An optimal hardware configuration enables applications
to get the greatest benefit from performance tuning. The hardware
speed impacts all types of applications and is critical to overall
performance.
About this task
For proper system sizing for WebSphere® Application Server
workloads, use the IBM® Systems
Workload Estimator.
You can check hardware configuration
and settings such as disk speed, system memory and processor speed
to gain performance benefits.
Procedure
Use the following considerations for selecting and configuring
the hardware on which the application servers run:- Optimize disk speed
- Description: Disk speed and the number of disk arms have a significant
effect on application server performance in the following cases:
- Your application is heavily dependent on database support .
- Your application uses messaging extensively.
- Recommendation: Use disk I/O subsystems that are optimized for
performance, for example, Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID).
Distribute the disk processing across as many disks as possible to
avoid contention issues that occur with 1 or 2 disk systems. For more
information about disk arms and how they can affect performance, see
the iSeries® Disk Arm Requirements documentation.
- Increase processor speed and processor cache
Description: In
the absence of other bottlenecks, increasing the processing power
can improve throughput, response times, or both. On WebSphere Application Server for IBM i, processing power can be related
to the Commercial Processing Workload (CPW) value of the system. For
more information about CPW values, see the Performance Management website.
- Increase system memory
- Description: If a large number of page faults occur, performing
the following tasks to improve performance:
- Increase the memory available to WebSphere Application Server.
- Move WebSphere Application
Server to another memory pool.
- Remove jobs from the WebSphere Application
Server memory pool
- Recommendation: To determine the current page fault level, run
the Work with System Status (WRKSYSSTS) command from an IBM i command line. For information about the
minimum memory requirements, see the IBM Support website.
- Increase system memory
- Description: If a large number of page faults occur, performing
the following tasks to improve performance:
- Increase the memory available to WebSphere Application Server.
- Move WebSphere Application
Server to another memory pool.
- Remove jobs from the WebSphere Application
Server memory pool
- Recommendation: To determine the current page fault level, run
the Work with System Status (WRKSYSSTS) command from an IBM i command line. For information about the
minimum memory requirements, see the IBM Support website.
- Run network cards and network switches at full duplex
- Description: Run network cards and network switches at full duplex
and use the highest supported speed. Full duplex is much faster than
half duplex. Verify that the network speed of adapters, cables, switches,
and other devices can accommodate the required throughput. Some websites
might require multiple gigabit links.
- Recommendation Make sure that the highest speed is in use on 10/100/1000
Ethernet networks.
Verify that the
activity levels for storage pools are sufficient - Description: Verify that the activity levels for storage pools
are sufficient. Increasing these values can prevent threads from transitioning
into the ineligible condition.
- Recommendation