Index usage statistics

  • Hi All,

    Right click on a databse and then

    Reports->Standard reports->Index usage statistics

    The output is:

    a) Index Usage statistics - show how users and system use the indexes;

    b) Index Operational statistics - show details of the no. of operations performed on the indexes.

    For some indexes in a) #user scans is 0 or very low, and in b) the #range scans is big.

    How do you describe this?

    Regards,

    IgorMi.

    Igor Micev,
    My blog: www.igormicev.com

  • Take a look at this post. It gives some good information and a starting place for further investigation/reading.

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2008/02/06/sql-server-management-studio-standard-reports-index-usage-statistics-databasename.aspx

    ______________________________
    AJ Mendo | @SQLAJ

  • SQLAJ (2/14/2013)


    Take a look at this post. It gives some good information and a starting place for further investigation/reading.

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/buckwoody/archive/2008/02/06/sql-server-management-studio-standard-reports-index-usage-statistics-databasename.aspx%5B/quote%5D

    Hi, thanks for this post, but the info there is poor, unfortunately.

    # User Scans The number of scan operations on the index caused by user activity - only this.

    Igor Micev,
    My blog: www.igormicev.com

  • But that's exactly what user scans are, the number of scans of the index caused by user queries.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (2/14/2013)


    But that's exactly what user scans are, the number of scans of the index caused by user queries.

    Okey, and what is #range_scans? How do you describe #user_scans=0 and #range_scans = 13195642 for e.g.

    Thank you

    IgorMi

    Igor Micev,
    My blog: www.igormicev.com

  • A scan of a portion (range) of an index. Anything more than a single row is considered a range

    Low scans, high range scans, I'd say that index is well used.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • GilaMonster (2/14/2013)


    A scan of a portion (range) of an index. Anything more than a single row is considered a range

    Low scans, high range scans, I'd say that index is well used.

    Thank you Gail!

    What do you think of an index with #user_scans=0, #user_seeks= 47, #range_scans = 13195642 and fragmentation of 54%. Its fill factor is 100. Do you think decreasing it to 95% will be useful? Page allocation is high.

    Thank you in advance,

    IgorMi.

    Igor Micev,
    My blog: www.igormicev.com

  • Not enough information.

    Decreasing fill factor is a decision you need to make based on how fast the index fragments and whether the increased size is worth the decreased fragmentation.

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

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