Author: Sharon Bjeletich
The following flowchart will address the majority of the most common performance and scalability issues that can arise in SQL Server-based applications.
http://sqlcat.com/files/folders/280/download.aspx
However, working through the flowchart is also recommended for applications that do not appear to have issues in those areas, as it will set a baseline for a system with a known performance and scalability characteristic. The flowchart is designed to be worked from the top down, left to right. It addresses the most impactful issues first, such as table scans, out of date statistics, etc. and the suggested readings are considered the basics for any DBA.
Please note that to be able to accurately use this flow chart you should put your system under load, and it should only be done in a test environment. For more information on how to load test SQL Server see Visual Studio Team System documentation.
