Tools for SQL Server

Idera offers a collection of tools--available separately--that assist DBAs in the management of SQL Server deployments; including server health monitoring and diagnostics, performance monitoring, centralized and remote administration, etc.

Among their currently available products:

- SQL diagnostic manager (SQLdm): Provides real-time diagnostics and performance tuning information. SQL diagnostic manager collects data from multiple servers simultaneously, and provides the data via Web console displays to be accessed locally or remotely. Information gathered includes activity and performance info for processes, caches, alerts, memory, transactions, logs, locks, replication, reorganization status and trace data. The SQLdm service can continue running and monitoring servers even after the PC is logged off.

- SQLconfig: A change and configuration management and monitoring tool. SQLconfig monitors the Server platform (hardware, O/S, SQL Server instance and DB config), providing change notifications and configuration reporting. Additionally, a specific server can be designated as a "gold standard" server, in which case new servers must match its configuration and existing servers must remain compliant with it.

- SQL change manager: SQL change manager allows both for the monitoring and reporting of configuration changes for compliance purposes, as well as the actual roll out of changes to multiple DBs. Additional features include version control, roll-back capabilities, DB object recovery tools, automated (scheduled) management plan processes (including monitoring, schema capturing, and parallel change rollouts), and DB synchronization features.

- SQLsafe: Provides backup and recovery tools. SQLsafe features the ability to operate as a separate process outside the SQL Server process space. A central repository keeps track of the location of backup files and the backup approach employed.

SQLsafe is also available in a freeware edition, and now in an edition specifically for MS Dynamics.

- SQL compliance manager: Offers a centrally collected and managed repository of SQL Server audit data and pre-defined compliance reporting. With SQL compliance manager a lite agent monitors the SQL Server trace data stream in real time, collects the audit data and sends it back to the repository. Includes an auditor's mode, which enables report and query execution as well as self-audit integrity reporting and alerting of changes to SQL compliance manager configuration settings and data collection parameters.

- SQLsecure: SQLsecure allows for the monitoring and identification of effective access rights and permissions for any given user, group, or object; and tracks changes made to rights or privileges. The new version of SQLsecure additionally supports policy-based analysis and alerting, which compares the current security posture against better than 60 security standards (NSA, DISA, CIS, etc.) and provides corrective recommendations; and analysis of operating system components.

- SQLscaler: A load testing utility for behavior prediction of DBs under stress. With SQLscaler you can create/inflate test DBs, execute test cases, and analyze test results from data in a central repository.

- SQLpermissions: A freeware tool for copying or moving logins and permissions settings across SQLservers.

- SQLcheck: A free, real-time SQL Server performance monitoring tool.

Other products in the suite include SQL mobile manager (manage SQL servers from a handheld), SQL defrag manager (automated DB defrag and analysis), and SQL job manager (centrally view and manage jobs).

The Idera SQL tool suite is available now; with the latest version of SQLsecure expected to be available for download in late March.

Visit the Idera Web site for further information.

product submission by DatabaseJournal Staff

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