Windows 7 / Getting Started

Creating a Data Collector Set

You create a DCS by using a wizard or a preconfigured XML template. The data can be a single performance log, event trace, or system configuration data set, or any combination of the three. You can also configure Performance Counter Alerts from this interface.

To create a new DCS, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Performance Monitor snap-in and select the User Defined node beneath the Data Collector Sets node.
  2. Right-click the User Defined node, select New, and then select Data Collector Set to start the Create New Data Collector Set wizard.
  3. Provide a name for the data collector set and choose to create from a template or create manually by following the remaining steps of the wizard.

When you create a new DCS, it is simplest to use the Create From A Template option in the Create New Data Collector Set wizard. You can create templates for common monitoring scenarios and use them to quickly configure and start a new logging session using the template settings. The templates are in XML format; all settings for the DCS are specified in the template. There are three preconfigured templates for creating a new DCS:

  • Basic
  • System Diagnostics
  • System Performance

You can also export a DCS as a template that can be modified and imported to create a new DCS. To export a DCS configuration XML file, right-click the DCS name under the Data Collector Sets node in Performance Monitor and select Save Template. The template files are not saved to a template store; you must import them each time you use them. You can save the XML template files to any folder to which you have access.

Generally, a template is exported from a manually configured DCS. After you export the DCS template, you can edit the template to customize it for particular scenarios (different computer, different folder, and so on). After you have exported the template, you can import it into the DCS by selecting Create From A Template in the Create New Data Collector Set wizard and browsing to the location of the XML file.

Note Performance Monitor no longer installs a default System Overview log as it did in Windows XP and earlier versions. However, it does provide a System Diagnostics Data Collector Set template.

To manually create a DCS, follow these steps:

  1. In the Create New Data Collector Set wizard, select Create Manually and then click Next.
  2. Select the desired data collector(s) and then click Next.
  3. Select the performance counters, if any, that will be collected in the data collector and then click Next.
  4. Select the event trace providers, if any, that will be used and then click Next.
  5. Select registry keys to be monitored, if any, and then click Next.
  6. Choose the path to the DCS and then click Next. All of the data files for the DCS will use this path and will share the parent folder that you specify. The default path for saving data collector sets is %SystemDrive%\PerfLogs\Admin\DCS_name.
  7. Click Change and then select the user account that will run this DCS.
  8. Before completing the wizard, you can select options to open the properties of the data set when completing the wizard and start the data collection immediately after completing the wizard.
  9. Click Finish to display the DCS in the Reliability And Performance Monitor. You can view the status of all of the configured DCSs by selecting the desired parent node under the Data Collector Sets node.
  10. To view the data collector(s) contained within a DCS in the Reliability And Performance Monitor, expand the User Defined node in the left pane. Then, either click the DCS name under the User Defined node or double-click the DCS name if it appears in the right pane.

To start the DCS, click the DCS name to highlight it and either click the green arrow on the toolbar to start logging or right-click the DCS name and then select Start from the shortcut menu.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Windows 7 Desktop Maintenance
  2. Performance Monitoring
  3. Improvements to Performance Monitoring in Windows 7
  4. Using Performance Monitor
  5. Real-Time Performance Monitoring
  6. Performance Monitor Logging
  7. Creating a Data Collector Set
  8. Configuring a Data Collector Set
  9. Using Data Manager to View Performance Data
  10. Starting and Stopping Data Logging
  11. Viewing Performance Data
  12. Comparing Performance Monitor Logs
  13. Performance Monitor User Rights
  14. Remote Data Collection
  15. Using Windows PowerShell for Performance Monitoring
  16. Resource Monitor
  17. Overview Tab
  18. CPU Tab
  19. Memory Tab
  20. Disk Tab
  21. Network Tab
  22. Reliability Monitor
  23. How Reliability Monitor Works
  24. Windows Performance Tools Kit
  25. Event Monitoring
  26. Understanding the Windows Event Architecture
  27. Channels
  28. Improvements to Event Monitoring in Windows 7
  29. Using Event Viewer
  30. Understanding Views
  31. Viewing Event Logs
  32. Saving Event Logs
  33. Configuring Event Subscriptions
  34. Considerations for Workgroup Environments
  35. Creating a New Subscription
  36. Using the Windows Events Command-Line Utility for Event Monitoring
  37. Using Windows PowerShell for Event Monitoring
  38. Using Task Scheduler
  39. Improvements to Task Scheduler in Windows 7
  40. Understanding Tasks
  41. Understanding the Task Scheduler Architecture
  42. Understanding Task Scheduler Security
  43. Credentials Management
  44. Securing Running Tasks
  45. Understanding AT and Task Scheduler v1.0 Compatibility Modes
  46. Understanding the Task Scheduler Snap-in
  47. Understanding Default Tasks
  48. Creating Tasks
  49. Defining Triggers
  50. At Startup Trigger
  51. On Connection To AND Disconnect From User Session Triggers
  52. On Workstation Lock AND Unlock Triggers
  53. Defining Actions
  54. Defining Conditions
  55. Defining Settings
  56. Managing Tasks
  57. Viewing History
  58. Using SchTasks.exe for Creating and Managing Tasks
  59. Task Scheduler Events
  60. Troubleshooting Task Scheduler
  61. Tasks Won't Run If the Service Is Not Started
  62. The Task Will Run Only When a Certain User Is Logged On
  63. The Task Action Failed to Execute
  64. Interpreting Result and Return Codes
  65. Understanding the Windows System Assessment Tool
  66. Understanding WinSAT Assessment Tests
  67. Examining the WinSAT Features Assessment
  68. Running WinSAT from the Command Line
  69. Understanding WinSAT Command Exit Values
  70. Running WinSAT Using Performance Information and Tools
  71. System Capabilities Section
  72. OEM Upsell And Help Section
  73. Understanding Windows Error Reporting
  74. Overview of Windows Error Reporting
  75. How WER Works
  76. Store Management System
  77. ReportArchive Folder
  78. WER Service
  79. Understanding the Error Reporting Cycle
  80. Understanding WER Data
  81. Configuring WER Using Group Policy
  82. Configuring WER Using the Action Center