{"id":"erikdarlingdata-performancemonitor","name":"PerformanceMonitor","af_score":47.8,"security_score":57.5,"reliability_score":25.0,"what_it_does":"SQL Server Performance Monitor provides free, open-source performance monitoring and alerting for SQL Server and supported cloud SQL platforms. It collects performance data via scheduled T-SQL collectors (Full edition uses SQL Agent and installs a monitoring database; Lite edition runs a desktop app and stores data locally using DuckDB/Parquet), renders dashboards and plan visualizations, and includes a built-in MCP server offering read-only tools for AI-assisted analysis based on the collected monitoring data.","best_when":"You can install monitoring on (or query from) SQL Server instances you control and want on-prem/private performance telemetry plus local/embedded AI analysis.","avoid_when":"You need a managed hosted service, a public REST API for programmatic access, or strict guarantees of minimal overhead with no local data persistence.","last_evaluated":"2026-03-30T13:34:19.612509+00:00","has_mcp":true,"has_api":false,"auth_methods":["Windows Authentication (Full edition installer)","SQL Authentication (Full edition installer)","Microsoft Entra ID (MFA) interactive authentication (Full edition installer)","Lite edition uses stored connection details and local app access (password via Windows Credential Manager)"],"has_free_tier":true,"known_gotchas":["MCP server tooling is described at a high level, but specifics (tool schemas, auth to the MCP endpoint, error codes) are not included in the provided content.","Full edition relies on SQL Agent jobs and scheduled collectors; ingestion latency depends on schedule and edition/target platform limitations.","Lite edition stores data locally and relies on desktop app configuration; agent runs should account for local storage/retention constraints."],"error_quality":0.0}