Hi All We are running Windows 2008 Server and have a new application we're trialing. When the app is run, we want to make sure the server can handle the load, so we have created some test user accounts and will be hitting the server. Am I correct in thinking that the best way to measure server performance is using Perfmon? Could someone advise what the best counters to use are and also what the recommended thresholds should be?

Hi Joe, I suggest you first check the following Technet articles: Performance and Reliability Monitoring Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Server 2008 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771692(WS.10).aspx Windows Server 2003 Performance Counters Reference http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc776490(WS.10).aspxPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Joe, You can use the below steps to configure a perfmon log with standard set of counters to monitor server performance: Steps to configure perfmon on 2k8: 1. Go to Start, Run and type "Perfmon" (without quotation marks) and press OK. 2. Expand Data Collector Sets. Highlight User Defined and right click in the right pane and select “New Data Collector Set” to bring up a Wizard. Select "Create Manually (Advanced)". Give this log a name. 3. Click Next. 4. Select the option Performance Counter under “Create data logs”. Click Next 5. Click on Add button to add performance objects 6. Add the following counters listed below and select "All instances" on each counter wherever applicable Memory Network Interface Objects Paging File Physical Disk Process Processor Redirector Server Server Work Queues System 8. Set the Sample Interval for every 15 seconds 9. Click Next. 10. Select the root directory where you would like to save the file. 11. Click Next. 12. Let the Run As be “<default>” if running locally, Change only if running remotely. 13. Select “Open Properties for this data collector set” 14. Click “Finish” 15. In the Data Collector Property Sheet, highlight “Stop Condition”. Select “Maximum Size” and set it to 350 MB and put a check mark on “Restart data collector set at limits” 16. Click “Apply” “Ok” 17. In the left pane select the data collector we created under “User Defined”. 18. Now right click the DataCollectoer01 in the right pane and select “Properties” 19. Highlight “File” tab. 20. Select the Option “Circular” under “Log Mode” section. 21. Click “Apply” “Ok”. 22. In the left pane select the data collector we created, Right click on it and select “Start”. 23. Please ensure that the Perfmon log is re-started manually if the server is rebooted. This will create a binary circular log file with a maximum size of 350 megs. Thanks, Madhurjya Madhurjya Bora OS performance Team, MSFT