Understanding Database Engine Tuning Advisor
Database Engine Tuning Advisor is a tool that analyzes the performance effects of workloads run against one or more databases. A workload is a set of Transact-SQL statements that executes against databases you want to tune. After analyzing the effects of a workload on your databases, Database Engine Tuning Advisor provides recommendations to add, remove, or modify physical design structures in Microsoft SQL Server databases. These physical performance structures include clustered indexes, nonclustered indexes, indexed views, and partitioning. When implemented, Database Engine Tuning Advisor recommendations enable the query processor to perform workload tasks in the shortest amount of time.
Tuning your databases with Database Engine Tuning Advisor requires no expertise in database structure, workloads, or the internal workings of SQL Server.
Database Engine Tuning Advisor provides two interfaces:
A standalone graphical user interface tool for tuning databases, and viewing tuning recommendations and reports.
A command-line utility program, dta.exe, for Database Engine Tuning Advisor functionality in software programs and scripts.
In previous releases of SQL Server, some Database Engine Tuning Advisor functionality was provided by the Index Tuning Wizard. Database Engine Tuning Advisor evaluates more types of events and structures, and provides higher quality recommendations.
In This Section
About Workloads
Contains information about the workloads you use with Database Engine Tuning Advisor.About Implementing Database Engine Tuning Advisor Recommendations
Contains information about the different ways you can implement Database Engine Tuning Advisor recommendations.Permissions Required to Run Database Engine Tuning Advisor
Contains information about the permissions that are required to run the Database Engine Tuning Advisor.Considerations for Using Database Engine Tuning Advisor
Contains information about the limitations and best practices for using Database Engine Tuning Advisor.Understanding Tuning Progress
Contains information about monitoring tuning progress and the order in which events in the workload are tuned.Exploratory Analysis Using Database Engine Tuning Advisor
Contains information that explains how you can use the user-specified configuration feature of Database Engine Tuning Advisor to perform exploratory analysis.