Re: SSA, BPCS, RISC and "HelpLine" and "last release supported...

Jerome,

In a message dated 97-10-04 19:17:29 EDT, you write:

> >If you're running a query tool
>  >and/or one of the SQL-intensive BPCS releases (5 or 6), you might also
want
>  >to check into activating SMP.
>  
>  Would you please say more about this, Dean? Are you doing so? Thought the 
>  SMP features only came into play when the software was written for it and 
>  there was supposed to eventually be stuff that did. Did it happen at v3r7?

We've found it rather helpful.  I cannot quote any figures (implementation
was _NOT_ my area), but the "feeling" is that response has improved under
SMP.  SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing) allows both queries (either standard
or third-party) and SQL-driven code to run more efficiently under boxes
running multiple processors by spreading the load of building access paths or
SELECT criteria across all available processors.  I'm not aware of any
techniques to "write to" SMP.  AFAIK, SMP has been available since V3R1, and
IBM allows a trial period prior to paying the (in our case, $15K) fee.

Like I posted on Midrange-L recently, a standard SQLRPG program on a four-way
processor can only consume a maximum of 25% CPU (completely taking over one
of the four processors).  With SMP enabled, the same program could take more
CPU without jeapardizing system performance, because most of the other
processors are UNDER-utilized at the time.  SMP has improved under V3R2 and
V3R7.

However, prior to paying for SMP, I would highly recommend that BPCS users
consider how well they have implemented things that come "for free" from IBM.
 Have you used SETOBJACC to place SYS902B (and SYS006/7B if you are on 5 or
higher) into memory to speed the calls?  Have you analyzed your database and
placed those files most used into memory with the same method?  Have you
analyzed infrequently-used access paths (ITH has many access paths, but not
many of them are used) and changed them to MAINT(*REBILD)?

SMP can help, but your basic homework has to be done before you pay money for
an "add-on" from IBM.

JMHO,

Dean Asmussen
Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
E-Mail:  DAsmussen@AOL.COM

"The difference between genious and stupidity is that genious has its
limits." -- Anonymous
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