[SIMS] SIMS General Performance

[synaesthesia]

We've started to notice a general degradation in performance from SIMS. The sims server which is old but more than powerful enough is appearing to barely tick over - CPU, network, disk, activities are all minimal. Generally SIMS appears ok but at registration time when it's being hammered it's noticeable. When either of our SIMS/data administrators are running large reports it can sometimes be unusable for everyone else.

Is there a particular place we should start looking to diagnose such issues? The SIMS server isn't exactly doing much other than SIMS, just a few LDAP queries for other services (that also pull from SIMS) but SQL performance diagnosis and the works aren't my strong point. Any pointers would be much appreciated

Server is 2003 R2, dual Xeon E5420, 4GB RAM. As I type this, network utilisation is 0.13%. PF usage 3.34GB, CPU usage 1%.
SQL Server is consuming 1.7GB RAM. (Large secondary.)

[Rawns]

Could be worth applying the classic re-index patch against the SIMS database. Also, what size is your SIMS.ldf file? Sometimes I've seen performance issues in schools where the SIMS database has slipped into full recovery mode and an upgrade has put it into full mode and the log file has just grown and grown.

Also, have you thought about archiving previous attendance marks? We've done this in a few schools where there have been performance issues in Attendance and it's made a noticeable difference.

[Jawloms]

Not helpful in your situation, but you do know that Capita aren't supporting 2003 from the Autumn release onwards don't you?

[synaesthesia]

Fully aware. It's going 2012 probably Summer.

[Jawloms]

Good.

What size is your LDF file? There is a patch which will stop it growing above just a few MB, this can help.

[synaesthesia]

errrr 12gb..... back soon! (It's been patched more times than Windows)

[Rawns]

errrr 12gb..... back soon! (It's been patched more times than Windows)

Bingo.

[synaesthesia]

Back to a meg. Will keep an eye on that until we change it over.

In the meantime, back to testing sims on 2012

[synaesthesia]

On a slightly separate note, does anyone have any links to the SIMS server installation guidelines/documentation on Supportnet? I know it's there, and it needs more than google-fu to navigate one's way around their search!

[Ghostgame]

On a slightly separate note, does anyone have any links to the SIMS server installation guidelines/documentation on Supportnet? I know it's there, and it needs more than google-fu to navigate one's way around their search!

Tell me about it.

[vikpaw]

Do you mean for the latest 2012?
There is this for install SQL 2008 : KB94307
To move db location : KB74632
Make a test server : KB25354
Migrate server : KB71383

[synaesthesia]

Legend, I'll look those up when back at base this afternoon. Incidentally, one of the better guys at Capita's helpdesk was only able to find the SQL notes. Handy, still!

[vikpaw]

It depends what you're doing, if you want teh installable release, you'll need to ask for it, but it's probably better to wait until near end of March when the new installable based on Spring 13 will be out.

[CAM]

I think the LDF file also grows if people don't log out and leave SIMS running overnight. Something about logged in users stopping proper maintenance.

[matt40k]

That be a myth, can truncate the log file with users in, only way to stop it truncating would be if was writing - even then would only not be able to truncate that write. I think we found a few options what might be happening - SIMS Reindex Patch