How To Troubleshoot CPU Utilization in SQL Server

Cpu utilisation

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How To Troubleshoot CPU Utilization in SQL Server

Cpu utilisation

Uploaded by

nandivardhan

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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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How to troubleshoot CPU Utilization in SQL Server

Troubleshooting high CPU utilization in SQL Server involves identifying the root cause of the issue and
addressing it systematically. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you diagnose and resolve high CPU
usage:

1. Identify the Symptoms

- **Observe CPU Usage**: Use Task Manager or Resource Monitor to confirm that SQL Server is the
primary process consuming CPU.
- **Performance Impact**: Determine if users are experiencing slow response times or timeouts.

2. Review SQL Server Configuration

- **Max Degree of Parallelism (MAXDOP)**: Ensure the `max degree of parallelism` setting is
configured correctly. A value too high or too low can cause inefficient CPU usage.
- **Cost Threshold for Parallelism**: Review the `cost threshold for parallelism` setting to ensure it’s
appropriate for your workload.

3. Analyze Query Workloads

- **Identify Expensive Queries**: Use SQL Server Profiler, Extended Events, or the Query Store to
identify queries consuming the most CPU.
- **Analyze Execution Plans**: Look for inefficient query plans, such as those with full table scans,
missing indexes, or costly operators (e.g., sort, hash joins).
- **High Compilation/Recompilation**: Check if frequent query recompilations are causing high CPU
usage using `sys.dm_exec_query_stats`.

4. Check for Index-Related Issues

- **Missing Indexes**: Missing or suboptimal indexes can lead to full table scans, increasing CPU
usage. Use the `sys.dm_db_missing_index_details` DMV to identify missing indexes.
- **Index Fragmentation**: High fragmentation can cause inefficient query execution. Use
`sys.dm_db_index_physical_stats` to identify and address fragmentation.

5. **Assess Parallelism**
- **CXPACKET Waits**: High `CXPACKET` waits can indicate issues with parallelism. Consider
adjusting the `MAXDOP` setting and `Cost Threshold for Parallelism`.
- **Parallel Execution Plans**: Check if queries are overusing parallelism, which might not always be
beneficial.

6. Monitor CPU Usage by SQL Server Components

- **SQL Server DMVs**: Use DMVs such as `sys.dm_exec_query_stats` and `sys.dm_os_wait_stats`
to identify high CPU-consuming queries and wait types.
- **SQL Server Profiler/Extended Events**: Capture events to identify the exact operations causing
high CPU.

7. Check for Blocking and Deadlocks

- **Blocking**: Long-running queries can block others, leading to high CPU usage. Use
`sys.dm_exec_requests` and `sys.dm_tran_locks` to identify blocking issues.
- **Deadlocks**: Frequent deadlocks can cause high CPU usage due to transaction retries. Monitor
for deadlocks using SQL Server logs or Extended Events.
8. **Review TempDB Usage**
- **TempDB Contention**: High TempDB contention can lead to high CPU usage. Optimize TempDB
by adding data files and placing it on fast storage.

9. Evaluate Background Processes

- **Maintenance Tasks**: Long-running jobs such as index maintenance, backups, and ETL
processes can cause CPU spikes.
- **ETL Processes**: Review and optimize data load processes that may be CPU-intensive.

10. Examine Hardware and Resource Contention

- **Physical CPU**: Ensure that the server has adequate CPU resources. Adding more CPUs may be
necessary if the workload has grown.
- **Hyper-Threading**: Assess whether Hyper-Threading is beneficial for your workload. In some
cases, it can cause CPU bottlenecks.

11. Look for External Processes

- **Third-Party Applications**: Check if other applications or services on the server are competing
with SQL Server for CPU resources.
- **Antivirus Software**: Ensure that antivirus software is not scanning SQL Server files in real-time,
which can lead to high CPU usage.

12. Analyze Wait Statistics

- **Wait Types**: Use `sys.dm_os_wait_stats` to identify wait types contributing to high CPU usage.
Common CPU-related waits include `SOS_SCHEDULER_YIELD` and `CXPACKET`.

13. Optimize Query Performance

- **Query Optimization**: Tune queries identified as high CPU consumers by optimizing joins,
indexing strategies, and reducing data retrieval.
- **Plan Guides**: Consider using plan guides to influence query execution plans if needed.

14. Review SQL Server Logs

- **Error Logs**: Check SQL Server error logs and the Windows Event Viewer for any errors or
warnings related to CPU usage.

15. Consider Resource Governor (Enterprise Edition)

- **Resource Pools**: Use SQL Server Resource Governor to manage CPU usage for different
workloads, preventing any single workload from monopolizing CPU resources.

16. Update SQL Server

- **Service Packs and Cumulative Updates**: Ensure that SQL Server is up to date with the latest
service packs and cumulative updates, as performance improvements are often included.