Monitoring Server Performance with Performance Monitor

Monitoring your server’s performance is key to maintaining efficiency and preventing problems before they impact your services. Windows includes a powerful built-in tool for this: Performance Monitor (PerfMon).

 Step 1: Open Performance Monitor

• Click Start, type perfmon, and press Enter.

• Or press Win + R, type perfmon.msc, and click OK.

 Step 2: Understand the Interface

In the left panel, you’ll find:

• Monitoring Tools: Includes the main performance graph.

• Data Collector Sets: Allows you to configure performance logging.

• Reports: View logs after data collection.

 Step 3: Add Counters

To monitor specific metrics:

1. Go to Performance Monitor.

2. Click the green + button.

3. Select counters such as:

   • Processor → % Processor Time

   • Memory → Available MBytes

   • LogicalDisk → % Free Space

 Step 4: Live Monitoring or Logging

You can either view data live or create Data Collector Sets to log performance over time.

• To create a new collector set:

  • Right-click User Defined under Data Collector Sets.

  • Choose New → Data Collector Set and follow the wizard.

 Step 5: Analyze Reports

After recording data:

• Go to the Reports section.

• Select the relevant report and analyze trends like:

  • High CPU usage

  • Memory leaks

  • Disk space issues

 Best Practices

• Schedule logs during peak usage times.

• Track multiple counters to identify root causes.

• Keep logs for long-term analysis and performance audits.

 Summary

Performance Monitor is a robust, built-in tool that lets you monitor and optimize server performance without third-party software. It's essential for proactive server management.

???? Need help setting up monitoring or analyzing performance? Contact us today!