Application sprawl, server sprawl and a world of different databases presents a challenge to any modern database administrator. In this presentation you will learn how a modern architecture model can help you improve performance and cut costs.

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
Databases in the Virtualized World
By Matt Henderson
Director, Microsoft Solutions

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Application Sprawl
Application Sprawl
•CRM
•Billing
•ERP
•Sales
•Engineering
•Monitoring
•Manufacturing
Real World
•3rdParty apps
•Old versions

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Server Sprawl

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Databases: 31 flavors
•Databases
•MySQL
•Oracle
•MSFT SQL
•Hadoop
•Workloads
•BI / DW
•OLTP
•Resources
•RAM
•CPU
•Storage

5. © Violin Memory, Inc. 2014 CONFIDENTIAL 5
Dynamic & Shifting Workloads
Unique and changing
• Per Server
• Per Application
• Per Day/Hour
• Week day versus
weekend
• Adhoc reporting
• Administration
Designed for Peak
• Not optimal

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Databases
Persistent data storage
Data access engine
Application logic processor

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Many Databases –Many Data Sets
•Not all data can fit in memory
•Tieringworks only if patterns well defined
•Caching is for reads
•Access patterns change
•Dedicating resources is inefficient & wasteful

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
RAM versus Storage
Architectural Concepts
RAM based:
•Invest in memory tier. Dedicate resources to applications. Over allocate to ensure consistent performance. “Distributed” model as performance is reliant on local resources.
Storage based
•Invest in high performance storage. Reduce memory to minimal amounts. Data needed will almost always come from storage. “Central” model as performance is reliant on shared storage.

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
RAM versus Storage
Memory Challenges
•Hard cap in OS (~2TB)
•Size limitations per server
•More expensive $ per GB
•Disruptive to upgrade
•Not shareable (dedicated)
Database Buffer / Virtualization
•Buffers don’t deallocate
•Buffers don’t dedup
•Inefficient to virtualize
Storage Challenges
•Disk massively slower than memory
•Complex to setup
•Needs frequent tuning
•Over provisioning is key
New Technology Needed
•Bridge gap in speed
•Easier to manage

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Visualizing I/O Wait
•Applications wait for I/O to return = I/O Wait
•Time slices missed while waiting are lost
•Faster CPUs and more cores only increase lost time slices between I/O returns
•Solve actual bottleneck, don’t shoot from the hip
→ Your applications now spend more time doingand less time waiting
CPU Cyclewith Disk
I/O Wait
I/O Wait
20%
Work
80%
Wait
CPU Cyclewith Violin
5%
Wait
95%
Work

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Optimizing Architecture –Performance & Cost
•CPU’s are faster than hard drives
•Adding cores does not correct issue
•8 cores @ 10% = 1 core @ 80%
•40% utilization = 60% over paying

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Visualizing latency - I/O Wait Infrastructure
I/O Wait
HDD Storage
Many milli-second
latency
PowerEdge M1000e
9 10
1 2
11 12
3 4
13 14
5 6
15 16
7 8
1
0
1
0 1
0
1
0 1
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1
0 1
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1
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1
0 1
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0 1
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0 1
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0
PowerEdge M1000e
9 10
1 2
11 12
3 4
13 14
5 6
15 16
7 8
1
0
1
0 1
0
1
0 1
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1
0 1
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I/O Wait
SSD Storage
Few milli-second
latency
SSD
SSD
SSD
….
Or
SSD
SSD
SSD
….
Controllers
Cache
Flash Storage
Micro-second latency
Fully optimal system
PowerEdge M1000e
9 10
1 2
11 12
3 4
13 14
5 6
15 16
7 8
1
0
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0 1
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0 1
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0 1
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0 1
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1
0 1
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0 1
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0

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
Legacy Architecture Model
•Large batches to SSDs
•SSDs in disk chassis = bottlenecks
•Stranded space and speed 64k64k64k

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Modern Architecture Model
• Small batches to custom cards
• Data spread evenly
• 100% usable space
• 100% performance on every I/O
4k 4k 4k 4k
4k 4k 4k 4k
4k 4k 4k 4k
4k 4k 4k 4k
64k 4k data
+
1k parity
5k
Data Data Data Data Parity
1k + 1k + 1k + 1k + 1k = 5k
VIMM VIMM VIMM VIMM VIMM
flash flash flash flash flash flash flash flash
controller
1k
bits bits
VIMM
Parallel and distributed
for lowest latency

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© Violin Memory, Inc. 2014
CONFIDENTIAL
RAM versus Storage
Take Aways:
•Architectures should be optimal across all tiers
•I/O latency is currency of performance
•Centralized performance, through fast storage = always works
•Licensing is the highest expense, optimize for CPU usage
•Violin performance optimizes IT spend.