1. Hitting the SQL Server “Go Faster” Button
Rob Douglas
#479 SQL Saturday South Island

2. Sponsors Please make sure you visit our fantastic sponsors:
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

3. Robert Douglas Consultant for SQL Services Limited
BA(hons),MCTS, MCITP(2005/2008), MCSA(2012)
Consultant for SQL Services Limited
Christchurch\Nelson SQL Server Users Group
Passionate about Data
(Are you impressed?)
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

4. Robert Douglas Consultant for SQL Services Limited
BA(hons),MCTS, MCITP(2005/2008), MCSA(2012)
Consultant for SQL Services Limited
Christchurch\Nelson SQL Server Users Group
Passionate about Data Doing a Good Job
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

5. The SQL Server “Go Faster” Button
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

6. The SQL Server “Go Faster” Button
There isn’t one. But….
There are a lot of knobs and switches that, when used appropriately, can make a huge difference!
Today we will focus on low effort, high return.
Individual query tuning is very resource intensive.
Many consolidated databases on one server.
3rd party products and can’t directly adjust queries.
Prioritizing your time to the best return for the business.
Takeaways – a list of options you can apply to your own systems.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

7. The SQL Server “Go Faster” Button
There isn’t one. But….
There are a lot of knobs and switches that, when used appropriately, can make a huge difference!
Today we will focus on low effort, high return.
Individual query tuning is very resource intensive.
Many consolidated databases on one server.
3rd party products and can’t directly adjust queries.
Prioritizing your time to the best return for the business.
Takeaways – a list of options you can (test and then)apply to your own systems.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

8. Where Can We Get Gains? Hardware Windows Configuration
Instance and Database Settings
Maintenance
Non-Code Changes.
Run This: SQL Best Practices Analyzer
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

9. Hardware

10. Hardware It’s not cheating! Memory IO CPU
In fact often it is the best return on investment you can get.
Memory IO
CPU
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

11. Memory Set Maximum Server Memory appropriately Lock Pages in Memory
Ignore the (Very Old) pagefile = 1.5 x RAM recommendation.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

12. IO (Not disk) Faster the better
64K Block Size and Disk Partition Alignment
Dedicated drive
Degree of Isolation.
Remove IO bottleneck by decreasing load or increasing capacity.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

13. CPU Cost Implications for Licensing Be Aware of Your Edition Limits
Some SQL Server Level Settings which effect this.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

14. Network

15. Server Level

16. Windows Level Power Saving Settings Lock Pages in Memory
Bios and Windows Level
Lock Pages in Memory
Instant File Initialization(Perform Volume Maintenance Tasks)
Data File Only
Small Security Risk(But not really)
Dedicate the Windows Server to SQL Server.
Exclude SQL from applications using filter drivers(Such as Anti-Virus).
Try and keep windows patches up to date.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

17. Virtual Machines Can perform (nearly) as well as a physical machine.
VM Memory to avoid ballooning
Don’t overcommit resources
Understand when and where the Virtual Machine can be moved.
Understand what that means for licensing!
Method of disk provisioning.
Power Savings counts here too!
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

18. SQL Server Level Settings
Optimize for Ad Hoc Workloads
Compression
Backup Compression
Page or Row Compression
Maximum Degree of Parallelism
Cost Threshold of Parallelism.
Trace Flags
1117,1118,3226,2371,4199,
1117 – grow files equally
1118 – mixed extents
3226 – remove backup success messages,
2371 – changes auto-update-stats thresholds. FROM the size of table.
4199 – Turn on query optimizer changes by default.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

19. Database Level

20. Database Settings Data and Log File Sizing Transaction Isolation Level
Autogrow should be a failsafe, but scope it accordingly.
Avoid AutoShrink, and manual shrink unless you will never grow it again.
VLF’s
Find them with DBCC Loginfo
2014 does it better.
Transaction Isolation Level
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

21. TempDB Settings Multiple Data Files to avoid Contention
Presize and keep all files the same size.
Review the filesize, particularly if you change your usage pattern.
TraceFlags that can help:
T1117 for equal file growth.
T1118 for allocation of mixed extents.
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

22. Ongoing Maintenance

23. Indexes and Maintenance
Indexes can make a significant effect on individual queries
They come at a cost – slower writes
Apply the common sense filter to ‘missing index’ recommendations.
Fill Factor
Maintenance
Rebuild or Re-Organize
Update Statistics
Backups
What and how often?
And who?
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016

24. Questions Please make sure you visit our fantastic sponsors:
SQL SATURDAY | #479 | South Island 2016