It’s a pretty fair assumption that if your database is big enough and complex enough to produce metrics that warrant a monitoring system, it’s also complex enough to produce tons of data that are ultimately more distracting than relevant. It’s not unusual to look at a bevy of monitoring possibilities and feel overwhelmed, uncertain about where to center your focus. Of course, every database is different, but there are some fundamental truths you should consider when you ask yourself, “What should I monitor?” Some of these ideas might seem simple, but if you don’t keep these in mind, you’d be surprised how easy it can be to lose sight of the big picture.
Know Your Goal. What are you trying to achieve by monitoring in the first place? Ultimately, the real question of effective monitoring is, “What work is getting done?” Systems do work for you; the goal of monitoring is to make sure those systems are …
[Read more]