Sessions by Login
Overview
The Sessions by Login report provides visibility into active connections by user accounts in SQL Server. This report helps database administrators analyze login activity, identify users with high session counts, and detect potential performance or security concerns.
Report Sections
This report contains two primary components:
Session Distribution Visualization
- A graphical representation of active sessions by login.
- Larger areas represent logins with more active connections.
Detailed Session Table
- Lists active sessions, grouped by login name and associated program.
Report Columns
- Row – The row number in the report.
- Login – The user or application account connected to SQL Server.
- Program – The application or process that established the session (e.g., SQL Server Management Studio, a web application, or a background process).
- Sessions – The number of active sessions for each login.
Understanding the Report
- High Connection Logins – Logins with a large number of active sessions may indicate excessive application connections or connection pooling misconfigurations.
- Application Session Distribution – Identifying which programs generate the most connections can help optimize resource usage.
- Idle vs. Active Sessions – A high number of connections with little activity could signal inefficient connection management.
Recommended Actions
- Monitor High Session Logins – If a specific login frequently opens excessive connections, review the application’s connection strategy.
- Optimize Connection Pooling – Ensure applications are using proper connection pooling to avoid unnecessary overhead.
- Investigate Unexpected Logins – If a login has an unusual session count or an unrecognized program, check for security risks or unauthorized access.
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