the execution plan, which provides insights into why the query is consuming so much CPU (e.g., missing indexes, inefficient joins, or excessive table scans).

Associates Queries with Specific Users or Applications

Extended Events can track which user or application executed the high-CPU query. By capturing fields like username, database_name, and client_app_name, you can determine who or what is generating the problematic workload. This is useful for scenarios where multiple users or applications share the same server.

Provides Real-Time Monitoring

You can configure Extended Events to show live data in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). This allows you to monitor high-CPU queries in real-time as they occur. This is especially helpful during a performance spike or when you’re troubleshooting an active issue.

Saves Data for Later Analysis

Extended Events can save captured query data to a file or table for analysis later. This is useful if the high CPU usage happens at specific times (e.g., during peak hours) and you want to review the data offline.

Steps to Set Up Extended Events for High-CPU Queries:

Open SSMS and create a new Extended Events session.
Add events like sql_batch_completed and rpc_completed, which capture batch queries and stored procedures.
Add fields like cpu_time, duration, and sql_text to collect query details.
Set a filter to focus on high CPU usage, e.g., cpu_time > 1000.
Save the data to a file or view it live in SSMS.

Also Read: How To See Cpu Interworx – Step-By-Step Instructions!

Which Queries Can Be Tracked Using Extended Events For Cpu Optimization?

Extended Events can track queries with high execution time, frequent execution, or large resource consumption. You can filter events to capture CPU-heavy queries or those causing delays. Queries with specific resource waits or parallelism issues are also trackable.

This includes stored procedures, ad-hoc queries, and even background tasks. Using specific filters like sql_batch_completed or rpc_completed events helps focus on the most critical queries. This ensures you optimize the right workloads.

How Do I Analyze High Cpu Usage Events Captured In Sql Server?

To analyze events, review the collected data in the Extended Events viewer in SSMS. Focus on columns like CPU time, query text, and duration to identify problem areas. Group and sort the data to find the most resource-intensive queries.

Use tools like Query Store or Performance Monitor for additional context. Once identified, optimize the queries by indexing, rewriting, or tuning them. Regularly review captured events to prevent recurring issues.

Also Read: Does Parsing Csv Files Hit The Cpu Hard!

FAQS:

What are Extended Events in SQL Server?

Extended Events is a lightweight performance monitoring tool in SQL Server that tracks system activities and events. It helps you diagnose issues like slow queries, high CPU usage, or memory problems without affecting server performance.

How Do I Start Using Extended Events In Sql Server?

You can start using Extended Events by creating a session in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) under the “Extended Events” section in the “Management” folder.

What Are The Benefits Of Extended Events Over Sql Profiler?

Extended Events use fewer system resources, provide better customization, and support more modern SQL Server features than the older SQL Profiler.

Can Extended Events Capture Real-Time Performance Data?

Yes, you can use the “Watch Live Data” feature in SSMS to view real-time performance data captured by your Extended Events session.

Do Extended Events Impact Sql Server Performance?

No, Extended Events are designed to be lightweight and have minimal impact on server performance, even in live environments.

Conclusion

Extended Events to find high CPU usage in SQL Server is a powerful and efficient tool for identifying performance bottlenecks. By capturing detailed query data and system activities, it helps you pinpoint resource-heavy queries and optimize them without impacting server performance, making it an essential feature for database management and troubleshooting.