Well, I am a Senior Database Administrator, and in my daily work I use a lot of different database tools to perform everyday administrative tasks and investigate performance-related issues.

Wouldn't it be ideal to have just one tool? And this tool to be totally FREE?

In my years of experience, I have been unable to find such a tool.

Therefore, I developed my own real-time diagnostics tool that I currently use and find more benefit in than any other.

You can take a look at screenshots  (1.3 MB) or download a tool itself. I am putting here a FREE  DEMO version of DBA Informer (still working on a final version).

Before using DBA Informer you must first install SYBASE MDA tables and turn on some MDA related ASE configuration parameters (you can download instructions on SYBASE MDA tables installation here (28 K))

DBA Informer supports SYBASE ASE versions 12.5.0.3 and higher and requires SYBASE Open Client.

Here are some highlights of DBA Informer for SYBASE.

DBA Informer for SYBASE allows you to see:

1. All running processes - by clicking on a process you can see some additional information on currently executing SQL, such as:
· Running SQL
· Query plan
· Procedure nesting - If the process is running a nested stored procedure, DBA Helper will provide you with a list off all  procedures in the order they were executed
· Some additional detailed info like network packet size, packets and bytes sent and received, physical and logical reads, pages modified, etc.

2. Lock information -
· locks in use
· blocked locks and the ability to alert users on any blocking that is happening on the server.

3. Recent server activity -
· Detailed, graphical explanation of all deadlocks that were generated on the server since the last server reboot.
· Recently executed SQL
· Most CPU-consuming SQL

4. Database statistics -
· Backup status (backup in progress, last backup failed, transaction log consumption and utilization)
· Most frequently used objects
· Unused indexes
· Detailed information on all cached objects

5. Table information - this section is a very useful feature of the tool. It allows you to see if tables are fragmented (fragmentation usually prevents the optimizer from making accurate and efficient decisions). It shows the following information without making any kind of OS calls like optdiag:
· Data page cluster ratio
· Index page cluster ratio
· Data row cluster ratio
· Large I/O efficiency
· Space utilization

6. Server information section displays:
· Detailed engine activity
· Procedure Cache Hit Ratio
· Live view of the SYBASE Server log