As part of my role at Violin I spend a lot of time profiling customer's databases to see how their performance varies over time. The easiest way to do this (since I often don't have remote access) is to ask for lots of AWR reports. One single report covering a large span of time is … Continue reading AWR Generator
Tag: Databases
Databases are the systems of record at the centre of the enterprise. They exist to ensure correctness, durability, and control over critical data.
For decades, they have been optimised around human interaction – predictable query patterns, bounded concurrency, and clear operational ownership.
That assumption is now under pressure. As AI systems begin to interact directly with data, the database remains the point of truth… but the way it is accessed is starting to change.
Engineered Systems – An Alternative View
Have you seen the press recently? Or passed through an airport and seen the massive billboards advertising IT companies? I have - and I've learnt something from them: Engineered Systems are the best thing ever. I also know this because I read it on the Oracle website... and on the IBM website, although IBM likes … Continue reading Engineered Systems – An Alternative View
Database Workload Theory
In the scientific world, theoretical physicists postulate theories and ideas, for example the Higgs Boson. After this, experimental physicists design and implement experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, to prove or disprove these theories. In this post I'm going to try and do the same thing with databases, except on a smaller budget, with less … Continue reading Database Workload Theory
Auto DOP with High Performance Storage
Guest Post Nate Fuzi is my friend and collegue, based out in the US fulfilling the same role that I perform in EMEA. He is also the person with which I have drunk more sake jello shots than I ever thought probable / sensible / acceptable. Nate recently wrote this note regarding the use of … Continue reading Auto DOP with High Performance Storage
The Ultimate Guide To Oracle Support
In an effort to provide useful content rather than just blathering on about stuff I've written an article on how to work with and understand Oracle Support. The idea is that if you know the way the organisation works, you can get the best out of your experiences with them. Nothing in the article is … Continue reading The Ultimate Guide To Oracle Support
Why In-Memory Computing Needs Flash
You might be tempted to think that In-Memory technologies and flash are concepts which have no common ground. After all, if you can run everything in memory, why worry about the performance of your storage? However, the truth is very different: In-Memory needs flash to reach its true potential. Here I will discuss why and … Continue reading Why In-Memory Computing Needs Flash
More on Exadata X3 “Database In-Memory” (but not by me)
Not a real post - but a recommendation... Kevin Closson, former Performance Architect within Oracle's Exadata development organisation, has (finally!) written a blog post about the new Exadata X3 model with it's claimed "Database In-Memory" marketing title. For the history of Exadata click here. But more importantly, for the insider view, click here: Oracle Exadata … Continue reading More on Exadata X3 “Database In-Memory” (but not by me)
SLOB using Violin 6616 on Fujitsu Servers
I've been too busy to blog recently, which is frustrating because I want to talk more about subjects that are important to me such as Database Virtualization and the great hype around In Memory Databases. However, in the meantime I'd like to share some results from running SLOB (the Silly Little Oracle Benchmark) on Violin … Continue reading SLOB using Violin 6616 on Fujitsu Servers
In Memory Databases: HANA, Exadata X3 and Flash Memory (Part 2)
In the first part of this blog series on In Memory Databases (IMDBs) I talked about the definition of "memory" and found it surprisingly hard to pin down. There was no doubt that Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), such as that found in most modern computers, fell into the category of memory whilst disk clearly … Continue reading In Memory Databases: HANA, Exadata X3 and Flash Memory (Part 2)
Thoughts on In Memory Databases (Part 1)
Everyone is talking about In Memory at the moment. On blogs, in tweets, in the press, in the Oracle marketing department, in books by SAP employees, even my Violin colleagues... it's everywhere. What can I possibly add that will be of any value? Well, how about owning up to something: I find myself in a bit … Continue reading Thoughts on In Memory Databases (Part 1)
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