Using PostWait Driver

    I am Rukmani, and working as a DBA for an Oracle 7.1.4 Database on     NCR 3525 running Unix SVR4 2.1 for the past one year. I am new to     Internet and newsgroups.

    The Benchmark for our system is being done at AT&T GIS, Germany. The     system is an OLTP one using TOPEND through XA Interface. It was     discovered that, the postwait driver was slowing the process by 30%.     The oracle server processes were receiving errors from the system call     made by the postwait driver which made them to be idle for 3 seconds out     of every 10 seconds. This was found out by trussing the oracle server     processes. On switching off the postwait driver, the TPS ratings     increased by 30%.     

    Is'nt this weird as postwait driver is actually provided for improving     performance ?

    Can anyone throw light on

      i) What actually the postwait driver is supposed to improve ?
     ii) What is the reason for the above behaviour ?
    iii) Has the nature of application and the number of oracle server
         processes got something to do with this ? 
    

    I have not subscribed to any newsgroups. The replies can be mailed to     mani_at_tc4hq.cmc.stph.net. Received on Thu Oct 12 1995 - 00:00:00 CET