1. Getting Started

Installation and Setup Steps
There are three basic steps to installation and setup.
    1. Install SQL Sentry
    2. Complete the Setup Wizard
    3. Start Using the Console

Please take a moment to read through the Quick Start Guide to ensure a successful installation. Refer to the User Guide for detailed documentation regarding SQL Sentry concepts, terms, and features.

Quick Start Guide
If you receive an error message indicating "Action Canceled" or "The page cannot be displayed" when trying to view the guide, then simply download the help file to your local hard drive and open from there. If you receive an "Unknown Publisher" prompt when opening the file locally,be sure to deselect "Always ask before opening this file" checkbox. See Microsoft KB articles 902225 and 896358.

Once the product is installed, you'll have access to our complete User Guide from the console.

For your convenience, we also provide PDF versions: Quick Start Guide (PDF) and User Gude (PDF).

Important Concepts

Components
SQL Sentry's software consists of the Console (a thin client application), the Server (a Windows service), and a SQL Server database. The SQL Sentry database stores event metadata and history information collected by the SQL Sentry Server service and the SQL Sentry Console provides a thin client interface for viewing and managing this information.

Conditions and Actions
Each event connection (SQL Server, Analysis Services, Oracle or Windows Task Scheduler) and each event object (job, task, DTS package, etc.) supports several conditions and several associated actions. Configuring actions globally provides a powerful way to significantly reduce the setup and configuration time. Each condition and action can be easily overridden at the individual connection and object level.

Watching Connections and Objects
When you have SQL Sentry Event Manager "watch" a connection or object via the context menu this simply means that Event Manager will begin monitoring it.

Using Performance Advisor and Event Manager
SQL Servers and Analysis Services can be watched with either Event Manager, Performance Advisor, or both products within the same SQL Sentry Console. Note that certain functionality is only available when watching a server with both products. Review the SQL Sentry User Guide for complete details.

When you first install or upgrade, Performance Advisor may not be watching any servers by default. To watch a server with Performance Advisor, right click on the server in the Navigator pane and select Watch > Connection. You will then have a submenu that offers With Event Manager and With Performance Advisor. Once selected, allow a minute or two for SQL Sentry to complete the initial synchronization. You will also notice (EM), (PA), or (EM/PA) to the right of the server name and version in the Navigator pane to indicate which products are actively watching that server.

Once you are watching a server with Performance Advisor, and the initial synchronization is complete, you can open the Performance Advisor Dashboard for that server by right-clicking and selecting Open > Performance Advisor Dashboard. A new window will open in the main console workspace displaying the Dashboard for that particular server. Also note the various tabs above the Dashboard providing access to all other major Performance Advisor functionality.

If you've not already done so, check out the Video Library for overview videos as well as an in-depth reviews of specific features.