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Overview of Database Experimentation Assistant

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Note

This tool was retired on December 15, 2024. We have stopped supporting this tool for any issues that arise, and won't issue any bug fixes or further updates.

Database Experimentation Assistant (DEA) is an experimentation solution for SQL Server upgrades. DEA can help you evaluate a targeted version of SQL Server for a specific workload. Customers upgrading from earlier versions of SQL Server (starting with 2005) to more recent versions of SQL Server can use the analysis metrics that the tool provides.

DEA analysis metrics include:

  • Queries that have compatibility errors.
  • Degraded queries and query plans.
  • Other workload comparison data.

Comparison data can lead to higher confidence and help ensure a successful upgrade experience.

Get DEA

To install DEA, download the latest version of the tool. Then, run the DatabaseExperimentationAssistant.exe file.

Solution architecture for comparing workloads

The following diagram shows the solution architecture for a workload comparison. The workload comparison uses DEA and Distributed Replay during an upgrade from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2016.

Screenshot of Workload comparison solution architecture.

DEA prerequisites

Following are some prerequisites for running DEA:

  • Minimum hardware requirement: A single-core machine with 3.5 GB of RAM.
  • Ideal hardware requirement: An eight-core CPU (with 3.5 GB of RAM or more). Processors with more than eight cores don't improve DEA run times.
  • An additional 33% of performance trace size is needed to store A, B, and report analysis databases.

Configure DEA

In the prerequisite environment architecture, we recommend that you install DEA on the same machine as the Distributed Replay controller. This practice avoids cross-computer calls and simplifies configuration.

Required configuration for workload comparison using DEA

DEA connects to database servers using Windows authentication. Be sure that the user running DEA can connect to database servers (source, target, and analysis) using Windows authentication.

Capture configuration requirements

Capturing a trace requires that the user running DEA:

  • Can connect to the source database server using Windows authentication.
  • Has sysadmin rights on the source database server.

In addition, the service account running the source database server requires write access to the trace folder path.

For more information, see Frequently asked questions about trace capture.

Replay configuration requirements

Replaying a trace requires that the user running DEA:

  • Can connect to the target database server using Windows authentication.
  • Has sysadmin rights on the target database server.

In addition, replaying a trace requires that:

  • The service account running the target database servers has write access to the trace folder path.
  • The service account running Distributed Replay clients can connect to the target database server using Windows authentication.
  • TCP ports are opened for incoming requests on the Distributed Replay controller. DEA communicates with the Distributed Replay controller by using COM interfaces.

For more information, see Frequently asked questions about trace replay.

Analysis configuration requirements

Performing the analysis requires that the user running DEA:

  • Can connect to the analysis database server using Windows authentication.
  • Has sysadmin rights on the source database server.

For more information, see Frequently asked questions about analysis reports.

Set up telemetry

DEA has an internet-enabled feature that can send telemetry information to Microsoft for use in enhancing the product experience. The information that's collected is also saved on your computer for local audit, so you can always see what's collected. All DEA log files are saved in the %temp%\DEA folder.

Telemetry data can be collected on four types of events:

  • TraceEvent: Usage events for the application (for example, "triggered stop capture").
  • Exception: Exception thrown during application usage.
  • DiagnosticEvent: An event log to assist with diagnosis when problems occur (not sent to Microsoft).
  • FeedbackEvent: User feedback that's submitted through the application.

Collecting and sending telemetry data is optional. To specify which events are collected and whether collected events are sent to Microsoft, use the following steps:

  1. Go to the location in which DEA is installed (for example, C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Corporation\Database Experimentation Assistant).
  2. Open and modify the .config files DEA.exe.config (for the application) and DEACmd.exe.config (for the CLI) to address your scenario as appropriate:
    • To stop collecting a type of event, set the value of event (for example, TraceEvent) to false. To start collecting the event again, set the value to true.
    • To stop saving local copies of events, set the value of TraceLoggerEnabled to false. To start saving local copies again, set the value to true.
    • To stop sending events to Microsoft, set the value of AppInsightsLoggerEnabled to false. To start sending events to Microsoft again, set the value to true.

DEA is governed by the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

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