SolarWinds SQL Sentry

What SolarWinds SQL Sentry is

SolarWinds SQL Sentry monitors performance for SQL Server and Azure SQL databases, with tools to investigate root causes and view activity across a data estate. Its Performance Analysis Dashboard summarizes Microsoft data platform health and lets users drill into performance issues. Top SQL captures and analyzes high-impact active and completed queries for tuning and optimization. Advisory Conditions can send proactive notifications based on prebuilt or custom conditions and environment parameters. Storage Forecasting uses machine learning to predict storage use and forecast disk capacity. SQL Sentry also identifies SQL Server deadlocks and provides information to help investigate them. The browser-based SQL Sentry Portal provides performance data for SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Windows targets. Listed environments also include SQL Server Analysis Services, SQL Server on Amazon RDS and EC2, and SQL Server on Linux. The software is offered for self-hosted and web use on Windows, with hybrid deployment. Subscription and volume licensing are available, but pricing is provided by quote. A fully functional 14-day free trial is available without a credit card. SolarWinds also lists technical support, documentation, training, and a user community.

Who it suits

SQL Sentry suits teams responsible for monitoring SQL Server and Azure SQL performance, analyzing queries, and forecasting storage. Its browser portal also serves teams that need web access to performance data.

Limits

There is no free plan. A fully functional 14-day trial is available, and subscription or volume licensing options are offered by quote.

Getting started

1. Open the SolarWinds SQL Sentry website
2. Choose self-hosted, web, or Windows access within a hybrid deployment
3. Start the fully functional 14-day trial without a credit card
4. Connect supported SQL Server, Azure SQL, Windows, or listed Amazon environments
5. Request a subscription or volume-licensing quote

Verdict

SQL Sentry brings database monitoring, query analysis, alerting, and storage forecasting together for supported SQL environments. Buyers will need to request a quote for subscription or volume licensing.