Checklist for the server hardware and the operating system

Use the checklist to verify that the system where the server is installed meets requirements for hardware and software configuration.

Question Tasks, characteristics, options, or settings More information
Does the operating system and hardware meet or exceed requirements?
  • Number and speed of processors
  • System memory
  • Supported operating system level
If you are using the minimum required amount of memory, you can support a minimal workload.

You can experiment by adding more system memory to determine whether the performance is improved. Then, decide whether you want to keep the system memory dedicated to the server. Test the memory variations by using the entire daily cycle of the server workload.

If you run multiple servers on the system, add the requirements for each server to get the requirements for the system.

AIX operating systemsRestriction: Do not use Active Memory™ Expansion (AME). When you use AME, DB2® software uses 4 KB pages instead of 64 KB pages. Each 4 KB page must be decompressed when accessed, and compressed when not needed. When the compression or decompression occurs, DB2 and the server wait for access to the page, which degrades the server performance.

Review operating system requirements at technote 1243309.

Additionally, review the guidance in Tuning tasks for operating systems and other applications.

For more information about requirements when these features are in use, see the following topics:

To help you determine whether processor or memory characteristics are the cause of performance problems, see Identifying server performance problems.

For more information about sizing requirements for the server and storage, see the IBM Spectrum Protect Blueprint.

Are disks configured for optimal performance? The amount of tuning that can be done for different disk systems varies. Ensure that the appropriate queue depths and other disk system options are set.
Does the server have enough memory? Heavier workloads and advanced features such as data deduplication and node replication require more than the minimum system memory that is specified in the system requirements document.
For databases that are not enabled for data deduplication, use the following guidelines to specify memory requirements:
  • For databases less than 500 GB, you need 16 GB of memory.
  • For databases with a size of 500 GB - 1 TB, you need 24 GB of memory.
  • For databases with a size of 1 TB - 1.5 TB, you need 32 GB of memory.
  • For databases greater than 1.5 TB, you need 40 GB of memory.

Ensure that you allocate extra space for the active log and the archive log for replication processing.

For more information about requirements when these features are in use, see the following topics:

To help you determine whether processor or memory characteristics are the cause of performance problems, see Identifying server performance problems.

Does the system have enough host bus adapters (HBAs) to handle the data operations that the IBM Spectrum Protect server must run simultaneously? Understand what operations require use of HBAs at the same time.

For example, a server must store 1 GB/sec of backup data while also doing storage pool migration that requires 0.5 GB/sec capacity to complete. The HBAs must be able to handle all of the data at the speed required.

See Tuning HBA capacity.
Is network bandwidth greater than the planned maximum throughput for backups? Network bandwidth must allow the system to complete operations such as backups in the time that is allowed or that meets service level commitments.

For node replication, network bandwidth must be greater than the planned maximum throughput.

For more information, see the following topics:
Are you using a preferred file system for IBM Spectrum Protect server files?

Use a file system that ensures optimal performance and data availability. The server uses direct I/O with file systems that support the feature. Using direct I/O can improve throughput and reduce processor use. The following list identifies the preferred file system:

  • AIX operating systemsAIX®Use the JFS2 file system with the rbrw option.
  • Linux operating systemsUse either the ext3 or ext4 file system for the database, recovery log, and storage pool data. Use the following file system that is appropriate for your operating system and level:
    • For Red Hat Enterprise Linux x86_64, use the ext3 or ext4 file system. If Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 or later is installed, use the ext4 file system.
    • For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and for Red Hat Enterprise Linux ppc64, use the ext3 file system.
  • Windows operating systemsUse New Technology File System (NTFS) without compression.
For more information, see Configuring the operating system for disk performance.
Did you configure enough paging space? Paging space, or swap space, extends the memory that is available for processing. When the amount of free RAM in the system is low, programs or data that is not in use are moved from memory to paging space. This action releases memory for other activities, such as database operations.

AIX operating systemsLinux operating systems Use a minimum of 32 GB of paging space or 50% of your RAM, whichever value is larger.

Windows operating systemsPaging space is automatically configured.

 
Linux operating systemsDid you tune kernel parameters after installation of the server? Linux operating systemsYou must tune kernel parameters. Linux operating systemsSee the information about tuning kernel parameters: Linux: Tuning kernel parameters for Linux systems