Before starting the challenge make sure that you download, install, and activate DB Optimizer. Upon initial startup, please Auto Discover Data Sources. The Wizard will help you register any DB2, Oracle, Sybase or SQL Server data sources.

Please note: Use our rich help content for assistance in setting up users with the appropriate permissions for profiling each database type.

1. Right click on a database that has some interesting activity to diagnose and choose Profile As>Data Source (this will start a three minute profiling session by default as defined in the Profile Dialog)
2. After the profiling session has ended (see Progress tab or wait for graph to stop refreshing), crop out any part of the graph that has the highest peak to automatically narrow down the results listed in the grid so you can focus on the best candidates for optimization.
3. Right click on the statement with the longest Elapsed Time (ms) to generate an explain plan for diagnoses, OR click on the name of the statement to drill down into the wait time activity specific to that statement and analyze its results.

Stop the clock! You are done.



How long did it take you to complete this challenge? Enter your time now to qualify for your "db FEST" tour t-shirt.

In just a few minutes, you have profiled a database, identified the longest running SQL statement, and generated an explain plan for that statement. All with just a few clicks of the mouse. Now imagine all the performance improvements you could make in just a few days!


You can easily copy and paste the offending SQL in to DB Optimizer's editor to access all of its great SQL development features - no need to use another tool to fix your performance problems. Or if you are using Oracle you can create a tuning job to automatically generate cases to analyze your best optimization opportunities.