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Conference orarep::nomahs::rdbexpert

Title:DEC RdbExpert for OpenVMS
Notice:RdbExpert V2.1A is now available - See note 2.4
Moderator:OOTOOL::CRAIG
Created:Fri Jul 10 1992
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:755
Total number of notes:2761

735.0. "Suggested NODE SIZE differs" by 4177::LINDGREN (A customer called...) Thu Mar 20 1997 09:48

    	Hi
    
    Rdb Expert v3.1
    Trace v2.2
    
    From two Trace collections imported to Rdb Expert from the same
    Rdb database where the data hasn't changed the node size suggested by
    Rdb Expert differs on several indexes, why?
    
    What parameters could influence this?
    
    (Please bear with me, I'm new to Rdb Expert and Trace)
    
    
    And more:
    
    - is there a way to tell Rdb Expert not to remove indexes that have
    not been used during the workload collection? It seems like Rdb Expert
    will drop all indexes that haven't been "touched" during the workload
    collection when the new database is generated?
    
    - is it possible to "flag" that an hash index is not to be generated
    because the data in the table will change over time and an hash index
    would not be the correct choice for this table.
    
    
    Regards
    
    Peter
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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735.1A few thoughts before I put the kids in bed ;-)NOMAHS::SECRISTRdb WWS; [email protected]Thu Mar 20 1997 22:0441
    
    ; From two Trace collections imported to Rdb Expert from the same
    ; Rdb database where the data hasn't changed the node size suggested by
    ; Rdb Expert differs on several indexes, why?
    
    I'm not trying to be cute when I say that the input data is
    likely different between the two sets.  Maybe something like
    one of the workloads was all read-only reports scanning
    major portions of an index and the other workload had updates,
    etc.  Whatever they're calling the "power user's guide" these
    days reviews some of the rules and I am sure you'll get a
    more informed opinion later.  
    
   ...
       
    ; (Please bear with me, I'm new to Rdb Expert and Trace)
    
    Welcome... we enjoy new faces and customers !
    
    ; is there a way to tell Rdb Expert not to remove indexes...
    
    It is not that it is removing them as much as it could not
    establish a need for them based on the input workload.  You
    can get the best reading by taking several workloads and merging
    them together in a single Trace database to get uniform coverage
    (i.e. collections during the day, the nightly report batch runs,
    etc. and then on the input to the format separate the various
    collected data files by commas).  This was all of your bases
    are covered.
    
    ; is it possible to "flag" that an hash index is not to be generated...
    
    Not to my knowledge.  Since I'm just usually pilfering what I
    want a la carte out of the procedures though and I never use
    the stock generated procedures directly it has never been much
    of an issue for me... until I get the "perfect workload" of
    course, but I've never encountered such a beast ;-)
    
    Regards,
    rcs
    
735.24177::LINDGRENA customer called...Fri Mar 21 1997 10:5210
    Thanks, your answer help me to explain things to the customer with
    great "authority" and experiance ;-)
    
    I hope your children didn't have to stay up too long (but that's usually
    no problem for kids)
    
    
    Regards
    
    Peter 
735.3ExplanationOOTOOL::CRAIGFri Mar 21 1997 12:0696
 
	Hi Peter,

	I think the fundamental concept that you need to understand 
	is that the Trace collections represent what Expert uses to 
	create the workload. 

	The collection consist of a snapshot of what activity was 
	occurring at the specific period of time that the Trace 
	collection was run. 

	In Expert the workload represents all of the transactions 
	that occurred during the collection.

	If one collection was run during a time period where the 
	transactions against the database contained a lot of inserts 
	and updates and the other collection was run during a time period 
	where the transactions were mainly queries and read only transactions 
	they would include very different workload data. 

	We recommend that you run several collections at various times to 
	enable a representative sample of database activity to be included. 
	Otherwise, Expert won't have a complete workload and will not generate 
	good recommendations.

	It is crucial for Expert to have a complete representative workload.

	To get a good workload, you should run multiple collections throughout 
	the period that there is activity against the database. Then you
	can format them into one Trace database or bring them into Expert
	as seperate workloads and merge them before you do the analyze.
	Typically, you wouldn't want to run a few long collections, but 
	many short ones.Otherwise the collection file gets too big and the 
	processing time is too long.
    
  
 >   From two Trace collections imported to Rdb Expert from the same
 >   Rdb database where the data hasn't changed the node size suggested by
 >   Rdb Expert differs on several indexes, why?

	The node size is determined by the volatility of your data. If during 
	one collection as Richard mentioned you had mainly read only transactions 
	occurring Expert would recommend that you have larger node sizes. If you 
	have more volatile data with Inserts and updates occurring Expert would 
	recommend shrinking the node sizes.

	The node sizes store the storage of the indexes. Expert would recommend 
	that the node size shrink with volitile data to help prevent locking at 
	the node level.

 >   What parameters could influence this?

	There are parameters that influence this, if you feel that you need 
	further information on them let me know. If you have a good workload you 
	wouldn't necessarily want or need to modify the parameters.    

 >   (Please bear with me, I'm new to Rdb Expert and Trace)
    
	Welcome! This stuff is confusing until you understand what's going on.
    
 >   And more:
    
 >   - is there a way to tell Rdb Expert not to remove indexes that have
 >   not been used during the workload collection? It seems like Rdb Expert
 >   will drop all indexes that haven't been "touched" during the workload
 >   collection when the new database is generated?

	If you have a good collection this is this still an issue?

	An important tip is that once you do the analyze and generate
	we don't recommend that you take the generate script and run it as
	is. The idea is that you can look at what bits and pieces make sense.

	    
 >   - is it possible to "flag" that an hash index is not to be generated
 >   because the data in the table will change over time and an hash index
 >   would not be the correct choice for this table.

 
    	You can set parameter 85 (Enable easy physical) to 2.  It will 
	cause sorted indexes to be created and will prevent hashed indexes 
	if there are only direct accesses in the workload.

	This parameter is located in a file located in RDBX_LIBRARY:

	The file is named:	RDBX_DB_RDB_n_n.INI

	Were n_n represents your Rdb version.

	Hope this information is helpful. I'd also recommend that you look
	on your kit for the Power User Guide. It has some valuable information.

	Let us know if you have any other questions.

	Have fun,
	Sheri