Building a Database Monitoring Tool: Lessons Learned

Ben Emmett

Most monitoring software looks deceptively simple: just capture some data and let people explore it when there’s a problem. Easy. Sadly, reality comes biting pretty quickly.

Based on the experience of building Redgate’s SQL Monitor, this session will take an inside look at what’s really involved in creating a database monitoring tool with thousands of users. We’ll share distilled insights from the hundreds of DBAs who’ve helped guide functionality, and discuss how we prioritise their needs. We’ll talk about what it takes to keep up with SQL Server’s rapid advances, and how we’ve had to evolve architectural foundations when (surprise!) what our customers want us to deliver tomorrow isn’t what we envisaged fifteen years ago. Most importantly, we’ll open up about the painful mistakes and hard lessons learned along the way.