SQL Server troubleshooting and performance tuning often require detailed insight into what’s happening under the hood. Historically, SQL Profiler and trace files were the go-to tools for this — and while they still have a place in the toolbox, there are now better, more modern ways to do deep diagnostics. In this post, we’ll walk through: How to work with SQL trace files. How to analyze traces using T-SQL. Combining Profiler traces with PerfMon. And most importantly: why Extended Events are the future of SQL diagnostics. 🧰 Part 1: Working with SQL Profiler Trace Files SQL Profiler allows you to trace and record database activity like queries, login attempts, lock escalations, etc. You can export this data into a .trc file and analyze it later. 📁 Opening Trace Files In SQL Profiler : Go to File → Open → Trace File . If your trace has multiple rollover files, Profiler will ask to open the next file when it reaches the end. 💡 Pro Tip: You can ...