Manage Data in Windows Performance Monitor
Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista
Data Collector Sets create a raw log data file, in addition to optional report files. With Data Management, you can configure how log data, reports, and compressed data are stored for each Data Collector Set.
Membership in the local Performance Log Users or Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.
Note
The Performance Log Users group must be assigned the Log on as a batch user user right, as described in Enable Logging for Performance Log Users Group Members.
Note
If you have configured the Data Collector Set to run as another user, you will be prompted to enter the user name and password each time you modify the Data Collector Set properties.
To configure data management for a Data Collector Set
In Windows Performance Monitor, expand Data Collector Sets and click User Defined .
In the console pane, right-click the name of the Data Collector Set that you want to configure and click Data Manager .
On the Data Manager tab, you can accept the default values or make changes according to your data retention policy. See the table below for details on each option.
When Minimum free disk or Maximum folders is selected, previous data will be deleted according to the Resource policy you choose (Delete largest or Delete oldest) when the limit is reached.
When Apply policy before the data collector set starts is selected, previous data will be deleted according to your selections before the data collector set creates its next log file.
When Maximum root path size is selected, previous data will be deleted according to your selections when the root log folder size limit is reached.
Click the Actions tab. You can accept the default values or make changes. See the table below for details on each option.
Note
Folder actions allow you to choose how data is archived before it is permanently deleted. You may decide to disable the Data Manager limits in favor of managing all data according to these folder action rules.
- When you have finished making your changes, click OK .
Data Manager Properties
| Option | Definition |
|---|---|
Minimum free disk |
The amount of disk space that must be available on the drive where log data is stored. If selected, previous data will be deleted according to the Resource policy that you choose when the limit is reached. |
Maximum folders |
The number of subfolders that can be in the Data Collector Set data directory. If selected, previous data will be deleted according to the Resource policy that you choose when the limit is reached. |
Resource policy |
Specifies whether to delete the oldest or largest log file or directory when limits are reached. |
Maximum root path size |
The maximum size of the data directory for the Data Collector Set, including all subfolders. If selected, this maximum path size overrides the Minimum free disk and Maximum folders limits, and previous data will be deleted according to the Resource policy that you choose when the limit is reached. |
Actions Properties
| Option | Definition |
|---|---|
Age |
The age in days or weeks of the data file. If the value is 0, the criterion is not used. |
Size |
The size in megabytes (MB) of the folder where log data is stored. If the value is 0, the criterion is not used. |
Cab |
A cabinet file, which is an archive file format. Cab files can be created from raw log data and extracted later when needed. Choose create or delete to take action based on the age or size criteria. |
Data |
Raw log data collected by the Data Collector Set. Log data can be deleted after a cab file is created to save disk space while still retaining a backup of the original data. |
Report |
The report file generated by Windows Performance Monitor from raw log data. Report files can be retained even after the raw data or cab file has been deleted. |
Additional considerations
- To open Windows Performance Monitor, click Start , click in the Start Search box, type perfmon , and then press ENTER.