This section describes the performance tests and results we achieved running Oracle workloads in our lab. The test cases are meant to demonstrate different situations so we can learn how they affect database performance.

It is important to note that the PowerMax storage system we used for the tests was a single-engine (brick) system. Therefore, the performance numbers should not be viewed as a platform ‘hero’ numbers. Instead, they provide an example of the performance levels an Oracle database workload can achieve with a relatively small configuration (a single PowerMax 8000 brick and four 28-core PowerEdge R740 servers). These tests also allowed us to leverage and demonstrate the best practices described in this paper.