Putting Oracle redo logs on SSD is a common reflex response to slow databases – but it usually misdiagnoses the problem, and SSDs handle write-heavy sequential workloads worse than you might expect.
Storage Myths: Put Oracle Redo on SSD
Category: Storage
Storage is the foundation on which database performance is built. Latency, throughput, and consistency at this layer directly shape how systems behave under load.
While often abstracted away in modern architectures, storage characteristics continue to define the limits of what databases can achieve – especially as workloads become more demanding and less predictable.
Storage Myths: IOPS Matter
IOPS figures dominate flash storage marketing, but for databases latency is the metric that matters – high IOPS at unpredictable latency deliver no real-world value.
SLOB2: Testing The Effect Of Oracle Blocksize
I recently posted a test harness for generating physical I/O using the new version of SLOB (the Silly Little Oracle Benchmark) known as SLOBv2. This test harness can be used for driving varying workloads and then processing the results for use in ... well, wherever really. Some friends of mine are getting very adept with … Continue reading SLOB2: Testing The Effect Of Oracle Blocksize
SLOB2: Essential for Every DBA Toolkit
A couple of weeks ago, Kevin released the second version of SLOB - the Silly Little Oracle Benchmark. Readers will know that I was already a big fan of the original version, but version 2 (which I was fortunate enough to test prior to its release) now has extra features and functionality which make it … Continue reading SLOB2: Essential for Every DBA Toolkit
The Most Important Thing You Need To Know About Flash
NAND flash development is driven by the consumer market – not the enterprise. The question to ask any flash vendor isn't "how fast?" but "where's your innovation?"
Does My Database Need Flash?
Not every database benefits from flash storage – knowing when it matters requires understanding how much I/O your workload generates, how random it is and how much latency is already costing you.
Understanding I/O: Random vs Sequential
Disk I/O forces a choice between random and sequential access – and that choice defines whether latency compounds or disappears. Flash makes the distinction irrelevant.
The Fundamental Characteristics of Storage
Latency, IOPS and bandwidth are the three properties that define any storage system – understanding how they relate to each other is the first step to knowing what your database actually needs.
Performance: It’s All About Balance…
Database performance problems are rarely solved by faster CPUs alone – the real issue is imbalance between resources, and disk latency is the silent bottleneck that flash storage changes.
New Blog Series: Storage For DBAs
DBAs and storage people speak different languages – this series bridges the divide, translating storage concepts into terms that make sense from a database perspective.
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