System and method for configuring a server computer for optimal performance for a particular server type

Abstract

A technique for configuring a server computer using an optimizer program to achieve optimal performance of the server based on the server types supported by the server. Configuration may involve both calculating server configuration parameters and deciding where to place various files used by the server. In order to decide where to place files, the hardware and software characteristics of the server disk drives are analyzed, and a performance table is generated. The disk drive performance data is then input into a series of algorithms of varying complexity to determine the drives where database files should be stored. Information regarding server utilization, the number of host users and the number of users in the organization is received from an administrator. The administrator input is used to calculate configuration parameters. The optimizer program may automatically adjust a plurality of registry parameters, and may automatically move one or more database and log files to the appropriate disk drives. Alternately, the administrator may be prompted to authorize the changes. The optimizer program may also save the changed parameters and locations to a registry log file.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a client server environment where a server computer may be configured to act as any of a plurality of server types, and where the performance of the server computer when acting as any of the server types is determined by various server configuration parameters that can be adjusted to optimize operation for a given server type, a method for configuring the server computer including (1) automatically calculating configuration parameters that are optimized to the specific server types supported by the server computer to improve performance over using a default set of configuration parameters for all server types and (2) placing files used by the server computer on disks that will further increase overall server performance, the method comprising the steps of:

querying an administrator for server data, comprising any of the number of users that are expected to be connected to the server, the number of users in the entire organization, the amount of memory specifically allocated for server use, and the particular server types that are to be supported by the server;

determining from said server data provided by the administrator and from hardware information obtained directly from the server various server configuration parameters that can be adjusted to optimize operation for the particular server types that are to be supported by the server by performing at least the steps of:

calculating a total number of database buffers to be used by at least one software component on the server: and

calculating a number of execution threads that can be simultaneously executed by at least one software component on the server;

testing the read and write performance of a plurality of disk drives in order to determine the disk drives that are best suited to store various files used by the server in supporting the server types designated by said administrator;

determining the capacities of the disk drives: and

assigning the server files to specific disk drives based on the results of the read and write performance testing, the storage capacities of the disk drives, and the amount of memory in the server.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of saving the server configuration parameters and file locations in a server registry database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

creating an optimizer log file; and

recording changes made to the server configuration parameters and to the server database and log file locations in the optimizer log file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining server configuration parameters comprises the step of choosing certain preset parameters based on whether the computer is configured as a single server or a multi-server.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining server parameters comprises the steps of:

calculating the total number of buffers required by at least two server database engines: and

allocating the buffers between the database engines.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of calculating the total number of buffers comprises the steps of:

determining a RAM value in kilobytes corresponding to the amount of available random-access memory in the server;

determining the number of users hosted by the server; and

using the RAM value and the number of users to determine the total number of buffers required by the server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the amount of RAM is adjusted depending on the role of the server.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the allocating step comprises the steps of:

determining the role of the server: and

dividing the buffers between the database engines according to an algorithm.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein a directory service database engine is limited to a maximum amount of buffers depending on the number of users in the organization.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the assigning step further comprises the step of prompting the administrator to authorize the file assignments and the calculated parameters.

11. In a client server environment where a server computer may be configured to act as any of a plurality of server types, and where the performance of the server computer when acting as any of the server types is determined by various server configuration parameters that can he adjusted to optimize operation for a given server type, a computer program product for configuring the server computer including (1) automatically calculating configuration parameters that are optimized to the specific server types supported by the server computer and (2) placing files used by the server computer on disks that will further increase overall server performance comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions embodied thereon comprising:

means for querying an administrator for server data comprising any of the number of users that are expected to be connected to the server the number of users in the organization, the amount of memory allocated for server use and the particular server types that are to be supported by the server;

means for determining from at least said server data provided by the administrator various server configuration parameters that can be adjusted to optimize operation for the particular server types that are to he supported by the server comprising:

means for calculating a total number of database buffers to be used by at least one software component on the server; and

means for calculating a number of execution threads that can be simultaneously executed by at least one software component on the server;

means for testing the read and write performance of a plurality of disk drives in order to determine the disk drives that are best suited to store various files used by the server in supporting the server types designated by the administrator;

means for determining the capacities the disk drives; and

means for assigning the server files to specific disk drives based on the results of the read and write performance testing and storage capacities of the disk drives.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising means for saving the server configuration parameters and file locations in a server registry database.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising:

means for creating an optimizer log file; and

means for recording changes made to the server configuration parameters and to the server database and log file locations in the optimizer log file.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the means for determining server configuration parameters comprises means for choosing certain preset parameters based on whether the computer is configured as a single server or a multi-server.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the means for determining server configuration parameters comprises:

means for calculating the total number of buffers required by at least two server database engines: and

means for allocating the buffers between the database engines.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the means for calculating the numbers of buffers comprises:

means for determining a RAM value in kilobytes corresponding to the amount of available random-access memory in the server;

means for determining the number of users hosted by the server; and

means for using the RAM value and the number of users to determine the total number of buffers required by the server.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the amount of RAM is adjusted depending on the role of the server.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the means for allocating buffers comprises:

means for determining the role of the server; and

means for dividing the buffers between the database engines according to an algorithm.

19. The computer program product or claim 15, wherein a directory service database engine is limited to a maximum amount of buffers depending on the number of users in the organization.

20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the means for assigning further comprises means for prompting the administrator to authorize the file assignments and the calculated parameters.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to optimizing the performance of a server computer.

A client/server environment includes a combination of a client, or front end portion that interacts with a user, and a server, or back end portion that interacts with shared resources. A client program typically sends a message to a server program requesting the server to perform a task. The server program fulfills the request by retrieving database files, updating database files and/or otherwise responding to the client request. A process is an application that may be run by the server for a client, such as a word processing program or a spreadsheet program. A thread is a sub-component of execution within a process which permits multi-tasking within an application. For example, in a word processing program a user may be typing in one thread and running a spell check in another thread.

The server program may reside and execute on a separate machine in a network. For example, if the server computer is the host operating system or network file server, then it provides file system services and application services for many users. Further, the server computer may manage shared resources such as databases, printers or communication links.

Server programs run on a hardware platform appropriate for its function. For example, a database management system server will run on a platform specially designed and configured to perform queries, whereas a file server will run on a platform with special elements for managing files.

Typically, when a computer is initialized as a server machine, default values for certain software parameters are loaded, and database files and log files are assigned to the disk drives. However, client/server networks, and the roles the servers play in them, have become increasingly complicated. For example, in a client/server messaging system, a computer can be configured to perform as a private store server, public store server, connector/directory import server and/or a multi-server. A private store server stores user mailboxes. A public store server stores public folders and/or replicas of public folders stored on other servers. A connector or backbone server connects two or more servers together and merely permits messages to pass through. A computer configured as a multi-server connects to clients and to other servers.

Since each type of server configuration utilizes hardware and software resources in different ways, the default parameters and database file configurations that are loaded during set-up are almost certain to be inadequate. In many cases, use of the default values results in poor server performance, and in some cases results in a server that fails to function at all. Therefore, system administrators should specify the performance parameters based on the role that the server will play in the organization, and assign database files to specific drives based on the resources available in their computer. However, such adjustments require the system administrator to know how the performance parameters will be used, and their locations in the server. Further, in order to assign database files to disk drives, the number of database files, the number of disk drives, and knowledge of the disk drive read and write speeds is necessary. Furthermore, when assigning database files to disk drives, the system administrator must ensure that destination directories for storing database files are empty, and that unique directories have been specified for certain sets of files.

Although it is necessary to adjust parameters and to assign various database files and log files to disk drives to obtain optimal server performance, system administrators often cannot do so because of the complex nature and increased number of server hardware and software considerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a simple, central tool for a system administrator to use to improve the performance of a computer to be used as a server. One or more disk drives are tested to determine their performance characteristics. In addition, the capacity of the disk drives are determined. Lastly, server files are assigned to specific disk drives based on the tests and the capacities of the drives to enable improved disk drive performance.

Implementations of the technique may include one or more of the following features. The disk drives may be tested substantially simultaneously for sequential write and random-access read and write performance and scored in order of their performance. To perform the testing, a random-access test file may be created, then the random-access test run imitating the database engine, and the average random-access time determined for each disk drive. A sequential test file may also be created, then a sequential test run imitating the database engine, and the average sequential access time determined for each disk drive. The score for a disk drive may be penalized if it contains paging files or is too full, or may be granted a bonus if certain files already reside there. A public store database file, private store database file, information store log files, directory service log files, message transfer agent log files and a directory service database file may be assigned to disk drives depending on the score results and the capacity of the disk drives. An administrator may be prompted to authorize the assignments. In order to store the message transfer agent log files and directory service database file, the program may determine how many drives are available after all of the other files have been assigned, test the remaining drives and assign these files based on the test results. An internet mail connector file may be stored on the same drive as the message transfer agent log files. Lastly, each of the assigned file locations may be saved in a server registry database.

In another aspect, the invention is a technique for improving the performance of a server by automatically calculating server parameters based on the input from an administrator, and assigning server files to disk drives. The disk drives are tested for performance characteristics and storage capacity before files are assigned.

Implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the following features. Server parameters may be set based on calculations. Server data may include the number of users in the organization and the amount of random-access memory available in the server. The server parameter values and file locations may be saved in a server registry database. An optimizer log file may be created and changes made to the server parameters and to the file locations may be recorded there. The server parameter values may be chosen depending on whether the computer is configured as a single server or a multi-server. The total number of buffers required by at least two database engines may be calculated and then allocated between them. The number of buffers may be determined based upon the amount of RAM available and the number of users hosted by the server. The amount of RAM available in the server may be adjusted depending on the role of the server. The buffers may be allocated depending on the role of the server and divided between database engines according to an algorithm. A directory service database engine may be limited to a maximum amount of buffers depending on the number of users in the organization. An administrator may be prompted to authorize the file assignments and calculated parameters before the server characteristics are changed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a server to illustrate the components of the server;

FIG. 2 is a simplified optimizer menu containing server questions displayed for the administrator;

FIG. 3A is a table illustrating the settings for MDB minimum and maximum threads and DSA maximum threads;

FIG. 3B is a table illustrating the various MTA parameters;

FIG. 3C is a table illustrating the various MDB and DSA parameters;

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved to assign files to server disk drives;

FIG. 4B is another flowchart illustrating the steps involved to assign other files to server disk drives;

FIG. 5A is a simplified optimizer menu displaying disk drive assignment results; and

FIG. 5B is an example of a warning message displayed when a problem arises with a disk drive assignment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a server 1 that contains a Directory Service (DSA) component 2, a Message Transfer Agent (MTA) component 4, and a Message Database (MDB) component 6. The DSA contains the address book of users for sending mail, and the MTA sends the mail to its destination. The MDB communicates with a plurality of users or clients 10. The DSA and MDB components contain database engines 37 having associated parameters that can be adjusted to increase the performance of the server. Each database engine also reads and writes to various files stored on drives in the server. The MDB has a cache, or random access memory buffer 8, that stores message information that may be accessed by a user. The DSA may also have an associated random access memory buffer 5. In addition, the DSA, MTA and MDB components each have associated performance parameters that are adjustable, and that should be set to certain values depending on the role the server is to play in the system.

After server software has been installed on the server, the system administrator is prompted to run the performance optimizer program. At this time, the DSA, MTA and MDB services are running with their default or unoptimized parameters. When the administrator indicates that the optimizer should execute, the optimizer program shuts down each of the services. A menu containing questions concerning the server is then displayed.

FIG. 2 is an example of a simplified optimizer menu 20 displayed on a screen for the system administrator. The optimizer menu 20 contains a series of questions for the administrator to answer regarding the role the server will play in the organization, the number of users that will be serviced, and the amount of RAM she wishes to reserve. In particular, in box 22 the administrator is asked to select the number of users expected to be logged onto the system concurrently. Next, in box 24 the administrator is queried concerning the role of the server, and may select one or more of the following four choices: private store server, public store server, connector server and multi-server. In box 26, the number of users expected to be serviced in the organization, or the number of users expected to appear in a global address book on the server should be entered. Lastly, the system administrator is asked in box 28 to reserve an amount of random access memory (RAM) for the exclusive use of the server. This value should be 24 megabytes (MB) of RAM or more. If this option is set to 0 MB, then the optimizer program is authorized to allocate all of the available RAM on the server for use by the server components.

The performance optimizer uses the data entered by the administrator as input to a plurality of calculation algorithms. The calculation algorithms utilize the data to suggest parameter settings for the DSA, MTA and MDB components to achieve optimal server performance. The critical parameters for each of these components are calculated based on the amount of physical memory available, the number of processors, and the feedback from the administrator. It should be noted that, if the role of the server changes, or if the administrator decides to add users to the server, then the optimizer program can be re-run to recalculate the affected parameters.

Setting the correct number of database engine buffers used by the MDB (private and public) and the DSA is crucial to getting the best performance from the server. For example, if the server will be used as a mail connector (commonly known as a backbone server), then the MTA will serve only as a transfer point for mail. Backbone servers do not store any messages, and thus to achieve optimal performance the size of the MDB buffer should be small. However, if the server will be used as a public mail server, then the size of the MDB buffer should be set adequately large to accommodate the number of users on the system. An MDB buffer that is too large or too small will result in poor server performance, and therefore it is critical to set the correct buffer size. Using the answer given by the administrator in box 28 of FIG. 2, the following "Table I" is used as a basis to determine the total number of database engine buffers required:

                  TABLE I
    ______________________________________
    Row     MB of physical RAM
                          No. of base total buffers
    ______________________________________
    0       16 or less     250
    1       17-24          700
    2       25-32         1000
    3       33-48         2500
    4       49-64         5000
    5       65 and over   **see below
    ______________________________________

                  TABLE II
    ______________________________________
               Percentage of buffers
                               Percentage of buffers
    Type of Server
               allocated to the MDB
                               allocated to the DSA
    ______________________________________
    Private    80%             20%
    Public Only
               85%             15%
    Backbone   20%             80%
    Gateway    70%             30%
    ______________________________________

                  TABLE III
    ______________________________________
    No. of Users in Organization
                      Maximum No. of DSA Buffers
    ______________________________________
    up to 100         100
    1,000             1000
    10,000            10000
    100,000           100000
    More than 100,000 No Maximum
    ______________________________________

                  TABLE IV
    ______________________________________
    Drive       Random-Access
                            Sequential
    ______________________________________
    C:          3000        5000
    D:          7000        5100
    E:          5500        8000
    F:          6900        7700
    ______________________________________

• Inventors
  Chen, John Yun-Kuang; Lockard, Eric N.; Shakib, Darren A.; Weisman, Daniel R.;
• Assignee
  Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
• Published
  Oct-6-1998
• Current US Classes:
  707/205
  709/220
  709/226
  711/170
  711/173
• Application #
  674891
• International Classes
  G06F 015/177
• Field of Search
  707/205 711/170 711/173 395/876 395/200.5 395/200.56
• Examiner
  Kim; Kenneth S.
• Agent
  Workman Nydegger Seeley
• US Patent References:
  5210860
  5218699
  5247676
  5283856
  5333311
  5423046
  5537542
  5640595
  5666538