Foglight for Databases Reviews

Name: Foglight for Databases
Brand: Quest Software
Rating: 4.2 (14 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

14 reviews
93% willing to recommend

What is Foglight for Databases?

Foglight for Databases offers comprehensive monitoring with real-time activity screens and adaptive baselines. It provides a 360-degree overview and efficient UI, requiring no custom scripts, aiding in proactive issue identification and resolution before impacting end users.

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Foglight for Databases is the #2 ranked solution in top Database Development and Management solutions. PeerSpot users give Foglight for Databases an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Foglight for Databases is most commonly compared to VMware Tanzu Data Solutions: Foglight for Databases vs VMware Tanzu Data Solutions. Foglight for Databases is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 59% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 13% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Foglight for Databases

August 2025

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Featured Foglight for Databases reviews

Stuart Dairiki

Senior IT Manager at a wholesaler/distributor with 1,001-5,000 employees

I find it extremely helpful to use Foglight to triage any database issues, specifically performance issues using what Foglight calls PI investigator. It is a very powerful workload analysis tool that helps me understand where bottlenecks are. It allows me to see performance issues as end users report them. It can save time and effort when doing root cause analysis. It enables me to obtain information quicker and easier compared to manually compiling it. Foglight provides us with a near-real-time activity database. It's not 100% real-time. It has less than a minute latency. It allows us to see performance issues as end-users report them. We started seeing benefits pretty much immediately. We use Foglight to display intensive databases. However, it's not something we monitor regularly. It's only something we kind of dig into as we troubleshoot and triage issues. It does help us determine potential IT help issues. When we use Foglight, we find it helps drill down holistically into potential bottlenecks. It helps us to see what is going on in the database. Foglight allows us to monitor multiple database platforms. We use, for example, Oracle, SQL Server, Postgres, Amazon Redshift, and SAP HANA. It gives us insight into our entire landscape of production workloads in near real-time. The solution saves costs when performing root cause analysis. It can save time and effort when doing root cause analysis. It allows us to obtain information quicker and easier than by manually compiling information.

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Eric Fouarge

Global Head of Engineering for Cloud Operations at SAI Global Compliance

We had some licensing constraints with our previous solution Idera. When we crafted the contract with Quest on Foglight, we were able to go from basically 30% coverage of our production environment to 100% coverage. We have better visibility into the environment since putting it in place. We implemented the solution’s Angular UI. It took us a day to do it, and we just stepped in and started using it. It was pretty straightforward and easy. The overall data availability in the Angular UI is good. We are not seeing any gaps from the legacy UI to the new UI for the things that we were relying on. Everything that we expected to be there is there. It proactively alerts us of long-running queries. In terms of the capability to quickly diagnose and resolve emerging issues, some things are disconnected from the rest of our observability platform. It takes a few steps to get from incident to resolution, but once we step into Foglight, we are able to quickly get to the data that we need to understand what is going on. It provides real-time activity data. We run a 24/7 shop. If there are any database performance issues, we have to act on them pretty quickly. We do not use it much to display intensive database queries. It is not really our core use case, but when we are troubleshooting application performance, it does get used in that manner at times. It enables us to drill down and see what is causing the issue to an extent. Because we run a dynamic ORM, it is a little difficult to ascertain exactly what is happening from a database query perspective, but that has nothing to do with the tool itself. It is more about how we dynamically generate the SQL queries. It enables us to monitor multiple database platforms. We have Microsoft SQL Server, Postgres, and MySQL. Prior to having Quest Foglight for Databases, we did not have anything centralized to provide this level of insight into our platform, and we now have it. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, and it does not do anything more, which is what we want. We do not want it to start venturing outside of what it is good at and what it is built for.

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Vadim Kulikov

Senior Engineer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

Thinking about my favorite feature in Foglight is like thinking about my favorite food. One of the hardest things to do in database management is to evaluate performance deviation across time. The adaptive baseline that Quest is using is by far the most helpful. That doesn't necessarily mean I use it on a daily basis, but it is something that I have not been able to find in any other tool, at the same level. Microsoft and Query Store do provide performance monitoring. There are a lot of legacy, built-in, free-of-charge tools that do part of the job, but not as comprehensively. Foglight's adaptive baseline monitoring and measuring of deviation is one of the best features of the solution.

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Foglight for Databases mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of Foglight for Databases in the Database Development and Management category stands at 7.6%, up from 7.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Database Development and Management

PeerResearch reports based on Foglight for Databases reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Database Development and Management	Aug 19, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 19, 2025	Download
Comparison	Foglight for Databases vs Oracle Enterprise Manager	Aug 19, 2025	Download
Comparison	Foglight for Databases vs Nutanix Database Service	Aug 19, 2025	Download
Comparison	Foglight for Databases vs SolarWinds Database Performance Analyzer	Aug 19, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
VMware Tanzu Data Solutions	4.0	3.0%	89%	83 interviews Add to research
Oracle Enterprise Manager	4.2	4.9%	95%	128 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Foglight for Databases offers robust reporting and real-time activity monitoring, allowing DBAs to preemptively address issues. Its dashboard consolidates information from multiple database platforms into a single view. The SQL Performance Investigator feature enables in-depth analysis of queries and performance bottlenecks. Change Tracking and adaptive baselines provide valuable insights into server health and performance deviations. Alerts ensure timely detection, while workload analysis assists in performance optimization across varied database environments.

"The platform is very stable."
"It can save time and effort when doing root cause analysis. It enables me to obtain information quicker and easier compared to manually compiling it."
"We went from basically 30% coverage of our production environment to 100% coverage."

Room for Improvement

Foglight for Databases struggles with performance issues when handling large datasets and inefficient alert management. Users find reporting and dashboard customization difficult. The tool's root cause analysis and real-time functionality are lacking, and language options are limited. Users need better communication about updates and features, improved Postgres monitoring, and enhanced integration of Performance Investigator across platforms. Simplifying custom solutions and increasing language support, especially in Spanish, are also needed.

"It would be amazing if they could enable the 'Performance Investigator' functionality across all database platforms."
"It would be amazing if they could enable the "Performance Investigator" functionality across all database platforms."
"The monitoring capabilities for Postgres should be at par with SQL Server. This is the area where we push back on our Quest representative."

ROI

Foglight for Databases offers immeasurable returns through efficient issue resolution, preemptive alerts, and time-saving capabilities. Businesses leverage its insights into database health and performance, often preventing outages. It replaces the need for additional staffing, streamlines data collection, and enables effective root cause analysis. Operational continuity improvements and significant time savings, such as 500 hours monthly, are notable advantages. Users experience enhanced visibility into their environments and increased database management efficiency.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers report that Foglight for Databases pricing is generally reasonable and competitive, though some note it can be a bit costly, especially for third-party integrations. Users appreciate Quest team's flexibility and straightforward licensing, with renewals being common. The solution is cost-effective when scaled with enterprise agreements, yet for long-term customers, there is a desire for discounted rates. While worthwhile, budget considerations are essential for potential adopters.

"Pricing is very reasonable. We were able to construct a pretty easy contract with Quest, who were very easy to work with and very amenable to what we are trying to do. It worked out well for us."
"The price of Foglight could be a little more competitive in Chile, and it should be lowered for long-time customers— at least by 20 percent. Sometimes the price is a limitation. We have seven instances and nearly 5 million users. If Quest Foglight could reduce its prices for the clients that have been with it for a long time, we would be able to have more instances."
"This is like the "Cadillac" of performance monitoring software. It's not cheap... I am currently with a company that I was able to convince that the product is worth the cost."

Popular Use Cases

Businesses use Foglight for Databases primarily for monitoring a variety of database environments, including Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Postgres, SAP HANA, and AWS Redshift. They manage thousands of servers, ensuring availability, space management, and performance troubleshooting. Monitoring extends across enterprise infrastructures, on-premises and cloud environments. It provides valuable insights for understanding real-time issues, past incidents, and long-term trends. Its features benefit database administrators by enabling comprehensive analysis across complex database infrastructures.

Service and Support

Customers consistently praise Quest's Foglight for Databases technical support as highly responsive and effective. Many highlight fast response times, often resolving issues within a day. Premier Support adds significant value, offering 'round-the-clock assistance and quick resolutions. While some users report occasional delays, most find the support team knowledgeable and helpful, noting their influence on purchasing decisions. Despite minor response time concerns, the technical assistance remains a strong selling point and effectively supports users' needs.

Deployment

Users found Foglight for Databases setup straightforward but occasionally complex, needing clear requirements and resource planning. Initial installation times ranged from under an hour to several weeks, depending on company size and infrastructure. Expert support was beneficial for large or complex environments, while some reported painless deployments. Ongoing maintenance involves resource allocation and configuration adjustments. Experience varies greatly, from small teams with minimal management to larger organizations requiring dedicated personnel.

Scalability

Foglight for Databases shows significant scalability, with users managing substantial database environments. It accommodates numerous instances and supports expansion into different database types. Many appreciate its SQL database integration, providing easier reporting and management, despite some concerns about stability when handling vast infrastructures. Organizations value its ability to share access beyond DBAs, aiding operational teams. Its interface can be challenging but scalable infrastructure with proper sizing guidance is noted, ensuring ongoing database support, including cloud migration plans.

Stability

Many find Foglight for Databases stable, though some experience issues with high loads on Db2 servers or improper tuning. Instances of downtime are often linked to user actions rather than the software itself. Some highlight excellent uptime, while others encountered performance problems with transaction logs and failover. Improvements in documentation and handling larger server counts are suggested. Auto Maintenance Cartridge reduces upkeep, enhancing operational efficiency.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Foglight for Databases Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

13%

Government

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Performing Arts

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

University

Retailer

Wholesaler/Distributor

Real Estate/Law Firm

Hospitality Company

Comms Service Provider

Logistics Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Educational Organization

Construction Company

Media Company

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Non Profit

Renewables & Environment Company

Compare Foglight for Databases with alternative products

Learn more about Foglight for Databases

Foglight for Databases is a robust tool for monitoring across multiple platforms, including SQL and Oracle. It provides features like the "Morning Coffee" dashboard and SQL Performance Investigator, enabling effective workload analysis and historical investigation. Despite some challenges with sluggish performance on large data volumes and excessive non-critical alerts, it remains a preferred choice for its ability to support proactive management and resource planning. Users appreciate its centralized view of extensive database systems, enabling swift detection and resolution of issues in real-time.

What are the key features?

Comprehensive Monitoring: Provides cross-platform real-time monitoring, ensuring effective database management.
Adaptive Baselines: Adjusts to various workloads, enhancing monitoring accuracy.
SQL Performance Investigator: Offers detailed workload analysis without server impact.
Proactive Alerts: Delivers timely notifications, aiding in immediate issue resolution.
Efficient UI: Streamlines user interaction, minimizing the need for custom scripts.

What benefits and ROI should be considered?

Time Saving: Reduces time in root cause analysis, enhancing productivity.
Proactive Management: Detects issues before they affect end users, minimizing downtime.
Resource Planning: Aids in effective allocation planning for enterprise and cloud platforms.

Foglight is extensively implemented in industries managing extensive database systems, handling numerous servers to ensure availability and performance. It assists businesses in resolving blocking and locking deadlocks, crucial for maintaining smooth operations in production and development environments.