Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!rochester!cornell!uw-beaver!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!lugnut
From: lugnut@sequent.UUCP (Don Bolton)
Newsgroups: comp.databases
Subject: Re: Is there a "hot" DB machine for INGRES?
Keywords: DB machines
Message-ID: <46494@sequent.UUCP>
Date: 14 Nov 90 22:28:47 GMT
References: <747@icni.UUCP>
Reply-To: lugnut@sequent.UUCP (Don Bolton)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc
Lines: 52

In article <747@icni.UUCP> sellers@icni.UUCP (Dave Sellers) writes:
>
>We have selected INGRES as the RDB (for many reasons which I don't
>need to get into).
>
>We also have VAXs as one of the main platforms, and have moved
>into SUN4 for workstations, and HP9000/870 machines in a smaller way.
>
>I have been asked about INGRES performance by a number of people, plus
>I have seen in this news group discussions about "hot" db machines
>(VAX not being one of them).
>
>I would like to pass along any info to others in the company who
>are about to purchase a DB machine.
>
>Did anyone keep any of this information? Is there any real applications
>running out there with 300 users? On what machine? Any measurements to
>base sizing on? Any rule of thumb?
>
>We have one project that has bought a VAX 9000 for INGRES without doing
>any benchmarks first! One comment so far is that "its the wrong machine
>for the job". Another comment was "if you have a choice between a fast
>single processor and slower multi processor box, pick the faster single
>processor box". Any comments?
>
>Please post here, or email via utzoo!censor!bert!icni!sellers
>
>Thanks

Though my employer would have a vested interest in my statements here,
I speak for my own perspective...

The multi processor "box" as you call it will benifit you in user
throughput, even if your RDBMS has not been optimized for paralell
processing.

Think of the check-out lines at the super market.

ASSUME
1 super fast clerk does 1 customer per minute.
The typical clerk does 1 customer per every 2 minutes.

EVALUATE
The fast clerk can do 12 customers in 12 minutes
4 typical clerks can do 12 customers in 6 minutes

CONCLUDE
in "man hours" the fast clerk is super efficient
in elapsed time the 4 typical clerks are twice as fast.

Course this scenario only applies to a symmetrical multi-processing
super market. ;-)