How can system performance be monitored on a Windows server?

Monitoring system performance on a Windows server is best achieved through Performance Monitor, commonly referred to as perfmon. This tool provides comprehensive capabilities to track and analyze various system metrics over time, including CPU usage, memory consumption, disk activity, and network performance. It allows users to create detailed reports, set up alerts, and log performance data for analysis, which is crucial for optimizing server performance and troubleshooting issues.

While the Control Panel can provide some insights into system settings and configurations, it lacks the detailed monitoring capabilities necessary for in-depth performance analysis. Task Manager offers a quick overview of current processes and resource usage, making it helpful for immediate checks, but it does not provide the extensive data or historical logging that Performance Monitor does. The System Configuration Tool is primarily focused on system startup and service management, which is unrelated to ongoing performance monitoring. Therefore, Performance Monitor stands out as the most suitable and powerful option for monitoring system performance on a Windows server.