Home > Workload Solutions > SQL Server > Best Practices > Intel-Based SQL Server Best Practices on Dell PowerEdge R740 and PowerMax 2000 > CPU Best Practices > PowerEdge R740: Database Optimized Performance Workload Profile
By default, the Database Optimized Performance (DOP) Profile is not used on the PowerEdge R740 server. In this best practice, we select the DOP profile in BIOS and evaluate its impact on performance.
Category | PowerEdge |
Product | PowerEdge R740 server |
Type of best practice | Performance Optimization |
Day and value | Day 3, Fine Tuning |
Overview
A BIOS profile is an easy way to apply firmware values that optimize the system. Below is a list of BIOS settings that are automatically changed by selecting the DOP Profile:
Virtualization Technology: Default is enabled and changed to disabled with the DOP profile
When Virtualization Technology (VT) is enabled firmware settings are configured for enhanced support of hypervisors. Thus, VT leads to greater integration with virtualization.
The DOP profile disables VT, as many databases are not virtualized. As the SQL Server databases have been virtualized in our best practice the Engineering team changed the Virtualization Technology setting back to enabled after it had been disabled by the DOP profile.
System Profile: Default is Performance per Watt (DAPC profile) and changed to Performance.
The DAPC profile is Dell’s proprietary implementation of dynamic processor management. Changes to the DOP profile alters the system profile from the default to Performance. Instead of the server balancing performance to drive a cost savings, the system is configured for maximum performance.
CPU Power Management: Default System Demand-Based Power Management (DBPM) was changed to maximum performance.
CPU Power Management controls use of processor performance states. By default, CPU Power Management uses DBPM which enables processor operating frequency and voltage to be dynamically adjusted. The DOP profile changes CPU Power Management to a static state of maximum performance.
Other system profile changes include the following:
Overall, DOP benefits from setting several firmware settings to maximum performance. The only exception made in our validation tests was changing VT back to it is default value of enabled. However, for customers with physical (non-virtual) database deployments, we recommend keeping the DOP profile change for VT to disabled.
Recommendation
Results from validating the DOP setting showed only a slight improvement in the metrics below:
The following performance metric showed no performance improvement:
Implementation Steps
Note: These changes require server reboot.
Additional Resources
Setting up BIOS on 14th Generation (14G) Dell EMC PowerEdge Server .