XP Performance monitoring and logging

[daglugub37]

I have been messing around with perf mon but I just can't figure out to use it to do the following.

A. Set up performance logging all day or at very frequent intervals

B. Configure this logging to max out at a certain file size.

C. Be able to refer back to these logs so I can check out what the PC's resources looked like at a given snap shot of time.

Can I achieve this with the native perf mon..if so can some help me figure out how to set this up?

 

[noellees1]

You probably can but i often find that 3rd party software is a little bit better at doing the intended job. Have a look around for a shareware one there probably is.

 

[linney]

See if any of these are relevant.

http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/ArticleID/37933/pg/2/2.html

253264 - HOW TO: Create Sequentially-Numbered Performance Logs with System Monitor

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;253264&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH#appliesto

303133 - Description of the Windows XP Logman.exe, Relog.exe, and Typeperf.exe Tools

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303133&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

290639 - How to Enable Heap Counters for Sysmon

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290639&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

300884 - HOW TO: Display Comma Separators in the Windows Performance Tool in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;300884&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

825882 - System Monitor Does Not Collect Data for All Instances of a Process When Started with the WMI Command-Line Option

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;825882&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[daglugub37]

thanks noellees1, the 1st article is exactly what I needed. Now I am just trying to come up with 10 good counters and stanard benchmarks for them.

But now I got several machines always logging performance when they are on and the log files will never get that big.

Thanks again

 

[bcastner]

daglugub37,

Note that every counter exacts a performance penalty from the system.

Be modest in what you need to measure and count.

 

[daglugub37]

bcastner,

good point; I have been testing that as well. I am definitely not going to use more than 10. By the way here are some baselines I have come up with if your interested:

Memory Pages/second
This counter indicates how many times per second Windows XP has to move programs or data between memory and the hard disk. If the value frequently rises above 20; you may need more physical memory.

Average Disk Queue Length
The number of blocks of data waiting to be written to your hard disk. If frequently above 3 the disks transfer speed is too low.

% Processor Time
The percentage of time that your processor is actually busy doing your work. If this value frequently exceeds 85%, consider adding a faster processor.

Physical Disk\% Free Space
Logical Disk\% Free Space
15%

Memory\Available Bytes
Less than 4 mb

Processor\Interrupts/sec
Depends on processor; 1000 interrupts per second is a good starting point
A dramatic increase in this counter value without a corresponding increase in system activity indicates a hardware problem. Identify the network adapter causing the interrupts. You might need to install an additional adapter or controller card.You might need to install an additional adapter or controller card.

Physical Disk\\% Disk Time
Logical Disk\% Disk Time
90%

Physical Disk\\% Disk Time
Logical Disk\% Disk Time
Above 70%

Total Pages Printed
create your own baseline

Processes
Processes is the number of processes in the computer at the time of data collection. This is an instantaneous count, not an average over the time interval. Each process represents the running of a program.