What can I use instead of SQL Profiler?
Sql Server Profiler Alternatives
- ExpressProfiler. Free • Open Source. Windows.
- Neor Profile SQL. Free • Proprietary. Mac.
- dbForge Event Profiler for SQL Server. Free • Proprietary. Windows.
- Datawizard SQL Profiler. Paid • Proprietary. Windows.
- IdealSqlTracer. Free • Open Source. Windows.
- ClearTrace. Free • Proprietary. Windows.
Does running SQL Profiler affect performance?
Yes, SQL Server Profiler does affect performance. When you trace using the GUI, all events are synchronously processed and filtered, so factors such as server load, network latency, which events you collect, and even where the collected events are stored, all contribute to overhead.
When to use extended events instead of Profiler?
Despite SQL Trace/Profiler being deprecated for quite some time many people (me included) still use both of these features when troubleshooting issues in SQL Server. Outlined below are a few reasons why you should be using extended events instead of using a SQL Trace or Profiler.
What’s the difference between extended events and SQL trace?
If we compare the quantity of events (e.g. in SQL Server 2014) that can be traced with xEvents, SQL Trace is not a patch on Extended Events: On this point, we could draw a line and forget about SQL Profiler. But there is one nuance.
Are there templates for extended events in SQL Server?
Early versions of extended events did not have these templates but since SQL Server 2016 we now have equivalent templates available within the SQL Server extended events new session dialog as shown below.
How many events are available in SQL Server 2016?
The first release of extended events had 243 events available and SQL Server 2016 now has over 1320 events. SQL Profiler had many built-in templates that you could use to start a trace quickly.