Documentation forSQL Sentry

General Tasks

Introduction

Once you've completed the Onboarding process, you're ready to start using SQL Sentry and configure your environment. Some first steps may include adding additional servers (targets) to monitor, organizing your targets, and using the calendar. The following is a review of some common tasks performed using the SQL Sentry client.

Monitoring Targets and Target Groups

See the Monitoring Additional Targets article for detailed information.

Adding a Target

Select Add in the right-click context menu of one of the following nodes to add a target:

  • All Targets
  • Site
  • Group

Navigator Pane Add Windows Computer example

Deleting a Target

Select Delete Target in the right-click context menu of any target node to delete that target.  

Note:  Before deleting a target, select Stop Watching to stop watching all of the target's associated instances.

Navigator Pane Delete Target

Warning:  Delete Target deletes the actual registration for the target from SQL Sentry. This includes the deletion of all historical information for any associated instances belonging to the target from the SQL Sentry database. Delete Target is final and can't be undone. Only use this command to permanently delete information SQL Sentry has stored about the target and its associated instances from the SQL Sentry database.

Adding a Target Group

On any site node or existing group node, right-click and select Add, and then select Group to add a target group. 

Navigator Pane Add Target Group

Deleting a Target Group

On any existing group node, right-click and select Delete Group to delete the selected target group. 

Note:  You need to remove all targets and sub-groups before deleting a group.

Navigator Pane Delete Target Group

Monitoring Instances

Adding an Instance

Select Add in the right-click context menu of one of the following nodes to add an instance:

  • All Targets
  • Site
  • Target Group Target

Navigator Pane Add SQL Server Instance

For more information about adding an instance, see the Monitoring Additional Targets topic.

Watching an Instance

On any instance node, select Watch to begin watching that instance. For more information about watching an instance, see the Monitoring Additional Targets topic.

Navigator Pane Watch Instance

Event Calendar Related

Jumping to a Particular Time in the Calendar View

On any node above the object level, right-click and select Jump To > Time to open the Select the time window.

Navigator Pane Target Jump To Time

Select the desired date and time, and then select Ok to open your time selection.

SQL Sentry Select the time window

To persist the time setting, go to Tools > User Preferences > Navigator, and then select the appropriate parameters. This allows you to jump to the same time for each selected view. For more information about the Event Calendar, see the Calendar and List Views article. 

User and Group Tasks

Adding a User

Double-click or right-click the Users node, and then select New to open the Add a User window.

Navigator Pane Users create new user

Input the appropriate information in the user window, and then select Save to save your changes. The new user displays under the Users node.

SQL Sentry Add a User Properties

Editing a User

Double-click or right-click the Users node, and then select Open to open the Edit User window.

Navigator Pane Open User

The user window appears populated with that user's settings. Make any changes, and then select Save to save the changes.

SQL Sentry Edit User Properties

Deleting a User

On a user node, select the delete key or select Delete User from the context menu to permanently delete the user.

Navigator Pane Delete User

Adding a Group

Double-click or right-click the Groups node, and then select New to open the Add a Group window.

Navigator Pane New user group

Input the appropriate information in the group window, and then select Save to save your changes. The new group displays under the Groups node.

Add a Group Properties

Editing a Group

Double-click or right-click the Groups node, and then select Open to open the group window populated with the group's settings.

Navigator Pane Open user group

Make any changes, and then select Save to save the changes.

Edit Group Properties

Deleting a Group

On a group node, select the delete key or select Delete Group from the context menu to permanently delete the group.

Navigator Pane Delete user group

For more information about users and groups, see the Contact Management topic.

Events

Adding an Event Object

On any event object node, select New > Job... to open SSMS and create a new SQL Server Agent Job.

Navigator Pane Add New SQL Server Agent Job

Deleting an Event Object

On any event objects node, select Delete Job to permanently delete the object.

Navigator Pane Delete SQL Server Agent Job

Note:  Not all objects support deletion from the SQL Sentry Client (Reporting Services, etc).

Watching an Event Object

On any event objects node, select Watch Job to sets the object status to Watched and enable conditions and actions for the object, as well as queue chaining and performance monitoring features, if applicable. The instance status will also be set to Watched if it isn't already watched.

Navigator Pane Watch SQL Server Agent Job

Stop Watching an Event Object

On any event objects node, select Stop Watching Job to set the object status to Unwatched, disable conditions and actions for the object, as well as queue chaining and performance monitoring features, if applicable.

Navgiator Pane Stop Watching SQL Server Agent Job

Enabling an Event Object

On the event objects node, select Enable to enable the event to run according to the schedules defined for it.

Navigator Pane Enable Event Chain

Disabling an Event Object

On the event objects node, select Disable to disable the event from running according to the schedules defined for it.

Navigator Pane Disable Event Chain

Viewing an Event Object's Properties

On any event objects node, select Properties to display the object's native properties window.

Navigator Pane SQL Server Agent Job Properties

Note:  Not all objects support the properties interface (Reporting Services, etc).

Jobs/Tasks

Starting a Job or Task

On any job or task node, select Start Job to start the job. 

Note:  If the job has more than one step, a window appears allowing you to select the step where you would like the job to start.

Event Calendar Start Job SQL Server Agent Job

Stopping a Job or Task

On any job or task node, select Stop Job to stop the job.

Event Calendar Stop Job SQL Server Agent Job

Viewing Job History

On any event objects node, select Jump To > Historyand then select the range to view to open the job at the selected time.

Event Calendar Jump To History for SQL Server Agent Job

Helpful SQL Sentry Client Information

The following is a list of topics that provide detailed information about aspects of the SQL Sentry Client including information on client glyphs, icons, and indicators:

Topic Links
Client Alerts
  • For more information detailing alerts within the SQL Sentry Client, see the Client Alerts article.
Event Calendar
  • For information detailing the glyphs within the SQL Sentry Calendar view, see the Calendar and List Views article.
Event Chains
  • For more information detailing Event Chains within the SQL Sentry Client, see the Event Chains article.
SQL Sentry Client
  • For information detailing the toolbars within the SQL Sentry Client, see the toolbars article. 
  • For information detailing the menus within the SQL Sentry Client, see the menus article.
  • For information about customizing the visuals within the SQL Sentry Client, see the User Preferences article.
  • For a list of hot keys accessible within the SQL Sentry Client, see the Hot Keys article.