RE: db_file_multiblock_read_count parameter

Hi Alex,

That's not true at all. Even before Solaris 7 it makes sense to use large I/O's if you have a reasonably large disk farm.

In full table scan testing we've done internally, we can get more than twice as much performance with exactly the same database using an appropriate multi-block read count to create 1M I/O's instead of 64K. This will use less total CPU, especially less system time.

The reason for this is that the number of necessary system calls is decreased. Even if the physical I/O stays at 64K or 128K, which is often the case if you use a volume manager like VxVM, since the application just has to issue a single read across the user/kernel interface, the efficiency is much higher. This single system call can then be handled by the kernel to issue the necessary I/O's in batches that do not require any further context switches.

Also, the max I/O size in Solaris from at least 2.6 on is controlled by the parameter in /etc/system called "maxphys". I believe the default in 2.6 is 126976 which is nearly 128K. Increasing it can be useful in some circumstances, especially when you have connected hardware RAID devices that have a logical unit made of several physical disks look like a single disk to the operating system. I've personally tested values as high as 4M, but individual results may vary.

As always, YMMV. Since the db_file_multiblock_read_count parameter is dynamic, I'd recommend testing various values to see what's best for your database.

Dave Miller
Sun Microsystems, Inc.

>Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 17:19:29 -0800
>To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L <ORACLE-L_at_fatcity.com>
>X-Comment: Oracle RDBMS Community Forum
>X-Sender: Alex Hillman <alex_hillman_at_physia.com>
>From: Alex Hillman <alex_hillman_at_physia.com>
>Subject: RE: db_file_multiblock_read_count parameter
>X-ListServer: v1.0f, build 69; ListGuru (c) 1996-2000 Bruce A. Bergman
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>
>There is no sense to make this parameter more then max IO size for OS. For
>solaris before 2.7 it is 64K, after that it is configurable in /etc/system.
>Do not remember what is maximum, but not less then 128K.
>
>Alex Hillman
>
>-----Original Message-----
>Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 7:36 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
>
>
>Prasada,
>
>It is a dynamic parameter that can be modified using an "alter
>system" or an "alter session" as the case may be.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Gaja.
>
>--- Prasada R Gunda <Prasada.Gunda1_at_hartfordlife.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> We are using ETL(extraction,transformation and loading) tool
>> to load data from
>> source databases to warehouse database.
>> This tool allows us to write custom sql and does not allow DDL
>> statements.
>>
>> I am using full table scan on some of the tables in some sql
>> quries. I would
>> like to increase the value of db_file_multiblock_read_count
>> when I do FTS.
>>
>> Is there any way I could increase the
>> db_file_multiblock_read_count value other
>> than changing it in init.ora file.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your help.
>>
>> Regards,
>> Prasad
>>
>>
>> --
>> Author: Prasada R Gunda
>> INET: Prasada.Gunda1_at_hartfordlife.com
>>
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>=====
>Gaja Krishna Vaidyanatha
>Director, I-O Management Products
>Quest Software Inc.
>(972)-304-1170
>gajav_at_yahoo.com
>
>"Opinions and views expressed are my own and not of Quest"
>
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Received on Thu Jul 13 2000 - 10:38:07 CDT