SQL server best Tools
In this post I am going to share SQL server DBAs best free/trail tools which I am using and which will help day to day DBA activities.
1. DBATools PowerShell
“DBATools PowerShell automation” is one of the best free script based tool, which we can automate everything, I just started using recently to patch large number of database servers.
You can install or import into your PowerShell: https://dbatools.io/
2. SQL Server Sentry Plan Explorer
“SQL Server Sentry Plan Explorer” is a tool that will give you awesome and quick overview of query plan usage and problem. It is a free tool given to SQL community. Just install and play it. It will not give you any query result only show you the plan, but it will run the real code, before run check the DML and convert or remove it.
You can download here: https://www.sentryone.com/plan-explorer
How to use: https://sqlserverblogforum.com/dba/reading-execution-plan-sql-server-use-of-plan-explorer/
3. SQL Server Maintenance Plan Script
“SQL Server Maintenance Plan Script” is a stored procedure written by Ola Hallengren. By using this script you can automate all your database maintenance.
You can download here: http://ola.hallengren.com/
How to use: https://sqlserverblogforum.com/dba/setup-ola-hallengren-maintenance-script/
4. Who Is Active
“Who Is Active” is a stored procedure written by Adam Machanic. By using this script you can easily find your current transaction activity.
You can download here: http://whoisactive.com/
How to use: https://sqlserverblogforum.com/2016/07/whoisactive-capturing-a-sql-server-queries-performance-tuning/
5. SP_BLITZ
“SP_BLITZ” is a stored procedure written by Brent Ozar. The script will give you about the fast health check on your SQL Server and you can schedule it a job to store the historical data of performance baseline.
You can download here: http://www.brentozar.com/blitz/
How to use: https://sqlserverblogforum.com/dba/how-to-use-blitz-brent-ozar-first-responder-kit/
6. SQL server Version history
This website is storing a SQL server version build history and up-to date releases in one place.
https://sqlserverbuilds.blogspot.com/
7. SQL heartbeat
SQL heartbeat is a free tool. This will give you about the server wait, cache graph and each user SPID (transaction) details etc.
You can download here: http://www.sqlsolutions.com/products/Heartbeat/index.html
8. SQL Server Upgrade Advisor
SQL server upgrade advisor is a Microsoft free tool. This will be useful for SQL server upgrade. Download the right SQL UA edition.
You can download here: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11455
9. SQLIOSIM
SQLIOSIM is a Microsoft free tool. This will help you to determine the server I/O capacity.
You can download here:http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231619
10. Instant SQL Formatter
Instant SQL Formatter is a free web tool. This will be useful to the developers and DBAs to organise their codes.
You can use your codes here: http://www.dpriver.com/pp/sqlformat.htm?ref=g_wangz
This post will update occasionally whenever I find a new tool. From number 7 to 10 are outdated now.
8 Comments
Arunkumar
Good tools list. Thanks
Alex
Hi, another free SQL Server tool is SQL Hunting Dog from http://www.sql-hunting-dog.com – quick search addin for SSMS 2008 and 2012.
Vandykish
Hi,
I am looking for some good SQL Server 2012 tutorials. I have tried this
http://sqlserver2012tutorial.com/
Can You suggest some more good video tutorials?
Thanks
valay
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
October 15, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Hey Muthukkumaran,
I have gone through http://www.textformat.in.
Which is also a good tool for SQL Query formatting and textformatting (specifically “Replace newline with comma” as a developer i need it frequently)..
Thanks
venkatakrishnareddy B
Hi share SQL dba tutorials and real-time issues.
Johnson
Great list of SQL database tools, In addition to this, I have found some other helpful utilities Like SysTools SQL Log Analyzer which is helpful in analysing SQL database transaction logs. Tool is also capable of recovering deleted records from database tables.
Muthukkumaran kaliyamoorthy
Thank you Johnson!
chandan kumar
Hello Mr. Muthu
Greetings
Can I request you to post Microsoft server monitoring tutorial video on your YouTube channel, which has absolutely free version to students, developers, link below https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhQL4QBn_4IziPwz5y05SS9YXpHsDA7cm
It would be really great if you can help in contributing to the technical community by sharing it.
Article page with features list here : https://mssqlplanner.com/monitor-sql-server-and-analyze-ms-sql-server-health-from-any-device/
Please let me know if any clarification is required.
Regards
Chandan