SQL Server Performance Tuning

How Can You Find The SQL Server Jobs That Start Simultaneously?

Updated October 29, 20251 min read

Written byMark Varnas

Why should you care about them?

Multiple SQL Server Agent jobs are configured to start simultaneously, which will not perform as fast as if jobs would not overlap.

Your SQL Server may be under heavy load for short bursts of time.

How can I find the SQL Server Agent jobs that start simultaneously?

You can use the script below to list all SQL Server Agent jobs starting at precisely the same time.

SELECT j.name AS JobName
	,j.description AS JobDescription
	,a.start_execution_date AS JobStartExecutionDate
FROM msdb.dbo.sysjobs j
INNER JOIN msdb.dbo.sysjobactivity a ON j.job_id = a.job_id
WHERE j.enabled = 1
	AND a.start_execution_date IN (
		SELECT start_execution_date
		FROM msdb.dbo.sysjobactivity
		GROUP BY start_execution_date
		HAVING COUNT(*) > 1
		)
Figure 1 - SQL Server Agent jobs starting simultaneously
Figure 1 - SQL Server Agent jobs starting simultaneously

How to fix them?

  • Spread job execution tweaking the job schedules.

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