By default, the Database Optimized Performance (DOP) profile is not used on the PowerEdge R750XS server. In this best practice, we select the DOP profile in the BIOS to evaluate its impact on performance.
Category | PowerEdge |
Product | PowerEdge R750xs 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 server. The following list describes BIOS settings that are automatically changed by selecting the DOP Profile.
- Virtualization Technology (VT): Default is enabled and changed to disabled with the DOP profile. When VT is enabled, firmware settings are configured for enhanced support of hypervisors, meaning VT leads to greater integration with virtualization. The DOP profile disables VT, as many databases are not virtualized. As the SQL Server databases were virtualized in our best practice, the VT setting was changed back to enabled after being 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:
- C1E: default setting enabled changed to disabled. This change disables DIMM CKE power down and QPI power management.
- C States: default setting enabled changed to disabled. This change disables C-states and DIMM self-refresh.
- Uncore Frequency: Default setting Dynamic Uncore Frequency scaling (UFS) changed to Maximum. Setting the frequency to Maximum enables best performance of the cores and uncore during runtime.
- Energy Efficient Policy: We used the default balanced performance policy. This setting was changed to Performance and instructs the processors to operate at the highest performance level.
- CPU Interconnect Bus Link Power Management: default setting enabled changed to disabled.
- PCI ASPM L1 Link Power Management: default setting enabled changed to disabled.
Overall, DOP benefits from setting several firmware settings to maximum performance. The only exception made in our validation tests was changing the VT setting back to the default value of enabled. However, we recommend keeping the DOP profile change for VT to disabled for customers with physical (non-virtual) database deployments.
Recommendation
Our test finding from validating the DOP setting showed a slight improvement in performance for the database, therefore, it is considered as a Day 3, Fine Tuning recommendation and applied only if necessary. The below metrics showed a slight increase in:
- New Order per Minute (NOPM)
- Transaction per Minute (TPM)
- PowerStore IOPS
- Server CPU utilization
Implementation Steps
- To set this DOP Workload Profile, log in to iDRAC console.
- Navigate to BIOS settings > System Profile Settings > Workload Profile Settings and select the Database Optimized Performance Profile from the Workload Profile pulldown list.
- To enable the Virtualization Technology, on the iDRAC console, navigate to Processor Settings and select Enabled for Virtualization Technology.
Note: These changes require server reboot.
Additional Resources
Setting up BIOS on 15th Generation (15G) Dell PowerEdge Server