OLE automation allows SQL Doctor to collect system counters that are not stored in SQL Server. These system counters include many that are vital to the SQL Doctor analysis engine. SQL Doctor requires that you enable OLE automation for the duration of an analysis.

OLE automation is turned off by default on all servers running SQL Server 2005 or later. However, when you choose to use OLE automation for data collection, SQL Doctor enables OLE automation for the length of the analysis, and then immediately disable it when done.

To configure SQL Doctor to use OLE automation, click Edit > General Settings and select Advanced Connection Settings.

For more information about how SQL Server uses OLE automation, see the Microsoft document OLE Automation Objects in Transact-SQL.