The dynamic management views (DMVs) in SQL Server are designed to give you a window into what's going on inside SQL Server. They can provide information on what's currently happening inside the server as well as the objects it's storing. They are designed to be used instead of system tables and the various functions provided in SQL Server 2000.
The Dynamic Management Views are actually composed of both views and table-valued functions. Some apply to the entire server and are stored in the master database. Others are specific to each database. All are stored in the sys schema. They all start with dm_ in the name. They have been broken up into twelve categories:
- Common Language Runtime Related Dynamic Management Views
- I/O Related Dynamic Management Views and Functions
- Database Mirroring Related Dynamic Management Views
- Query Notifications Related Dynamic Management Views
- Database Related Dynamic Management Views
- Replication Related Dynamic Management Views
- Execution Related Dynamic Management Views and Functions
- Service Broker Related Dynamic Management Views
- Full-Text Search Related Dynamic Management Views
- SQL Operating System Related Dynamic Management Views
- Index Related Dynamic Management Views and Functions
- Transaction Related Dynamic Management Views and Functions
Check more at http://www.sqlteam.com/article/dynamic-management-views
