A technician wants to compare a new servers performance over a period of time. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Monitoring processor performance logs is a component of performance analysis, but it's done after a baseline is established to compare current data against normal operation.

Constantly checking the task manager provides real-time, short-term data, but it does not establish a historical context or a comprehensive performance profile needed for long-term comparison.

Using performance server logs is part of the monitoring process, but it is performed after establishing a baseline to collect data that can then be compared to the normal operational state.

Establishing a baseline for the server is the crucial first step because it provides a snapshot of the server's normal performance characteristics and resource utilization under typical operating conditions. Without a baseline, any subsequent monitoring or performance data lacks a standard against which to be compared for meaningful analysis of changes or degradation over time.