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Installing Adaptive Server Enterprise on Siemens

Appendix B: Installing and Using the Performance Archive Database

Appendix B

Sybase offers real-time performance and tuning recommendations based on performance packets collected using the Performance Archive Database (PAD) client and remote analysis of your current configuration from the PAD server. You receive immediate, online tuning recommendations via e-mail, based on data collected, compiled, and studied by the Sybase performance and tuning expert system. By offloading the performance data analysis, your site obtains superior analysis and immediate tuning recommendations.

Figure B-1 shows the PAD architecture.

Figure B-1: The PAD architecture

How the Process Works

The Performance Archive Database, a client tool, collects performance data from a wide variety of Sybase sites and aggregates this data in a single archive.

PAD serves as an internal information source for Sybase engineers working on performance and tuning issues.

The PAD analysis taps a broad reservoir of tuning heuristics and returns analysis information to your Database Administrators.

Using the PAD client, you can collect performance packets during interesting database runs. These packets are then:

• Sent by electronic mail over the Internet to padmaster@sybase.com
• Automatically archived in the repository
• Automatically analyzed

An automated analysis report will be generated and sent back to you via e-mail.

You can disable the initial automatic e-mail facility by selecting a checkbox on the PAD client. Whether or not this box is checked, the packets remain available at the client site for further perusal. They are stored in the $SYBASE/pad/packets(*) directory.

In addition to reporting the analysis of the latest performance data, PAD can provide a report on the comparative analysis of the latest data against previously archived baseline data.

Installing PAD

To install PAD:

1. Change the directory to:

   $SYBASE/pad

2. Execute the shell script setup.

   If Netscape is not found in your path, setup prompts you for the path of a browser to use for displaying online help. To disable online help, or if no browser is available, enter "none". setup then creates the shell script $SYBASE/pad/bin/pad.

3. Add the directory $SYBASE/pad/bin to your path. Be sure that $SYBASE/bin is also in your path.

4. Include the name of your workstation in the .rhosts file in your home directory on the machine where Adaptive Server is running. This allows the PAD client to access the Adaptive Server error log.

   This completes the installation.

Using PAD

To start the PAD client graphical user interface:

1. Enter the following command at the UNIX prompt:

   pad

   PAD displays a dialog box where you provide the information needed to connect to Adaptive Server and to return performance data via e-mail. For details on the required information, see the online help.

2. To start a data collection session and e-mail the data to Sybase, click the Collect button.

If you have questions, suggestions, or comments, send e-mail to:

pad_help@sybase.com