System Center Management Pack for SQL Product Family Community Technology Preview (CTP2)

  • Article

UPDATE: Replication MP CTP2 bits are also available on the download page (5/25/2016).

CTP 2 for SQL Management Packs is released!

We are getting ready to release the next versions of SQL Management Packs as well as new MPs for SQL Server 2016. In this Community Technology Preview release, we hope to bring you the changes planned now so that with your feedback we can make the final release the best it can be.

Download center page has the latest CTP bits for each MP. At the download step, you will be able to choose to download only the packages you are interested in.

Please provide feedback either as comments on this page or by emailing SQLMPsfeedback at microsoft.com.

Microsoft System Center Management Packs (Community Technical Preview 2) for SQL Server

Downloads available:

  • Microsoft System Center Management Pack (CTP2) for SQL Server Dashboards (6.7.0.0) This Management Pack supports the Dashboard functionality in SQL Server DB Engine, Analysis Services, Reporting Services and Replication management packs, and enables the creation of user-generated dashboards.
  • Microsoft System Center Management Pack (CTP2) for SQL Server 2005-2012 (6.7.0.0) This Management Pack provides both proactive and reactive monitoring of Microsoft SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2012. It monitors SQL Server components such as database engine instances, databases, and SQL Server agents.
  • Microsoft System Center Management Pack (CTP2) for SQL Server 2014 (6.7.0.0) This Management Pack enables the monitoring of the following features: SQL Server 2014 Database Engines (supported editions: Enterprise, Business Intelligence, Standard, Express), SQL Server 2014 Databases (including file groups, data files and transaction log files), SQL Server 2014 Agent, SQL Server 2014 Always On Availability Groups, SQL Server 2014 Failover Clusters, SQL Server 2014 Mirroring, SQL Server 2014 In-Memory OLTP, SQL Server 2014 Managed Backup to Windows Azure, SQL Server 2014 Integration Services.
  • Microsoft System Center Management Pack for SQL Server 2016 RC3 (6.7.0.0) This Management Pack enables the monitoring of the following features: SQL Server 2016 Database Engines (supported editions: Enterprise, Business Intelligence, Standard, Express), SQL Server 2016 Databases (including file groups, data files and transaction log files), SQL Server 2016 Agent, SQL Server 2016 Always On Availability Groups, SQL Server 2016 Failover Clusters, SQL Server 2016 Mirroring, SQL Server 2016 In-Memory OLTP, SQL Server 2016 Managed Backup to Windows Azure, SQL Server 2016 Integration Services.

New SQL Server Dashboards MP Features and Fixes in CTP 2

  • Added a feature to support Virtual Groups (groups defined by classes, not by real group instance). This will help users with partial access to use our predefined dashboards.
  • Added a feature to Bulk Add tiles from the class definition.
  • Added a feature to ignore some states while calculating the worst state for the Datacenter View State Tile; added a feature to set this ignorance up for each group
  • Added a feature to show/hide Instance path in the list on the Instance view
  • Added instance path to the Instance Details
  • Implemented deferred loading of the instance tiles to make the instance view operation faster
  • Implemented a new format for Dashboards configuration providing a smaller size and a single binding
  • Implemented a converter from old to new format providing preservation of user changes
  • Improved error reporting
  • Improved performance of initial load process
  • Improved data sources performance
  • Improved performance of instance selection (made it asynchronous)
  • Improved performance of Datacenter and Instance View Tiles, loading and loaded animations
  • Fixed animation issues and minor visual glitches (positioning, size of elements, fonts, main loading animation)
  • Updated Summary dashboard
  • “Known issues and Troubleshooting” section of the guide is updated

New SQL Server 2005-2012 MP Features and Fixes in CTP 2

  • Fixed Always On Database replica discovery incorrect behavior; fixed Always On policies discovery and monitoring
  • Fixed Database policies discovery and monitoring
  • Fixed and optimized CPU Usage monitoring scripts (the issue appeared when only one core was assigned)
  • Added support for more than 32 processors count in CPU Usage monitoring.
  • SQLPS module is now used for the tasks instead of deprecated SQLPS.EXE
  • Implemented FILESTREAM filegroup monitoring
  • Multiple Ports are now supported in SQL Server TCP/IP parameters
  • Fixed error occurring when no port is specified in SQL Server TCP/IP parameters
  • Fixed filegroup read-only state discovery
  • Fixed RunAs profiles mapping for some workflows
  • Implemented support for TLS 1.2 in connection logic
  • Implemented support for different client drivers in connection logic
  • Updated connection logic error logging
  • Added RunAs profiles for mirroring monitors, fixed mirroring discovery issues
  • Fixed issue: CPU usage monitor ignored SQL server limitations on CPU core count
  • Fixed display strings and Knowledge Base articles
  • Fixed error reporting in the scripts

New SQL Server 2014 MP Features and Fixes in CTP 2

  • Fixed Smart Admin policies monitoring
  • Fixed Always On Database replica discovery incorrect behavior; fixed Always On policies discovery and monitoring
  • Fixed Database policies discovery and monitoring
  • Fixed and optimized CPU Usage monitoring scripts (the issue appeared when only one core was assigned)
  • Added support for more than 32 processors count in CPU Usage monitoring.
  • SQLPS module is now used for the tasks instead of deprecated SQLPS.EXE
  • Implemented FILESTREAM filegroup monitoring
  • FILESTREAM is now supported on the summary dashboard
  • Multiple Ports are now supported in SQL Server TCP/IP parameters
  • Fixed error occurring when no port is specified in SQL Server TCP/IP parameters
  • Fixed filegroup read-only state discovery
  • Fixed RunAs profiles mapping for some workflows
  • Changed implementation of Memory-Optimized Data free space calculation
  • Added Memory-Optimized Data Stale Checkpoint File Pairs Ratio Monitor
  • Implemented support for TLS 1.2 in connection logic
  • Implemented support for different client drivers in connection logic
  • Updated connection logic error logging
  • Updated SMO usage in Always On workflows to support the new connection logic
  • Fixed issue: CPU usage monitor ignored SQL server limitations on CPU core count
  • Fixed display strings and Knowledge Base articles
  • Fixed error reporting in the scripts

New SQL Server 2016 MP Features and Fixes in CTP 2

  • Fixed Smart Admin policies monitoring
  • Fixed Always On Database replica discovery incorrect behavior; fixed Always On policies discovery and monitoring
  • Fixed Database policies discovery and monitoring
  • Fixed and optimized CPU Usage monitoring scripts (the issue appeared when only one core was assigned)
  • Added support for more than 32 processors count in CPU Usage monitoring.
  • SQLPS module is now used for the tasks instead of deprecated SQLPS.EXE
  • Implemented FILESTREAM filegroup monitoring
  • FILESTREAM is now supported on the summary dashboard
  • Multiple Ports are now supported in SQL Server TCP/IP parameters
  • Fixed error occurring when no port is specified in SQL Server TCP/IP parameters
  • Fix filegroup read-only state discovery
  • Fixed RunAs profiles mapping for some workflows
  • Added support for new SQL Server 2016 Memory-Optimized Data implementation
  • Implemented support for TLS 1.2 in connection logic
  • Implemented support for different client drivers in connection logic
  • Updated connection logic error logging
  • Updated Availability Group Automatic Failover monitor
  • Added rules to collect new Always On performance counters
  • Updated SMO usage in Always On workflows to support the new connection logic
  • Upgraded the used PowerShell version to 3+, since SQL Server 2016 uses .Net 4 Runtime
  • Fixed issue: CPU usage monitor ignored SQL server limitations on CPU core count
  • Fixed display strings and Knowledge Base articles
  • Fixed error reporting in the scripts

We are looking forward to hearing your feedback.