Every SQL Server database administrator needs one or more vendor tools such as:
- Backup and restore tool because anything is better than the SQL Server maintenance plans
- View SQL Server activity
- SQL Server Health Check
These free SQL Server tools are the one I worked with as a SQL Server Database Administrator on a daily basis. There are many, many other free tools.
- Ola Hallengren – SQL Server Maintenance Solution
- Adam Machanic – sp_whoisactive
- Brent Ozar – sp_blitz
Since these tools are completely free, there is no reason to not try these free SQL Server tools in your environment. It takes awhile to run and interpret what exactly the free SQL Server tools can and cannot do. But free is free. And of course, you should always have your own bag of home grown SQL Server scripts that you have developed over time.