DP-300 Practice Question: Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources
You are monitoring an Azure SQL Database using dynamic management views (DMVs). You want to identify the top queries by total CPU time over the last hour. Which DMV should you query?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
sys.dm_exec_query_stats
Sys.dm_exec_query_stats. This DMV returns aggregated performance statistics for cached query plans, including total_worker_time (which represents total CPU time). By filtering on last_execution_time, you can identify queries executed within the last hour. sys.dm_exec_requests (B) shows only currently executing requests, not historical data. sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats (C) tracks index seek/scan operations, not CPU usage. sys.dm_db_resource_stats (D) provides resource consumption at the database level (e.g., DTU, CPU percentage), not per query.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
sys.dm_exec_query_stats
Why this is correct
Returns aggregate performance statistics for cached query plans.
- ✗
sys.dm_exec_requests
Why it's wrong here
Shows currently executing requests, not historical CPU.
- ✗
sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats
Why it's wrong here
Tracks index usage, not query CPU.
- ✗
sys.dm_db_resource_stats
Why it's wrong here
Returns resource usage per minute, not per query.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Overview of Azure Data Platform Options
Key term
Azure SQL Performance Tuning
Azure SQL Performance Tuning is the process of optimizing the speed and efficiency of queries and database operations in Microsoft Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance to reduce latency and improve throughput.
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