BPA4DB2 - Buffer Pool Analyzer

Buffer pool tuning is a complex and repetitive task, often postponed until bottlenecks or serious problems arise.

BPA4DB2 automatically performs a Db2 health check. It accurately identifies tuning candidates, suggests corrective actions and maintains performance over time with proactive alerts. BPA4DB2 user-friendly interface offers expert system problem detection and problem resolution guidance. Its automated monitoring tools detect and issue proactive alerts for impending problems. It dramatically reduces the time that DBA has to spend for investigating buffer pool utilization.

Are there any problems with Db2 buffer pools? Is there tuning potential? Can changes improve overall performance? How much improvement can be expected? Is it possible to save CPU time?

BPA4DB2 suggests corrective actions and maintains Db2 performance over time. Optimal buffer pool tuning allows efficiently use of memory and reduces costly I/O and MIPS.

The strength of BPA4DB2 is based on three unique features:

• Automatic Problem Detection
• Problem Resolution Guidance
• Automatic Monitoring

Automatic Problem Detection

BPA4DB2 accurately identifies tuning candidates and suggests corrective actions. BPA4DB2 gathers and analyzes all metrics necessary to optimize group buffer pools, local buffer pools and other related objects.

BPA4DB2 user-friendly graphical interface guides the DBA through tuning cycle. Precise instructions are given to optimize size, threshold settings and buffer pools allocation. All suggested values are clearly presented using colour charts showing figures for reread, get pages, disks I/O, average I/O, etc.

The number and percentage of reread or rewrite are useful indicators showing buffer pools behaviour and avoidable disk access. For example, if there is no re-read, leave the buffer pool alone, but if the percentage of reread if greater than 10%, there is an opportunity to enhance performance.

 

BPA4DB2 recommends optimal buffer pool size and creates ALTER statements. I/O activity for each Db2 object is shown and analyzed in detail. Memory shortages in Db2 address space are identified and SQL statements causing poor Buffer Pool performance are outlined. BPA4DB2 analyzes and detects potential data-sharing group issues.

Problem Resolution Guidance

BPA4DB2 clearly identifies potential tuning opportunity and buffer pool related issues. Whether the issue resides with group buffer pools, local buffer pools or a particular object, BPA4DB2 provides the information required to solve the problem.

BPA4DB2 generates ALTER statements, offers buffer pool redesign strategies and suggests object grouping enhancements. It offers a wealth of buffer pool related details, reread, distinct get pages, I/O, average I/O, etc.

BPA4DB2 describes in plain English all feasible solutions to problems or tuning opportunities. E.g.: increase or decrease the pool size of BPxx to …, change this threshold to …, reassign these objects from BP0x to BP0y, etc.

BPA4DB2 offers the finest details granularity about buffer pools. Its greatest value lies in providing detailed guidance for problem resolution and tuning. DBA can now spend more time on analyzing and “what if” reasoning instead of plowing through volumes of raw data.

Automatic Monitoring

Manually monitoring multiple Db2 subsystems is complex and time consuming.

BPA4DB2 automatically maintains a permanent buffer pools operation status. It gathers all Db2 subsystems metrics and creates a file containing potential issues. For example:

• Reread Percentage (Performance Indicator)
• Sequential Pre-fetch Threshold (SPTH)
• Data Management Threshold (DMTH)
• z/OS System Paging Rate
• Data Sharing Groups
• Cross Invalidation (XMIDIR)
• SCA Fill Level
• Write Failures

Whenever BPA4DB2 determines that Db2 is not conforming to prescribed quality criteria, an email alert will be sent to the database administration team.

Using the full analytical power of the BPA4DB2 application, the DBA can immediately visualize problematic data. Problems are described and explained in detail along with best practice suggestions. The bottom line is BPA4DB2 provides what DBAs require.

Features

BPA4DB2 is designed to simplify buffer pool monitoring and tuning activities. It helps turn an occasional project into an efficient ongoing task.

• Automated problem detection
• Clear identification of tuning opportunities
• Recommend tuning measures
• Db2 monitoring and email alerts
• Graphical workstation with expert analysis
• Visual presentation of metrics analysis
• ALTER statement generation
• Automated auditing of any number of Db2 subsystems at a time

Benefits

BPA4DB2 improves Db2 performance while lowering the operation costs. BPA4DB2 provides clear and simple information allowing DBA to optimize buffer pools in just a few minutes.

Efficient buffer pool tuning improves performance and saves mainframe resources.

• Improve overall Db2 subsystems performance
• Prevent bottlenecks
• Eliminate unnecessary and expensive I/O
• Avoid memory waste Increase system availability
• Use IT resources more efficiently
• Reduce operation costs
• Improve end user satisfaction

Contact us

For more information on BPA4DB2, please fill our contact form or send us an email.