Chapter 8 Managing and Monitoring Windows 7 Performance

The first part of the chapter reviewed Windows Update Types, which are one of the following forms:

·         Hotfixes

·         Security updates

·         Cumulative updates or rollups

·         Service packs

The updates are classified in the following categories of importance:

·         Important

·         Recommended

·         Optional

·         Device drivers - usually updated from manufacturers website

In large organizations, admins may delay running the updates until after testing them on one workstation to ensure applications will still work properly, or, they may wait several weeks to allow any bugs to be worked out.

·         Home users or small offices may install updates automatically, which is the recommended method.

·         You can also set up to download the updates, but let the user decide when to install.

·         Check for updates and let user decide if they want to download them.

·         Never check for updates - NOT recommended.

WSUS - windows server update services

·         Downloads updates and stores in a database for admin evaluation

·         Select updates to deploy and which computers to deploy them to

·         This allows update to be downloaded once from the Internet - reduces bandwidth usage

·         Distributes using LAN

Event Viewer displays log info gathered by the OS and in a graphical application.  They can be information, error, warnings or critical. Windows logs:

·         Application

·         Security

·         Setup

·         System

·         Forwarded events

Performance Monitor displays performance counters as reports, bar graph or line graph. You can add counters to create customized performance trackers. 4 pieces of info need to be added to create a counter:

·         Computer

·         Performance object

·         Performance counter

·         Instance

The type of information that is collected should determine the view used. If the counter variables are considerably different, or if there is several different categories, it may be more meaningful to display as a report or as a histogram. To create an effective display:

·         Limit number of counters

·         Modify counter display properties

·         Choose counters with comparable values

A data collector set (DCS) is used to create a baseline so you have readings to compare to a future instance.

To monitor programs and configuration settings that may be causing negative effects on system performance, you need to use the System Configuration tool by typing msconfig in the start menu search box.