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SQL Server Proactive Memory Monitoring and Alerting Setup

The document outlines a proactive monitoring and alerting solution for SQL Server, focusing on tracking memory grants and alerting when memory usage is excessive. It includes SQL queries for monitoring total and target memory, as well as a PowerShell script for sending email alerts based on memory usage thresholds. Deployment options and notes for customization and security are also provided.

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Rofiq Ahmed
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4 views3 pages

SQL Server Proactive Memory Monitoring and Alerting Setup

The document outlines a proactive monitoring and alerting solution for SQL Server, focusing on tracking memory grants and alerting when memory usage is excessive. It includes SQL queries for monitoring total and target memory, as well as a PowerShell script for sending email alerts based on memory usage thresholds. Deployment options and notes for customization and security are also provided.

Uploaded by

Rofiq Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SQL Server Proactive Memory Monitoring and Alerting Setup

Objective

Implement a proactive monitoring and alerting solution for SQL Server that:

• Tracks per-query memory grants


• Alerts when a query requests excessive memory
• Notifies when total memory usage is approaching critical levels
• Provides query-level insight in email alerts

Monitoring Components

1. SQL Server DMV Queries

Query: Total vs Target Server Memory

SELECT
(SELECT cntr_value FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters
WHERE counter_name = 'Total Server Memory (KB)' AND object_name LIKE
'%Memory Manager%') AS TotalMemoryKB,
(SELECT cntr_value FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters
WHERE counter_name = 'Target Server Memory (KB)' AND object_name LIKE
'%Memory Manager%') AS TargetMemoryKB;

Query: Query Memory Grants

SELECT TOP 5
session_id,
requested_memory_kb / 1024 AS RequestedMB,
granted_memory_kb / 1024 AS GrantedMB,
LEFT(text, 200) AS QueryText
FROM sys.dm_exec_query_memory_grants g
CROSS APPLY sys.dm_exec_sql_text(g.sql_handle)
ORDER BY requested_memory_kb DESC;

PowerShell Monitoring Script


$server = "YourServer\Instance"
$db = "master"
$thresholdPercent = 85
$memoryRequestAlertMB = 300
$emailTo = "[email protected]"
$emailFrom = "[email protected]"
$smtpServer = "smtp.domain.com"

# Load current memory usage


$memoryQuery = @"
SELECT
(SELECT cntr_value FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters
WHERE counter_name = 'Total Server Memory (KB)' AND object_name LIKE
'%Memory Manager%') AS TotalMemoryKB,
(SELECT cntr_value FROM sys.dm_os_performance_counters
WHERE counter_name = 'Target Server Memory (KB)' AND object_name LIKE
'%Memory Manager%') AS TargetMemoryKB;
"@
$memory = Invoke-Sqlcmd -ServerInstance $server -Database $db -Query
$memoryQuery

$total = $memory.TotalMemoryKB
$target = $memory.TargetMemoryKB
$percentUsed = [math]::Round(($total / $target) * 100, 2)

# Load memory grants


$grantsQuery = @"
SELECT TOP 5
session_id,
requested_memory_kb / 1024 AS RequestedMB,
granted_memory_kb / 1024 AS GrantedMB,
LEFT(text, 200) AS QueryText
FROM sys.dm_exec_query_memory_grants g
CROSS APPLY sys.dm_exec_sql_text(g.sql_handle)
ORDER BY requested_memory_kb DESC;
"@
$grants = Invoke-Sqlcmd -ServerInstance $server -Database $db -Query
$grantsQuery

# Compose HTML for grants


$html = "<h3>Top 5 Memory Grant Queries</h3><table
border='1'><tr><th>SessionID</th><th>Requested (MB)</th><th>Granted
(MB)</th><th>Query</th></tr>"
foreach ($row in $grants) {
$html +=
"<tr><td>$($row.session_id)</td><td>$($row.RequestedMB)</td><td>$($row.Grante
dMB)</td><td>$($row.QueryText)</td></tr>"
}
$html += "</table>"

# Add memory stats


$body = @"
<h2> SQL Server Memory Pressure Alert</h2>
<p><b> Total Server Memory (KB):</b> $total<br>
<b> Target Server Memory (KB):</b> $target<br>
<b> Memory In Use (%):</b> $percentUsed%</p>
$html
<p><b> WARNING:</b> If a new query requests more than
<b>$memoryRequestAlertMB MB</b>, SQL Server may enter memory pressure and
block new memory grants.</p>
"@
# Send only if used memory is above threshold
if ($percentUsed -gt $thresholdPercent) {
Send-MailMessage -To $emailTo -From $emailFrom -Subject " SQL Memory
Alert - $percentUsed% Used" -Body $body -BodyAsHtml -SmtpServer $smtpServer
}

Deployment Options

• Schedule via Task Scheduler to run every 5 mins


• Convert to Windows Service via NSSM or WinSW
• Log alerts to SQL table for trend tracking (optional enhancement)

Notes

• Adjust memory thresholds based on server capacity and workload


• Include authentication and credential security for automation
• Ensure DBMail and Invoke-Sqlcmd are properly configured on host

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