Category: Databases

Databases are the systems of record at the heart of the enterprise. They were designed for correctness, durability, and human-paced interaction – not for continuous, machine-driven access patterns.

As workloads evolve, the database remains the point of truth… but the assumptions around how it is accessed are starting to break.

New section: Oracle SLOB Testing

For some time now I have preferred Oracle SLOB as my tool for generating I/O workloads using Oracle databases. I've previously blogged some information on how to use SLOB for PIO testing, as well as shared some scripts for running tests and extracting results. I've now added a whole new landing page for SLOB and … Continue reading New section: Oracle SLOB Testing →

New My Oracle Support note on Advanced Format (4k) storage

In the past I have been a little critical of Oracle's support notes and documentation regarding the use of Advanced Format 4k storage devices. I must now take that back, as my new friends in Oracle ASM Development and Product Management very kindly offered to let me write a new support note, which they have … Continue reading New My Oracle Support note on Advanced Format (4k) storage →

The Ultimate Guide To Oracle with Advanced Format 4k

It's a brave thing, calling something the "Ultimate Guide To ..." as it can leave you open to criticism that it's anything but. However, this topic - of how Oracle runs on Advanced Format storage systems and which choices have which consequences - is one I've been learning for two years now, so this really … Continue reading The Ultimate Guide To Oracle with Advanced Format 4k →

New installation cookbook for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3

Exactly what it says on the tin, I've added a new installation cookbook for SUSE 11 SP3 which creates Violin on a set of 4k devices. I've started setting the add_random tunable of the noop I/O scheduler because it seems to give a boost in performance during benchmarking runs. If I can find the time, I … Continue reading New installation cookbook for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3 →

More Problems with Oracle’s Support of 4k Devices

This is going to be another one of those posts, a bit like this one, that discuss the use of Oracle's database product with Advanced Format devices. I wish there weren't so many of these posts, but it seems that Oracle has a lot of issues with it's implementation of 4k support. (Before reading on, … Continue reading More Problems with Oracle’s Support of 4k Devices →

Oracle ASMLib: Physical and Logical Blocksize

This article is about the use of Advanced Format devices on Oracle's ASMLib kernel library for Linux. For background, read this page on 4k sector sizes first, otherwise it might all sound like nonsense. Mind you, it mind sound like nonsense anyway, I can't guarantee anything here. By the way, a big hello to my … Continue reading Oracle ASMLib: Physical and Logical Blocksize →

Oracle AWR Reports: Understanding I/O Statistics

One consequence of my job is that I spend a lot of time looking at Oracle Automatic Workload Repository reports, specifically at information about I/O. I really do mean a lot of time (honestly, I'm not kidding, I have had dreams about AWR reports). One thing that comes up very frequently is the confusion relating … Continue reading Oracle AWR Reports: Understanding I/O Statistics →

Oracle Fixes The 4k SPFILE Problem…But It’s Still Broken

As anyone familiar with the use of Oracle on Advanced Format storage devices will know to their cost, Oracle has had some difficulties implementing support of 4k devices. Officially, support for devices with a 4096 byte sector size was introduced in Oracle 11g Release 2 (see section 4.8.1.4 of the New Features Guide) but actually, if the … Continue reading Oracle Fixes The 4k SPFILE Problem…But It’s Still Broken →

Playing The Data Reduction Lottery

Storage for DBAs: Do you want to sell your house? Or your car? Let's go with the car - just indulge me on this one. You have a car, which you weren't especially planning on selling, but I'm making you an offer you can't refuse. I'm offering you one million dollars so how can you … Continue reading Playing The Data Reduction Lottery →