You can build a Data Collector Set from a custom combination of Data Collectors. These Data Collectors can include Performance Counters, Configuration data, or data from Trace Providers.

Membership in the local Performance Log Users or Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure.

Note

The Performance Log Users group must be assigned the Log on as a batch user user right, as described in Enable Logging for Performance Log Users Group Members.
To create a Data Collector Set manually

  1. In the Windows Performance Monitor navigation pane, expand Data Collector Sets, right-click User Defined, point to New, and click Data Collector Set. The Create new Data Collector Set Wizard starts.

  2. Enter a name for your Data Collector Set.

  3. Select Create manually and click Next.

  4. Select Create data logs.

  5. Check the boxes next to the Data Collector types you want to use and click Next.

    • Performance counters provide metric data about the system's performance.

    • Event trace data provides information about activities and system events.

    • System configuration information allows you to record the state of, and changes to, registry keys.

  6. Depending on the Data Collector types you selected, you will be presented with dialogs to add Data Collectors to your Data Collector Set.

    • Click Add to open the Add Counters dialog box. When you are finished adding Performance counters, click Next to continue configuration or Finish to exit and save the current configuration.

    • Event Trace Providers can be installed with the operating system or part of a non-Microsoft application. Click Add to select from a list of available Event Trace Providers. You can select multiple providers by holding down the Control key and highlighting. When you are finished adding Event Trace Providers, click Next to continue configuration or Finish to exit and save the current configuration.

    • Record system configuration information by entering Registry keys you want to track. You must know the exact key you want to include in the Data Collector Set. When you are finished adding Registry keys, click Next to continue configuration or Finish to exit and save the current configuration.

      Note

      If you did not check all Data Collector types, not all of the entry dialogs described here will be included in the wizard steps.

  7. The Root Directory will contain data collected by the Data Collector Set. Change this setting if you want to store your Data Collector Set data in a different location than the default. Browse to and select the directory, or type the directory name.

    Note

    If you enter the directory name manually, you must not enter a back slash at the end of the directory name.

  8. After clicking Next, you can configure the Data Collector Set to run as a specific user. Click the Change button to enter the user name and password for a different user than the default listed.

    Note

    If you are a member of the Performance Log Users group, you must configure Data Collector Sets you create to run under your own credentials.

  9. Click Finish to return to Windows Performance Diagnostic Console.

    • To view the properties of the Data Collector Set or make additional changes, select Open properties for this data collector set. For more information about the properties of the Data Collector Set, see Data Collector Set Properties.

    • To start the Data Collector Set immediately (and begin saving data to the location specified in Step 8), select Start this data collector set now.

    • To save the Data Collector Set without starting collection, select Save and close.

Additional considerations

  • To open Windows Performance Monitor, click Start, click in the Start Search box, type perfmon, and then press ENTER.

  • Data Collector Sets run as the System user by default. As a security best practice, you should accept this default value unless you have a specific reason to change it.

Additional references

  • Create a Data Collector Set from a Template
  • Create a Data Collector Set to Monitor Performance Counters