UBGP008: Maximizing SQL Server Performance with Microsoft Dynamics GP John Lowther
John Lowther Chief Data Architect, Sta-Home Health Agency Owner of Lowther Software Microsoft Dynamics GP Most Valuable Professional (MVP) & GPUG All Star Chairman on the Board of Advisors for the Great Plains User Group (GPUG) Member of the GPUG Planning Committee Member of the GPUG Programming Committee GPUG Special Interest Group (SIG) Leader (BI & Reporting, DBA, and Sys Admin) Published Author in the GPUG Magazines GPUG Academy Board Member Member of the GPUG Academy Certification Committee Other Info 10+ years with Dynamics-GP - 15+ years as a Database Administrator - 20+ years as a Developer Blog: Microsoft Dynamics GP DBA Blog: The Dynamics GP Administrator Post: Microsoft Dynamics GP Product Forum Post: GPUG Collaborate
Format: Session Format & Audience User Group Breakout Audience: Beginner
Agenda Increase your confidence and knowledge as we explore how to maximize the performance of a Microsoft SQL Server running Microsoft Dynamics GP databases. We'll also review the settings and maintenance items you should be using, along with other important things you can do to increase performance, including off-load reporting and data warehousing.
Topic List Updates BIOS Hardware RAM Microsoft SQL Server Settings!
Topic List SQL Database Settings! Off Loading Reports! Data Warehousing How do we locate the real problem! Where do we find Information and Solutions!
Updates Always check to make sure you have the latest software updates. Not just software! BIOS, Chipset, Drivers Everything!
BIOS: Hyper-threading? You better believe it! Well most of the time. Hyper-threading allows improved parallelization meaning the processor can do multiple task at once. However there are some rare cases where it can cause problems. Please see KB322385
BIOS: Power Save Options Turn off all power save options like putting network cards to sleep, powering down hard drives, or lower CPU performance. Note: This also applies to Power settings in Windows as well!
Hardware: To x64 or not to x64? Is that even a question?
Hardware: Disk Configuration DISK are cheap! But what about your employees time? OS Raid 10 System Databases (Master, Model, & MSDB) RAID 10 Master Data Files (MDF files) Raid 10 Log Data Files (LDF Files) Raid 10 TEMPDB (MDF and LDF) Raid 10 Backup location RAID 10 All on separate arrays!!!!
SQL Server loves RAM RAM If you decrease RAM by 25% you decrease performance by 50%. In other words double your RAM you quadruple your performance! Max out the Machine!
Microsoft SQL Server Settings
Notice: No Domain Users Use AD Group for GP Users
Database Settings
Off Loading Reports My definition: (totally In My Opinion) (IMO) Off loading Reports is the concept of running specific types of Reports on a different SQL Server than your Application Production SQL Server. Log Shipping is a great way to Off Load Reports. This only works for the Excel Refreshable Reports and the SQL Server Reporting Services Reports (SSRS). This does not work for the internal Microsoft Dynamics GP Reports!
Existing Setup One or more Workstations Excel and SSRS Reports Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP SQL Backups
Restore a Full Backup to the new Server One or more Workstations Excel and SSRS Reports Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP SQL Backups
Temporarily connect one workstation One or more Workstations Excel and SSRS Reports Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP SQL Backups
Redeploy SSRS and Excel Reports One or more Workstations Excel and SSRS Reports Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP Note: SQL Backups
Remove the temporary connection One or more Workstations Excel and SSRS Reports Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP Note: SQL Backups
Excel and SSRS Reports One or more Workstations This is what you have now Other Workstations Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP Note: SQL Backups
One or more Workstations Final Touches Other Workstations Excel and SSRS Reports Existing SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics GP Note: SQL Backups
Data Warehousing
How do we find out about a Problem? A user calls with that dreaded message, GP is running slow. Or, GP is not working at all. My first thought, is it really a SQL problem? There are times with SQL has nothing to do with the problem. Bad network cables, etc. There are even times when there is no problem!
How do we locate the real Problem Stop and Think! (Base line performance before hand!) OS Task Manager Resource Monitor Performance Monitor Event Viewer SQL Job Activity Monitor Is there a SQL Job Running??? Activity Monitor Database Engine Tuning Advisor (treat with care) SQL Server Profiler (treat with extreme care)
How do we locate the real Problem Dynamics GP Add-Ons Support Debugger Tool Other Tools outside the Dynamics GP World Idera Software SQL Check RedGate Software SQL Monitor
Where do we find Information NETWORKING WITH EACH OTHER! The GPUG Collaborate site, and GPUG Microsoft Dynamics GP Community Forum Blogs Videos
Where do we find Information Microsoft Dynamics GP MVP s Blogs Customer Source White Papers, Knowledgebase, Even a white paper on Performance MSDN, TechNet, and Bing
The copy only problem Maintenance Plan The Update Statistics problem Let s Demo
Bios and OS Settings Take Away #1 Nothing turns off or lowers performance
Watch those Database Files Take Away #2 Grow the MDF file yourself at off peak times, try to avoid autogrows during peak times. LDF files should not actually autogrow. Transaction log backup should clear it before the physical file needs to grow.
Take Away #3 Make sure that Auto Close and Auto Shrink are turned off!
Be Proactive not reactive Take Away #4
Questions? John Lowther Sta-Home Health & Hospice Lowther Software Email: John@LowtherSoftware.com Blog: Microsoft Dynamics GP DBA Blog: The Dynamics GP Administrator