If you are a SQL Server Developer or DBA, you are probably familiar with the standard set of reports available in SQL Server Management Studio. However, did you know that there is an interesting addition to these reports called Performance Dashboard reports? In this blog post, we will introduce you to these custom reports and guide you through the installation process.

The Performance Dashboard reports are a set of predefined custom reports built by the Microsoft SQL Server Support team. They provide additional information and insights that can be a great complement to the existing reports in SQL Server Management Studio. These reports are available for SQL Server Management Studio versions 2008 and above, including SQL Server 2014.

To get started, you can download the Performance Dashboard reports from the Microsoft Downloads site. Make sure to select the appropriate version for your SQL Server Management Studio. Once downloaded, double-click the setup.exe file to begin the installation process. It is recommended to use the default installation settings, but take note of the installation location as you will need it later for configuration.

After the installation is complete, navigate to the installation folder and locate the readme.txt file. This file contains important instructions for setting up the reports. The first step is to run the “setup.sql” file from the folder. It is important to note that the Performance Dashboard reports are not compatible with SQLAzure databases.

Although the installation folder appears to contain only one .rdl file, it actually consists of 21 report files that are hidden from the end user. Enabling hidden files will allow you to view the complete list of reports.

To access the Performance Dashboard reports, right-click on the Server node in SQL Server Management Studio, select “Reports,” and then choose “Custom Reports…”. This will open the file Open dialog where you can navigate to the installation folder. Be sure to select the “performance_dashboard_main.rdl” file to avoid any errors.

Once the Performance Dashboard report is opened, you will see a high-level overview of your server’s performance. This serves as the starting point for exploring the various sections and drill-down reports available. In future blog posts, we will delve into each section and discuss how to navigate through the reports.

If you have used the Performance Dashboard reports in your environment, we would love to hear about your experience. Feel free to share your thoughts and insights.

Stay tuned for more SQL Server tips and tricks!