Microsoft SQL Server Profiler is a graphical user interface to SQL Trace for monitoring an instance of the Database Engine or Analysis Services. You can capture and save data about each event to a file or table to analyze later. For example, you can monitor a production environment to see which stored procedures are affecting performance by executing too slowly.

To run SQL Server Profiler, on the Start menu, point to All Programs, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Performance Tools, and then click SQL Server Profiler.

 In This Section

Topic	Description
SQL Server Profiler Terminology	Contains information about the terminology used to describe using SQL Server Profiler to create and use traces.
Using SQL Server Profiler	Contains information about how to use SQL Server Profiler.

When working with SQL Server Profiler, it is helpful to understand SQL Trace. For more information about SQL Trace, see Introducing SQL Trace.