XIr2 Recommended Performance Tuning

Andy ErthalBI Practice Manager

Performance Tuning Defined

Performance tuning is the improvement of system performance.

The motivation for tuning can be real (it’s slow now) or anticipated (adding users).

As load increases, performance decreases. The ability to accept a higher load is called

scalability

Systematic Tuning

Systematic tuning follows these steps: Assess the problem and establish numeric values that

categorize acceptable behavior. Measure the performance of the system before

modification. Identify the part of the system that is critical for improving

the performance. This is called the bottleneck. Modify that part of the system to remove the bottleneck. Measure the performance of the system after

modification

Universe Design

A separate discussion on optimizing SQLFollow best practicesUse Indexes, aggregates, shortcuts, etc.

Apply row and time limits Train your users on not only how to build

reports, but how to use specific universes

Report Efficiency and Schedules

Verify reports are built according to best practices (you do have these?)Your BI Center of Excellence can help

Audit the system for report usage, etc. Can some reports be scheduled? Audit the report schedules

Database resources / data models

DB server percent utilization?What else is running on it?

Is the data model for OLTP or queries? Index’s? Extra summary tables Number of DB connections

Repository

Move the repository to a separate serverFor the DatabaseFor the File Store

Split Web and Application Servers

Are you running Tomcat standalone? If yes, then add an HTTP server. This lets the application server focus on what it

is good at, code translation, and lets the HTTP server handle HTML and image requests.

Put each on separate servers Turn off IIS if not in use.

Add another Tomcat instance

Add another Tomcat instanceFor failoverTo maximize server memory (Tomcat has a

max of 1024MB JVM)

Tomcat Settings

Parameter Recommended Settings

maxProcessors 150 - this value depends on the deployment size.

minProcessors 5

maxActiveSessions -1

minIdleSwap -1

URIEncoding UTF-8

useBodyEncodingForURI true (for double byte characters)

The Tomcat server.xml file allows you to configure Tomcat using a simple XML descriptor. This is usually locate din the conf directory. The following changes should be made.

Java Heap Memory

Maximum / Initial Heap Size Default is: Max - 64 MB / Initial - 64 MB Max: Raise this to 1024 MB – 2048 MB Initial: Raise this to 512 MB Example: -Xmx1024m

Server Mode Instructs the JVM to perform more extensive run-time

optimization. Example: -Xmx1024m -server

Closing Sessions with the Browser

When a user closes their browser while they have an active session, the session will remain active.

User setting in XIr2 to “Always log me off”Bypassed with SSONo global setting, but . . .

Performance Manager has a utility for thispmxir2_deployment_guide.pdf

Moving XSL transformation to IE

Available in IE 6 or higher Delegates XML to XSL

conversion to IE Lightens the load on the

server WebI Viewing

xir2_bip_deploy_en.pdf EPM

xir2_epm_setup_en.pdf

View the last scheduled instance

For a list of reports, the default is to open the document as it was last saved

Some users will open this, then refresh it You an change the default to open the

latest instance CMC -> Business Objects Enterprise

Applications -> InfoView

Sharing Data between reports

Only applies to Crystal Reports and DeskI Disabled by default Permits different users accessing the

same report object to use the same data when viewing or refreshing a report.

Reduces the number of database calls Reports generate faster

Performance Management Tracing

Tracing is turned on by default Not auditing

Low level debug activity Impacts performance

I recommend turning this off If used, monitor disk usage / space

Use Server Groups

Server groups can be used to direct report processing to a specific set of servers

Organizes servers into sub-groups that can be managed and used independently

Dedicate resources to a particular set of users and/or applications

Server Hardware

Upgrade you server hardware New box with faster CPU’s Increase the RAM (min 2 GB per CPU) Fast disks

Upgrade to SP2

Many buy fixes New features Improvements in the Import Wizard Improved DeskI to WebI conversion

Change the Server Defaults

What type of environment do you have? Disable Services that are not needed

DeskI or Crystal if not used Set server parameters

DeskI is set to 5 by default

Job Server Defaults

Job Servers kick off scheduled jobs The Reports Servers run the reports WebI, DeskI and Crystal each have their

own Job Server The default is set to five This can be increased in most

environments

Report Server Defaults

Report Servers run the jobs WebI, DeskI and Crystal each have their own

Report Server Maximum Simultaneous Report Jobs is the most

important parameter to set Different for each server and environment Capacity planning helps here One for each CPU

References

11 Years BOBJ Experience Deployment Guide Administration Guide Recommended Settings Guide

Questions?

Feel free to contact:

Andy Erthal

BI Practice Manager

Andy_Erthal@hotmail.com

(314) 409-4114