A micro-monitor for use in the monitoring of database environments is provided. In an illustrative implementation, a micro-monitor comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) having controls for navigation of information, controls to control database environments, a display area for displaying monitoring information about the database environments, and controls to maximize the display area to the size of conventional applications. When executed in a computing environment having an operating display space, the micro-monitor occupies a fraction of the operating display space which is occupied by other executing computing applications. In operation, the micro-monitor, accepts configuration variables for use to set monitoring thresholds, alarms, and display layout. Based on the configuration information, the micro-monitor will cooperate with the database environments which it is monitoring to obtain operational information for processing. The operational information is processed according to the configuration to generate desired monitoring information for display in the micro-monitor display area.