Re: new RS/6000: from 8*250MHz to 2*750MHz - what to expect

Erik Ykema wrote:

> Esteemed Oracle practicioners,
> I would appreciate your thoughts on our RS/6000-change.
> Our operations manager has decided that our current RS/6000 (8 cpus at 250
> MHz) machine should be replaced by a new one having just two 750 MHz
> processors. The cause is Oracle's license structure: per CPU.
> On this machine we have one instance for our datawarehouse (Oracle 8.0.6 -
> we have not planned to upgrade yet, AIX4): nightly batches in Pro*C and
> SQL*Plus-scripts; during daytime it works for our OLTP users in maximum of 7
> concurrent running reports.
> Lot of batch SQL has been tuned by trial and error (choosing the degree on
> the tables; parallel hints) in order to have the batches fit in the tight
> night processing window. Of course we will have to test everything in
> pre-production phase. Additional tuning will end on my plate... and I try to
> achieve some kind of work load planning for the coming half.
> From sar I have learned that, as usual, the disks are the main unix
> wait-events and that hardly ever, in batch or in OLTP, 100% CPU utilization
> is reached. During batch this is also due to wait-constraints in the batch
> job chain.
> What should I be aware of regarding performance? And any other pleasant or
> unpleasant suprises? (I have roamed the c.d.o.* newsgroups but could not
> find much insight.)
> Thanks,
> Erik Ykema
> Oracle Analyst/Programmer

More than anything else I'd be aware that 8.0.6 is unsupported and that your resume' will barely get you a job frying fish. If you are going to change machines take this opportunity to move to 9.2 and grab all that extra performance too.

About the machine change? It has been many years since I've seen 8.0.x so I can't help much other than to say I'd move immediately and take advantage of LMT, UNDO, an CBO.

Daniel Morgan Received on Thu Mar 13 2003 - 19:00:27 CST