Message-Id: <10523.108482@fatcity.com> From: Alex Hillman Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 17:32:22 -0400 Subject: RE: Db_block_size This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. ------_=_NextPart_001_01BFD25A.32AA5E10 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Maybe this rule of thumb a little outdated. First it depends on what kind of file system you run (journal or not), if your box can use direct IO, what is the block size of your file system, what is the maximum I/O size of your box, can you change it (before Solarid 2.7 max size was 64K, 2.7 and up you can configure it in /etc/system). Generally, if direct I/O is enabled, your block size should be equal file system block size. Standard file system block size is 8K but you can create file system with bigger block size like 16k and make your Oracle block size 16K. There is an article on Steve Adams site why large block size is better - for OLTP mainly because of lowering of the haight of the indexes . So it is a little more complex that it looks like. There were very good presentations on IOUG by Gaja Vaidyanatha(sucking up :-) ) about performance tuning and RAIDs where these issues were explained. Alex Hillman -----Original Message----- From: guy ruth hammond [mailto:grh@agency.com] Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 12:40 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Subject: Re: Db_block_size Eric Fang wrote: > > Thanks, Chris, Rachel and Guy for the answers. > Actually we don't have production database(anytime), > so I don't even have the archive log files. My > question is what's the benefits of increasing the > db_block_size, what is the limit? As a rule of thumb, large block size are good for OLAP loads, and small block sizes are good for OLTP. The actual sizing depends on your OS block size. Oracle thinks in terms of blocks when it does I/O. Therefore, if you can get an Oracle block in an integral number of OS blocks, this is good. If you have to read an entire OS block, but Oracle only wants part of that to complete a data block, this is bad. Cheers, g -- guy ruth hammond | One is punished for being Technology Analysis & Consulting | weak, not for being cruel. 07879607148 http://www.agency.com | -- Baudelaire -- Author: guy ruth hammond INET: grh@agency.com Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: ListGuru@fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). ------_=_NextPart_001_01BFD25A.32AA5E10 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable RE: Db_block_size

Maybe this rule of thumb a little outdated. First it = depends on  what kind of file system you run (journal or not), if = your box can use direct IO, what is the block size of your file system, = what is the maximum I/O size of your box, can you change it (before = Solarid 2.7 max size was 64K, 2.7 and up you can configure it in = /etc/system). Generally, if direct I/O is enabled, your block size = should be equal file system block size. Standard file system block size = is 8K but you can create file system with bigger block size like 16k = and make your Oracle block size 16K. There is an article on Steve Adams = site why large block size is better - for OLTP mainly because of = lowering of the haight of the indexes . So it is a little more complex = that it looks like. There were very good presentations on IOUG by Gaja = Vaidyanatha(sucking up :-) ) about performance tuning and RAIDs where = these issues were explained.

Alex Hillman

-----Original Message-----
From: guy ruth hammond [mailto:grh@agency.com]
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 12:40 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
Subject: Re: Db_block_size


Eric Fang wrote:
>
> Thanks, Chris, Rachel and Guy for the = answers.
> Actually we don't have production = database(anytime),
> so I don't even have the archive log files. = My
> question is what's the benefits of increasing = the
> db_block_size, what is the limit?

As a rule of thumb, large block size are good for = OLAP loads,
and small block sizes are good for OLTP. The actual = sizing
depends on your OS block size. Oracle thinks in = terms of
blocks when it does I/O. Therefore, if you can get = an Oracle
block in an integral number of OS blocks, this is = good. If
you have to read an entire OS block, but Oracle only = wants
part of that to complete a data block, this is = bad.

Cheers,

g



--
guy ruth hammond <grh@agency.com> | One is = punished for being
Technology Analysis & Consulting  | weak, = not for being cruel.
07879607148 http://www.agency.com = |       -- Baudelaire
--
Author: guy ruth hammond
  INET: grh@agency.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) = 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, = California        -- Public Internet = access / Mailing Lists
---------------------------------------------------------------= -----
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an = E-Mail message
to: ListGuru@fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of = 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB = ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed = from).  You may