Server Sizing - CPU & Memory Usage


Server Sizing - CPU & Memory Usage

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Subject

Author

Date

Server Sizing - CPU & Memory Usage

Terrible Tom

12-13-2006

Re: Server Sizing - CPU & Memory Usage

Philip Gass

12-14-2006

Re: Server Sizing - CPU & Memory Usage

Jeff @ Check Po...

12-14-2006

Posted by Terrible Tom on December 13, 2006, 5:29 pm

Please log in for more thread options

Here's what I've got:

Dell PowerEdge SC1420
Xeon 3Ghz
1GB RAM (400MHz)
80GB C: drive (SATA, hardware mirroring)
SBS 2003 Premium
- not running MS Exchange
- DHCP/DNS for 12 clients.
- two print queues, both very lightly used
- folder redirection of My Documents folders for 9 users

Here's what I'm asking it to do (outside of the O/S based stuff above):
Host Store Ops database
- 2 lanes, occassionally as many as 6 concurrent SO Manager sessions.
Host HQ Database
- HQ Server for 4 stores
Connection Schedule:
- Store A (on same machine), every 3 minutes
- Store B, every 4 minutes
- Store C, every 5 minutes
- Store D, every 6 minutes
HQ Client for local Store Ops DB
Host private IM server
- Wildfire (CPU usage rarely over 1%, memory usage <10MB)
Automated daily backup to DVD using NTI Backup Now! 4

Here's how hard it works:
CPU usage
- rarely below 40%, often >90% when more than one store is connected
:shock:
Memory usage
- usually <200MB available

I'm running Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) LAN (3Com OfficeConnect switches) and
the server doesn't have to act as a router or firewall. My Network
Utilization is rarely over 1% at the server.

I plan to double the RAM to 2GB before the end of the week. It's cheap and
I am hoping it will help. SQL Server routinely uses >350MB (two processes,
one as Administrator [300MB] and another as SYSTEM [50MB]).

Question: Should I budget for a dedicated HQ server next year?

Is >90% CPU usage normal for this scenario? I didn't think I was asking all
that much of my hardware, but at times the response from the server is pretty
slow.

CPU usage *really* spikes when the HQ Client connects to HQ server on the
same machine.

I'd love to hear from anyone with similar usage and/or hardware.

Thanks,
Tom
--
Stop fishing for e-mail

Posted by Philip Gass on December 14, 2006, 4:47 am

Please log in for more thread options

I have a similar spec server, similar requirements. i had to go up to 4GB of
RAM before i got much of an improvement, SQL Server just seems to eat up as
much RAM as it can get hold of! I also found that if i restarted the server
it performed much better, so i have scheduled an event to restart it every
morning at 6am so its up and ready for the days trading by the time we open
our doors, its been much much better since..

> Here's what I've got:

> Dell PowerEdge SC1420

> Xeon 3Ghz

> 1GB RAM (400MHz)

> 80GB C: drive (SATA, hardware mirroring)

> SBS 2003 Premium

> - not running MS Exchange

> - DHCP/DNS for 12 clients.

> - two print queues, both very lightly used

> - folder redirection of My Documents folders for 9 users

> Here's what I'm asking it to do (outside of the O/S based stuff above):

> Host Store Ops database

> - 2 lanes, occassionally as many as 6 concurrent SO Manager sessions.

> Host HQ Database

> - HQ Server for 4 stores

> Connection Schedule:

> - Store A (on same machine), every 3 minutes

> - Store B, every 4 minutes

> - Store C, every 5 minutes

> - Store D, every 6 minutes

> HQ Client for local Store Ops DB

> Host private IM server

> - Wildfire (CPU usage rarely over 1%, memory usage <10MB)

> Automated daily backup to DVD using NTI Backup Now! 4

> Here's how hard it works:

> CPU usage

> - rarely below 40%, often >90% when more than one store is connected

> :shock:

> Memory usage

> - usually <200MB available

> I'm running Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) LAN (3Com OfficeConnect switches) and

> the server doesn't have to act as a router or firewall. My Network

> Utilization is rarely over 1% at the server.

> I plan to double the RAM to 2GB before the end of the week. It's cheap

> and

> I am hoping it will help. SQL Server routinely uses >350MB (two

> processes,

> one as Administrator [300MB] and another as SYSTEM [50MB]).

> Question: Should I budget for a dedicated HQ server next year?

> Is >90% CPU usage normal for this scenario? I didn't think I was asking

> all

> that much of my hardware, but at times the response from the server is

> pretty

> slow.

> CPU usage *really* spikes when the HQ Client connects to HQ server on the

> same machine.

> I'd love to hear from anyone with similar usage and/or hardware.

> Thanks,

> Tom

> --

> Stop fishing for e-mail

Posted by Jeff @ Check Point Software on December 14, 2006, 5:23 pm

Please log in for more thread options

: quoted-printable

Tom,

As Philip says, more RAM, I would do 4 gig minimum for your scenario and =
would push you towards 8. SBS with Exchange and SQL with 4 stores =
banging on it with 12 local clients? I'm kinda surprised it runs now =
;-)

Also look at changing to a big, removable hard drive backup instead of =
DVD. Something that backs up the entire system instead of just data. =
Just think of how many _hours_ it would take to re-create your server =
and all its settings, then install the programs, and finally restore the =
data, etc!! =20

Could be as little as an hour with the proper backup program and a hard =
drive system. We use and sell Norton's Ghost for small installs or =
Backup Exec System Recovery for SBS and larger.=20
http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/products/overview.jsp?pcid=3D1018&pvid=
=3D1603_1=20

Dedicated HQ server - how many new stores and/or clients are you going =
to add?

90% spike - I'll bet it pretty much stays there. ;-) Adding more RAM =
will help it quite a bit. Maybe dedicate 3-4 gig just to SQL and the =
rest to everything else.

--=20

Jeff=20
Check Point Software

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D

You must be using Outlook Express or some other type of newsgroup reader =
to
see and download the file attachment(s). If you are not using a reader, =
follow
the link below to setup Outlook Express. Click on "Open with =
newsreader"
under the MS Retail Management System on the right.

http://tinyurl.com/75bgz
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D

Here's what I've got:

Dell PowerEdge SC1420
Xeon 3Ghz
1GB RAM (400MHz)
80GB C: drive (SATA, hardware mirroring)
SBS 2003 Premium
- not running MS Exchange
- DHCP/DNS for 12 clients.
- two print queues, both very lightly used
- folder redirection of My Documents folders for 9 users

Here's what I'm asking it to do (outside of the O/S based stuff =
above):
Host Store Ops database
- 2 lanes, occassionally as many as 6 concurrent SO Manager sessions.
Host HQ Database
- HQ Server for 4 stores
Connection Schedule:
- Store A (on same machine), every 3 minutes
- Store B, every 4 minutes
- Store C, every 5 minutes
- Store D, every 6 minutes
HQ Client for local Store Ops DB
Host private IM server
- Wildfire (CPU usage rarely over 1%, memory usage <10MB)
Automated daily backup to DVD using NTI Backup Now! 4

Here's how hard it works:
CPU usage
- rarely below 40%, often >90% when more than one store is connected =
=20
:shock:
Memory usage
- usually <200MB available

I'm running Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) LAN (3Com OfficeConnect switches) =
and=20
the server doesn't have to act as a router or firewall. My Network=20
Utilization is rarely over 1% at the server.

I plan to double the RAM to 2GB before the end of the week. It's =
cheap and=20
I am hoping it will help. SQL Server routinely uses >350MB (two =
processes,=20
one as Administrator [300MB] and another as SYSTEM [50MB]).

Question: Should I budget for a dedicated HQ server next year?

Is >90% CPU usage normal for this scenario? I didn't think I was =
asking all=20
that much of my hardware, but at times the response from the server is =
pretty=20
slow.

CPU usage *really* spikes when the HQ Client connects to HQ server on =
the=20
same machine.

I'd love to hear from anyone with similar usage and/or hardware.

Thanks,
Tom
--=20
Stop fishing for e-mail
------=_NextPart_000_0542_01C71F8B.64A923B0
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<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Tom,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>As Philip says, more RAM, I would do 4 gig =
minimum for=20
your scenario and would push you towards 8.  SBS with Exchange and =
SQL with=20
4 stores banging on it with 12 local clients?   I'm kinda =

surprised it runs now ;-)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Also look at changing to a big, removable =
hard drive=20
backup instead of DVD.  Something that backs up the entire system =
instead=20
of just data.  Just think of how many _hours_ it would take to =
re-create=20
your server and all its settings, then install the programs, and finally =
restore=20
the data, etc!!  </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Could be as little as an hour with the proper =
backup=20
program and a hard drive system.  We use and sell Norton's Ghost =
for small=20
installs or Backup Exec System Recovery for SBS and larger. =
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000><A=20
href=3D"http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/products/overview.jsp?pcid=3D1=
018&pvid=3D1603_1">http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/products/overvi=
ew.jsp?pcid=3D1018&pvid=3D1603_1</A></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>Dedicated HQ server - how many new stores =
and/or=20
clients are you going to add?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000>90% spike - I'll bet it pretty much stays=20
there. ;-)  Adding more RAM will help it quite a =
bit. =20
Maybe dedicate 3-4 gig just to SQL and the rest to everything =
else.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=3D#008000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>-- <BR><BR>Jeff <BR>Check Point Software</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>You must be using Outlook Express or some other type of newsgroup =
reader=20
to<BR>see and download the file attachment(s).  If you are not =
using a=20
reader, follow<BR>the link below to setup Outlook Express.  Click =
on "Open=20
with newsreader"<BR>under the MS Retail Management System on the =
right.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A=20
href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/75bgz">http://tinyurl.com/75bgz</A><BR>=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
<BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #008000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV>"Terrible Tom" <<A=20
=
om</A>>=20
wrote in message <A=20
=
D41C9-1AB6-4AAD-8513-657ECACBA30D@microsoft.com</A>...</DIV>Here's=20
what I've got:<BR><BR>Dell PowerEdge SC1420<BR>Xeon 3Ghz<BR>1GB RAM=20
(400MHz)<BR>80GB C: drive (SATA, hardware mirroring)<BR>SBS 2003=20
Premium<BR> - not running MS Exchange<BR> - DHCP/DNS for 12=20
clients.<BR> - two print queues, both very lightly =
used<BR> - folder=20
redirection of My Documents folders for 9 users<BR><BR>Here's what I'm =
asking=20
it to do (outside of the O/S based stuff above):<BR>Host Store Ops=20
database<BR> - 2 lanes, occassionally as many as 6 concurrent SO =
Manager=20
sessions.<BR>Host HQ Database<BR> - HQ Server for 4 =
stores<BR>Connection=20
Schedule:<BR> - Store A (on same machine), every 3 =
minutes<BR> -=20
Store B, every 4 minutes<BR> - Store C, every 5 =
minutes<BR> - Store=20
D, every 6 minutes<BR>HQ Client for local Store Ops DB<BR>Host private =
IM=20
server<BR> - Wildfire (CPU usage rarely over 1%, memory usage=20
<10MB)<BR>Automated daily backup to DVD using NTI Backup Now!=20
4<BR><BR>Here's how hard it works:<BR>CPU usage<BR> -  =
rarely below=20
40%, often >90% when more than one store is connected =20
<BR>:shock:<BR>Memory usage<BR> - usually <200MB =
available<BR><BR>I'm=20
running Fast Ethernet (100Mbps) LAN (3Com OfficeConnect switches) and =
<BR>the=20
server doesn't have to act as a router or firewall.  My Network=20
<BR>Utilization is rarely over 1% at the server.<BR><BR>I plan to =
double the=20
RAM to 2GB before the end of the week.  It's cheap and <BR>I am =
hoping it=20
will help.  SQL Server routinely uses >350MB (two processes, =
<BR>one=20
as Administrator [300MB] and another as SYSTEM =
[50MB]).<BR><BR>Question: =20
Should I budget for a dedicated HQ server next year?<BR><BR>Is >90% =
CPU=20
usage normal for this scenario?  I didn't think I was asking all =
<BR>that=20
much of my hardware, but at times the response from the server is =
pretty=20
<BR>slow.<BR><BR>CPU usage *really* spikes when the HQ Client connects =
to HQ=20
server on the <BR>same machine.<BR><BR>I'd love to hear from anyone =
with=20
similar usage and/or hardware.<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Tom<BR>-- <BR>Stop =
fishing=20
for e-mail</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

------=

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