Chapter Ten Performance Tuning

Objectives Create a performance baseline Create a performance baseline Understand the performance and monitoring tools found in Windows XP Professional Understand the performance and monitoring tools found in Windows XP Professional Create a counter log for historical analysis Create a counter log for historical analysis Create Alert events to warn of performance problems Create Alert events to warn of performance problems Detect and eliminate bottlenecks Detect and eliminate bottlenecks

Establishing a Baseline Baseline Baseline Definition of what a normal load looks like on a computer system Definition of what a normal load looks like on a computer system In object-oriented parlance, objects have properties In object-oriented parlance, objects have properties In Windows operating systems, some of these properties are called counters because they count, average, or otherwise monitor specific events, activities, or behavior of the objects with which they’re associated In Windows operating systems, some of these properties are called counters because they count, average, or otherwise monitor specific events, activities, or behavior of the objects with which they’re associated

Monitor and Performance Tuning When it comes to system analysis, there are two primary activities involved in tackling performance-related issues: When it comes to system analysis, there are two primary activities involved in tackling performance-related issues: Monitoring Monitoring Requires a thorough understanding of system components, their behavior, and how they interact Requires a thorough understanding of system components, their behavior, and how they interact Performance tuning Performance tuning Consists of changing a system’s configuration systematically and carefully observing performance before and after such changes Consists of changing a system’s configuration systematically and carefully observing performance before and after such changes

Task Manager Figure 10-1: Task Manager, Applications tab

Task Manager Process Process An environment that defines the resources available to threads An environment that defines the resources available to threads Thread Thread Minimum unit of system execution and corresponds roughly to a task within an application Minimum unit of system execution and corresponds roughly to a task within an application Handle Handle Indicates an internal identifier for some kind of system resource, object, or other component that must be accessed by name (or through a pointer) Indicates an internal identifier for some kind of system resource, object, or other component that must be accessed by name (or through a pointer)

Task Manager Figure 10-2: Task Manager, Performance tab

Task Manager Figure 10-3: Task Manager, Networking tab

Task Manager Figure 10-4: Task Manager, Users tab

System Monitor System Monitor System Monitor Utility that tracks registered system or application objects, where each such object has one or more counters that can be tracked for information about system behavior Utility that tracks registered system or application objects, where each such object has one or more counters that can be tracked for information about system behavior A graphical tool that can monitor different events concurrently A graphical tool that can monitor different events concurrently

System Monitor Figure 10-5: System Monitor displays memory pages accessed, disk queue length, and CPU utilization by default

Realtime Monitoring Realtime monitoring is the process of viewing the measured data from one or more counters in the System Monitor display area Realtime monitoring is the process of viewing the measured data from one or more counters in the System Monitor display area System Monitor can display realtime and logged data in one of three formats: System Monitor can display realtime and logged data in one of three formats: Graph Graph Histogram (thermometer bars) Histogram (thermometer bars) Report (text-based values) Report (text-based values)

Realtime Monitoring Figure 10-6: Add Counters dialog box

Realtime Monitoring Figure 10-7: The Explain Text window provides additional information about the counter selected in the Add Counters dialog box

Realtime Monitoring Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing: Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing: LogicalDisk: Current Disk Queue Length LogicalDisk: Current Disk Queue Length LogicalDisk: %Disk Time LogicalDisk: %Disk Time LogicalDisk: Disk Bytes/Transfer LogicalDisk: Disk Bytes/Transfer Memory Available Bytes Memory Available Bytes Memory: Cache Faults/sec Memory: Cache Faults/sec

Realtime Monitoring Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing (cont.): Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing (cont.): Memory: Page Faults/sec Memory: Page Faults/sec Memory: Pages/sec Memory: Pages/sec Network Interface: Bytes Total/sec Network Interface: Bytes Total/sec Network Interface: Current Bandwidth Network Interface: Current Bandwidth

Realtime Monitoring Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing (cont.): Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing (cont.): Network Interface: Output Queue Length Network Interface: Output Queue Length Network Interface: Packets/sec Network Interface: Packets/sec PhysicalDisk: Current Disk Queue Length PhysicalDisk: Current Disk Queue Length PhysicalDisk: % Disk Time PhysicalDisk: % Disk Time

Realtime Monitoring Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing (cont.): Performance object and counter pairs worth memorizing (cont.): PhysicalDisk: Avg. # Disk Bytes/Transfer PhysicalDisk: Avg. # Disk Bytes/Transfer Processor: % Processor Time Processor: % Processor Time Processor: Interrupts/sec Processor: Interrupts/sec System: Processor Queue Length System: Processor Queue Length

Realtime Monitoring Figure 10-8: System Monitor Properties, General tab

Realtime Monitoring Figure 10-9: System Monitor Properties, Source tab

Logging and Using Logged Activity Counter log Counter log Records measurements on selected counters at regular, defined intervals Records measurements on selected counters at regular, defined intervals Allows you to define exactly which counters are recorded Allows you to define exactly which counters are recorded Trace log Trace log Records data only when certain events occur Records data only when certain events occur Record nonconfigurable data from a designated provider when an event occurs Record nonconfigurable data from a designated provider when an event occurs

Logging and Using Logged Activity Figure 10-10: The Counter Logs node in the Performance tool is where you configure and access Counter log files

Alerts Automated watchdog that informs you when a counter crosses a defined threshold, high or low Automated watchdog that informs you when a counter crosses a defined threshold, high or low Figure 10-11: Setting a CPU threshold alert

Alerts Figure 10-12: The Action tab controls actions taken for Alert objects when thresholds are passed, or specific events occur

Event Viewer Tracks all events generated by the operating system as well as security and application events Tracks all events generated by the operating system as well as security and application events Figure 10-13: Event Viewer, displaying a typical System log

Event Viewer Figure 10-14: System Properties, General tab

Performance Options Figure 10-15: The Performance Options dialog box (Advanced tab) offers controls for Processor scheduling, Memory usage, and Virtual memory

Performance Options Windows XP Professional uses 32 levels of application priority, numbered 0 (zero) to 31, to determine which process should gain access to the CPU at any given moment Windows XP Professional uses 32 levels of application priority, numbered 0 (zero) to 31, to determine which process should gain access to the CPU at any given moment There are two techniques available to users and administrators to manipulate process priorities: There are two techniques available to users and administrators to manipulate process priorities: Manage already running processes using Task Manager Manage already running processes using Task Manager Use the Start command to launch processes with specific priority settings Use the Start command to launch processes with specific priority settings

Performance Tuning in the System Applet Figures and 10-17: The System Applet’s performance controls include Visual Effects and Advanced tabs, respectively

Performance Tuning in the System Applet Figure 10-18: A Windows XP Professional default setup

Recognizing and Handling Bottlenecks Bottleneck Bottleneck System resource or device that limits a system’s performance System resource or device that limits a system’s performance Ideally, the user should be the bottleneck on a system, not any hardware or software components Ideally, the user should be the bottleneck on a system, not any hardware or software components There is no single bottleneck monitor that can easily identify all possible problems There is no single bottleneck monitor that can easily identify all possible problems

Recognizing and Handling Bottlenecks Steps involved with finding and fixing computer system bottlenecks: Steps involved with finding and fixing computer system bottlenecks: Create a baseline Create a baseline Compare baseline observations to current system behavior Compare baseline observations to current system behavior Investigate the more common causes of system problems Investigate the more common causes of system problems

Recognizing and Handling Bottlenecks Steps involved with finding and fixing computer system bottlenecks (cont.): Steps involved with finding and fixing computer system bottlenecks (cont.): If the list of “the usual suspects” does not produce an obvious culprit, further analysis is required If the list of “the usual suspects” does not produce an obvious culprit, further analysis is required Once a potential bottleneck is identified, you make changes to the system configuration to correct the situation Once a potential bottleneck is identified, you make changes to the system configuration to correct the situation Always test the impact of any fix you try Always test the impact of any fix you try

Common Bottlenecks Disk bottlenecks Disk bottlenecks Caused by a limitation in a computer’s disk subsystem Caused by a limitation in a computer’s disk subsystem Memory bottlenecks Memory bottlenecks Caused by a lack of available physical or virtual memory that results in system slowdown or an outright system crash Caused by a lack of available physical or virtual memory that results in system slowdown or an outright system crash

Common Bottlenecks Processor bottlenecks Processor bottlenecks Occurs when demands for CPU cycles from currently active processes and the operating system cannot be met Occurs when demands for CPU cycles from currently active processes and the operating system cannot be met Network bottlenecks Network bottlenecks Caused by excessive traffic on the network medium to which a computer is attached, or when the computer itself generates excessive amounts of such traffic Caused by excessive traffic on the network medium to which a computer is attached, or when the computer itself generates excessive amounts of such traffic

Eight Ways to Boost Windows XP Professional Performance Buy a faster machine Buy a faster machine Upgrade an existing machine Upgrade an existing machine Install a faster CPU Install a faster CPU Add more L2 cache Add more L2 cache

Eight Ways to Boost Windows XP Professional Performance Add more RAM Add more RAM Replace the disk subsystem Replace the disk subsystem Increase paging file size Increase paging file size Increase application priority Increase application priority

Optimizing Performance for Mobile Windows XP Users Steps to take in ensuring optimal performance: Steps to take in ensuring optimal performance: Make sure the network interface appears higher in the binding order than a modem or other slower link device Make sure the network interface appears higher in the binding order than a modem or other slower link device Make sure file synchronization settings for folder redirection and Offline Files do not require machines to synchronize when running in battery Make sure file synchronization settings for folder redirection and Offline Files do not require machines to synchronize when running in battery Make sure your mobile users understand how to use hibernate and standby modes on their battery-powered machines Make sure your mobile users understand how to use hibernate and standby modes on their battery-powered machines

Optimizing Performance for Mobile Windows XP Users Steps to take in ensuring optimal performance (cont.): Steps to take in ensuring optimal performance (cont.): Make sure that all Offline Files a user might need are copied to his or her machine before they leave the network environment Make sure that all Offline Files a user might need are copied to his or her machine before they leave the network environment Refresh rates also apply to Group Policy, which defaults to 90 minutes on Windows XP Refresh rates also apply to Group Policy, which defaults to 90 minutes on Windows XP For machines operating off-network, refresh rates should be extended to avoid unnecessary network access For machines operating off-network, refresh rates should be extended to avoid unnecessary network access

Chapter Summary Windows XP Professional provides a number of tools to monitor system performance Windows XP Professional provides a number of tools to monitor system performance You can use Task Manager to view applications, processes, and overall system performance, or to stop applications and processes You can use Task Manager to view applications, processes, and overall system performance, or to stop applications and processes The Performance console is an exceptionally useful collection of tools that includes System Monitor, log files, and alerts The Performance console is an exceptionally useful collection of tools that includes System Monitor, log files, and alerts

Chapter Summary The Event Viewer is a less dynamic but equally important tool that tracks logs generated by the system The Event Viewer is a less dynamic but equally important tool that tracks logs generated by the system Keep an eye on logs and performance counters to isolate any bottlenecks that occur in the system Keep an eye on logs and performance counters to isolate any bottlenecks that occur in the system Once a bottleneck is identified, take the steps necessary to remove it and get the system running more smoothly Once a bottleneck is identified, take the steps necessary to remove it and get the system running more smoothly