Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA Network Performance for the Enterprise. An Oracle White Paper January 1998

Transcription

1 Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA Network Performance for the Enterprise An Oracle White Paper January 1998

2 INTRODUCTION Oracle has quickly integrated web technologies into business applications, becoming the first application vendor to deliver a completely Java-enabled enterprise suite of modules. In this release the supporting Oracle software is installed and managed entirely on servers, eliminating desktop software installation and upgrades. This significantly reduces the costs associated with managing traditional client/server systems. Users benefit from the same functionality and rich graphical user interface as the client/server release. Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA uses Java-enabled presentation and middle-tier scalability to perform efficient messaging with client desktop devices. Commercial web browsers provide HTML and Java capabilities on the desktop and communicate with one or more application servers using standard HTTP and TCP/IP networking. This release conforms to the Oracle Network Computing Architecture (NCA), a highly scalable multi-tier architecture based on open Internet standards. NCA makes it easier to support users from a centralized location at the lowest possible cost. Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA is designed to support all of your users over typical corporate networks regardless of location. Many client/server systems are hindered by designs that cause excessive network traffic. In some cases third-party remote presentation software running on Windows NT servers are required to allow client/server systems to function effectively over wide area networks (WANs). Oracle provides all technology components for the NCA release; third-party products are not required to support Oracle Applications over WANs. CONCLUSIONS Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA provides network characteristics that support a complete range of network deployment scenarios: Users can expect excellent response times over typical corporate networks Standard WAN connections can support remote offices Dial-up access with standard modems can support home office and mobile users Network performance is superior to client/server configured with third-party remote presentation software

3 Scope of Tests Oracle performed network tests using typical transactions performed day to day in customer manufacturing environments. The transactions included work order requirements simulation, creation of a work order, work in process move and work order completion. For test purposes it was assumed that a user performs an evenly distributed mix of the four transactions. A user navigates to a new screen after three successive transactions are entered. This usage pattern among the four transactions was maintained for the duration of the tests. Network configurations tested included LAN, WAN and dial-up access. The same transactions were analyzed under two possible scenarios: Release 10.7 NCA and Release 10.7 client/server using a leading remote presentation product, Citrix Winframe. Accurate comparison was assured by using the same desktop client and back-end database server configuration to process all test transactions. For specifics on the benchmark environment see the Hardware/Software Configuration section. There are two possible factors to consider in determining network impact on transaction processing: bandwidth utilization and network latency. Tests were conducted to analyze the effects of bandwidth consumption and network latency on user productivity. Initially, network measurements were captured for test transactions performed at heads down data entry speeds over a LAN connection. Individual test transactions took 30 to 45 seconds to complete at maximum data input speeds (negligible network delay). The number of transactions performed in an hour were varied to simulate light, medium and heavy user interaction with the system over a sustained period. In addition to network traffic analysis, tests were performed over dial-up modem and WAN connections to determine the impact of connection type on user productivity. Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA executes a Java applet on the desktop to provide presentation services and to communicate with the application server. A compressed Java archive (JAR) file is required on the desktop and is about 550 KB in size. The JAR file is either downloaded from a server or retrieved from local cache when a user connects to Oracle Applications. Since a user typically signs-on to Oracle Applications once each day, the sign-on process was not included in the network tests.

4 Network Performance Results Figure 1 shows the amount of network consumption for three categories of user activity. Along the bottom of the graph the number of user transactions performed in an hour are shown. The light category of user processes one transaction every 5 minutes (12 per hour). Medium type users perform one transaction every other minute (30 per hour) with heavy usage at a rate of 1 transaction a minute (60 per hour). The bandwidth consumed per user is measured in kilobits per second (Kbps) shown on the left side of the graph. Even with heavy usage patterns the amount of bandwidth consumed between the desktop client and the application server is minimal (under 4 Kbps per user). Using bandwidth analysis exclusively indicates that many users in an office location can be supported over a WAN connection with Release 10.7 NCA. Figure 1. Release 10.7 NCA Network Consumption Network Consumption (Kbps) (Light) 12 (Medium) 30 (Heavy) 60 Transaction/Hour per User

5 Figure 2 shows side by side comparison of Release 10.7 NCA and Release 10.7 client/server in a remote presentation configuration. For identical test transactions, Release 10.7 NCA significantly outperforms the remote presentation mode for all categories of users. Figure 2. Release 10.7 NCA with Remote Presentation Comparison Network Consumption (Kbps) (Light) 12 Release 10.7 NCA Remote Presentation (Medium) 30 Transactions/Hour per User (Heavy) 60 These results highlight the optimizations that can be achieved with an integrated set of technology components interacting between client and server. The two components communicate through a series of requests and responses - via compressed messages passed over the network. Using message-based communication enables efficient network interaction between the desktop client and the application server. In contrast, remote presentation products provide generic services for any Microsoft Windows application and cannot tune network performance specifically for Oracle Applications.

6 User productivity tests were performed over various network connections available in today s corporate networks. Dial-up using a modem is recognized as one of the slower connection methods, typically required to support home office and mobile users. Productivity over typical LAN and WAN connections were also tested for comparison purposes. Figure 3 shows the effects of bandwidth and latency for three separate connectivity scenarios. The maximum number of transactions that can be performed by a single user in an hour are plotted for each network connection. This maximum threshold was derived factoring the network delay for non-stop entry of transactions over an hour time period. Figure 3. Maximum User Productivity over the Network 120 Max. Transactions per Hour Latency- (150 ms) Modem (100 ms) WAN - T1 (2 ms) LAN Network Connectivity The dashed line at 60 transactions per hour indicates heavy usage patterns from earlier tests. Figure 3 clearly shows that the effects of the network connection does not impede the user from performing high transaction rates in an hour time period. As expected network delay has the most impact in dialup mode of operation. Even in this situation a user could perform over 80 test transactions in an hour in data entry mode. Test results indicate a highly productive environment for users over a typical range of corporate network configurations.

7 SUMMARY Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA achieves network performance that enables companies to easily deploy to users located anywhere around the world. The NCA architecture utilizes web-based technologies that allows customers to centralize all software maintenance while providing efficient network consumption. Users obtain the benefit of using a graphical user interface with excellent response times. Oracle provides all of the enabling technology without the need for third-party products. Because of these technology advances, Oracle Applications customers can deploy to users at the lowest possible cost. Disclaimer Oracle tests were performed under specific network conditions - there was little competing traffic from other systems present on the network. Customers need to analyze network traffic generated by all of their systems when determining network requirements. HARDWARE/SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION Hardware: Database Server- Sun Ultra E6000, 12 CPU SMP 5 Gb real memory 40 Gb disk array Application Server- 2 x 300 Mhz CPUs 512 Mb memory 8 Gb disk storage Desktop Client- Dell, 200 Mhz Pentium II 64 Mb RAM 1 Gb local disk storage 28.8 Kbps Modem Citrix Winframe Server- 2 x 200 Mhz CPUs 512 Mb memory 4 Gb disk storage Database Server- Sun Solaris Oracle7 Server 7.3 Oracle Applications Rel Application Server- MS Windows NT Server 4.0 Oracle Applications Rel. NCA Oracle Application Server Oracle Developer/2000 Server Desktop Client- MS Windows NT 4.0 Oracle AppletViewer Citrix Winframe Client Citrix Winframe Server- MS Windows NT 3.51 Citrix Winframe V1.6 Oracle SmartClient software Software:

8 Oracle Applications Release 10.7 NCA Network Performance for the Enterprise January 1998 Author: Kevin OMalley Contributors: Cliff Godwin, Peter Heller, Ivo Dujmovic, Lisa Nordhagen, Anne Carlson Copyright Oracle Corporation 1998 All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S.A. This document is provided for informational purposes only and the information herein is subject to change without notice. Please report any errors herein to Oracle Corporation. Oracle Corporation does not provide any warranties covering and specifically disclaims any liability in connection with this document. Oracle is a registered trademark and Enabling the Information Age, Developer/2000, Network Computing Architecture, Oracle Applications are trademarks of Oracle Corporation. All other company or product names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Oracle Corporation World Headquarters 500 Oracle Parkway Redwood Shores, CA U.S.A. Worldwide Inquiries: Fax Copyright Oracle Corporation 1998 All Rights Reserved