Have you ever wondered how long your SQL Server has been online? Whether it’s due to recent patches, unexpected crashes, or accidental restarts, knowing the uptime of your SQL Server can provide valuable insights into its performance and stability. In this blog post, we will explore a simple and efficient way to check the uptime of one or multiple SQL Servers using PowerShell.

Using dbatools PowerShell Module

One of the most popular PowerShell modules among DBAs is dbatools. It offers a wide range of functionalities to manage and monitor SQL Server instances. To check the uptime of a SQL Server, we can utilize the Get-DbaUpTime function provided by the dbatools module.

Let’s start by checking the uptime of a single SQL Server:

Get-DbaUpTime -SqlInstance DemoServer

This command will display the last start time of both Windows and SQL Server. These timestamps can be crucial when troubleshooting various issues.

If you prefer a different view of the output, you can pipe the command to Out-GridView:

Get-DbaUpTime -SqlInstance DemoServer | Out-GridView

Out-GridView provides a graphical interface that allows you to filter records and easily find the information you are looking for.

Checking Multiple Servers

Imagine your Infrastructure team has just completed their monthly Windows Patching, and you need to verify if the SQL Servers have been rebooted. Instead of manually RDP-ing into each server, you can combine the power of SQL Server Central Management Server (CMS) and the Get-DbaUpTime function.

$servers = Get-DbaRegisteredServer -SqlInstance CMS -Group "SDLCDev"
Get-DbaUpTime -SqlInstance $servers | Out-GridView

By running this command, you can quickly identify any servers that have been up for a shorter duration compared to the rest. This information can help you prioritize your investigation and identify potential issues.

Generating Uptime Reports

If you need to share the SQL Server uptime information with others, you can take it a step further and save it in a report format. The PSWriteHTML module provides a convenient way to convert PowerShell output into HTML files.

Get-DbaUpTime -SqlInstance $servers | Out-GridHtml -Title "Up Time Report" -FilePath C:\Temp\DbaUpTime.html

The resulting HTML report is not only visually appealing but also sortable, searchable, and exportable. You can attach it to an email or a service ticket, or even publish it on a website to provide a real-time view of SQL Server uptime.

By leveraging the power of PowerShell and the dbatools module, you can easily monitor the uptime of your SQL Server environment and gain valuable insights into its performance and stability. Whether you are a DBA or a system administrator, understanding SQL Server uptime is essential for maintaining a healthy and reliable database infrastructure.

Thank you for reading this blog post. Stay tuned for more SQL Server tips and tricks in our next article.

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