Azure SQL metrics collection using database watcher

Azure database watcher is a managed monitoring solution for database services in the Azure SQL family. Turbonomic connects to Azure database watcher to collect metrics for SQL Managed Instances and then uses these metrics to generate scale actions that optimize performance and costs. Metrics include vMem, maximum concurrent sessions, maximum concurrent workers, and DB cache hit rate.

It is important that you set up database watcher to take full advantage of Turbonomic's optimization capabilities for SQL Managed Instances.

Note:

According to the Azure documentation, database watcher is currently in preview. In Turbonomic, metrics collection may change as Azure changes its level of support for database watcher.

Task overview

To complete the tasks outlined in this topic, you must have administrator access to the Azure portal.

  1. Create an Azure database watcher.

  2. Grant Turbonomic viewer access to the database watcher's data store.

Creating an Azure database watcher

To create a database watcher, follow the instructions in the Azure documentation.

Note:

When you create a database watcher, you select a data store for the watcher. Currently, Turbonomic supports Azure Data Explorer only. All other data stores available in Azure are not supported.

Granting Turbonomic viewer access to the database watcher's data store

  1. Browse to the Azure Data Explorer Clusters page.

    https://portal.azure.com/#browse/Microsoft.Kusto%2Fclusters

  2. Choose the data store that you configured for Azure database watcher.

  3. In the window that opens, choose Data > Databases.

  4. Choose the database for the Azure database watcher.

  5. In the page that opens, choose Overview > Permissions.

  6. Choose Add > Viewer.

  7. Search for the service principal that you previously set up for Turbonomic and then choose Select.

  8. Verify that Turbonomic can access Azure database watcher and collect metrics.

    1. Log in to the Turbonomic user interface.

    2. In the Home page, choose the Cloud tab and then choose the Database Server entity in the supply chain.

    3. In the window that opens, choose the List of Database Servers tab and then choose Filter. Set DB Watcher Monitoring = Enabled as the filter.

      List of Database Servers tab

      If viewer access was granted successfully, the page updates with a list of SQL Managed Instances that send metrics to Azure database watcher.

    4. Choose a SQL Managed Instance.

    5. In the new window that opens, choose the Details tab.

      Database Server Details tab

      Charts show the metrics collected from Azure database watcher.