How users of a performance monitoring tool can benefit from an inventory management tool

Database administrators must monitor their databases for availability, health, and performance. However, monitoring has costs associated with it that may exceed the benefits it provides. One solution to this problem is to use an inventory management tool in addition to a performance monitoring tool.

Need for availability, health, and performance monitoring

• Databases often are critical to someone
• Databases usually need some level of monitoring

Dual-monitoring environment

• Full performance monitoring for critical databases
• Light health monitoring for non-critical databases

Inventory management

• Discovery: Identify databases on networks
• Organization: Place databases into categories
• Licensing: Find database editions and versions
• Patching: Check on database patches and updates
• Health check: Look for critical environmental issues
• Optional light health monitoring

Light health monitoring with an inventory management tool can be a cost-effective addition to full performance monitoring. And light health monitoring is often a better choice than no monitoring at all.