Activity Monitor is a powerful tool introduced in SQL Server that allows database administrators to monitor and analyze the activity happening on their server. In this article, we will explore the concept of Activity Monitor and discuss its behavior and permissions requirements.
When using Activity Monitor, it is important to note that it may throw an error if there is a permissions issue. To resolve this, we need to ensure that the user has the necessary permissions to launch and view the data in Activity Monitor.
Let’s consider a scenario where a user named “ActivityUser” tries to access Activity Monitor but does not see any data on the screen. This is likely due to a permissions issue. To resolve this, we need to grant the “ActivityUser” user the “View Server State” permission. This permission allows the user to view the data captured by Activity Monitor.
There are two ways to grant permissions to the user. The first method is using T-SQL:
GRANT VIEW SERVER STATE TO ActivityUser;
The second method is using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Here are the steps:
- Open SSMS and connect to the SQL Server instance.
- Expand the “Security” folder.
- Right-click on “Logins” and select “New Login”.
- Enter the login name as “ActivityUser”.
- Under “Securables”, click on “Search” and select the SQL Server instance.
- Check the “Grant” box next to “View server state”.
- Click “OK” to save the changes.
Once the necessary permissions are granted to the user, Activity Monitor will start displaying the data. You can click on the images in this article to enlarge them and get a better view of the Activity Monitor interface.
It is important to note that users belonging to the sysadmin role can always see all the data in Activity Monitor without requiring any additional permissions.
Activity Monitor provides valuable insights into the server’s activity and performance. It consists of five sections: Overview, Processes, Resource Waits, Data File I/O, and Recent Expensive Queries. Each section provides specific information that can help administrators identify and troubleshoot performance issues.
In conclusion, Activity Monitor is a powerful tool in SQL Server that allows administrators to monitor and analyze server activity. By granting the necessary permissions to users, they can leverage the full potential of Activity Monitor and gain valuable insights into their server’s performance.
What are your thoughts on Activity Monitor? Have you encountered any permissions issues while using it? Share your experiences and insights in the comments section below.