[sims] SIMS workstation performance

[sdc]

Hi all

 

We have noticed that some SIMS workstations are performing poorly at times. To carry out a test, we have run identical reports on two workstations next to each other, connected to the same switch: the specs are as follows:

 

1. High-spec workstation: Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz with 8 GB RAM and SSD hard drives

2. Lower-spec workstation: Intel Core i3 2.9 GHz with 4 GB RAM and standard spinning disk

 

The high-spec computer performs multiples of times SLOWER than the lower-spec workstation, to the point where at times we're just having to terminate the SIMS process on that workstation. Rebuilding the PC and reinstalling the OS etc has made no difference. The hardware all checks out OK. Server is virtualised 2012 R2, 10 cores and 20GB RAM. As the issue is currently presenting itself, the server is running at only 17% CPU demand.

 

Rebooting the server or the workstations makes no difference. The server is nowhere near short of disk space. Starting to run out of ideas... Any suggestions appreciated!!

 

Many thanks in advance :-)

Edited June 27, 2018 by sdc

[jthompson]

This may not be what causing your problem, but worth checking. How large is the SIMS database? SQL Server will want to have enough RAM allocated to it. We ran into application hangs on clients when the db size was larger than the amount of RAM allocated in SQL Server.

 

Clients all tended to hang at the same time though, which is why it might not be your what your problem is.

[synaesthesia]

The only feasible suggestions available to you are a) find another MIS or b) live with it.

SIMS is a mishmash of boltons to an aging system. We have a dogs-happysack server with solid state drives buzzing along quicker than Usain Bolt after he's raided Lance Armstrong's medicine cabinet. Connect a single machine to it, also similarly quick and... SIMS runs like a dog with no legs.

 

I had one of those once, called it Cigarette. Took it out every night for a drag.

[jinnantonnixx]

Are you running your database under SQL 2012 compatibility mode? You should be; SIMS performs very poorly if run natively on SQL Server 2014 and above.

 

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/147490-sims-slow-after-upgrade-sql-2014-a.html

[kevin_lane]

Could be your hyperviser layer

[jinnantonnixx]

Another thing to check is that you're using all your available processors. SQL licensing places restrictions on the number of processors/sockets/cores it uses, depending on the version.

 

This query shows the processors on your system, and whether they're all available to your SQL server.

select cpu_id,scheduler_id,is_online, current_tasks_count, status  from sys.dm_os_schedulers
where status IN ('VISIBLE OFFLINE', 'VISIBLE ONLINE')

 

If your SQL is using them all, you will see a status of 'VISIBLE ONLINE'. Any 'offline' processors mean that SQL is not licensed to use those processors.

 

 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/compute-capacity-limits-by-edition-of-sql-server?view=sql-server-2017

 

SQL Server edition Maximum compute capacity for a single instance ( SQL Server Database Engine)

Enterprise Edition: Operating system maximum

Developer Operating system maximum

Standard Limited to lesser of 4 sockets or 24 cores

Express Limited to lesser of 1 socket or 4 cores

Edited June 28, 2018 by jinnantonnixx

[ITGURU]

Ultimate test is to run on the SIMS server - what is performance like directly ?

We've always been told our SIMS runs so quick in comparison to other schools.

[MartinT]

12 cores showing as VISIBLE ONLINE here.

 

It takes about 10s to fire up SIMS whether on the server or a fast workstation.

[synaesthesia]

SIMS starting up is rarely going to be a cause for concern, it's when running reports etc you start to notice how bad it all is...

[MartinT]

Agreed, but comparing even standard reports across different size schools is not going to be helpful.

 

I can time running a couple of standard reports that take a long time for you just to give you a baseline?

[Banjo]

Hi all

 

We have noticed that some SIMS workstations are performing poorly at times. To carry out a test, we have run identical reports on two workstations next to each other, connected to the same switch: the specs are as follows:

 

1. High-spec workstation: Intel Core i5 3.2 GHz with 8 GB RAM and SSD hard drives

2. Lower-spec workstation: Intel Core i3 2.9 GHz with 4 GB RAM and standard spinning disk

 

The high-spec computer performs multiples of times SLOWER than the lower-spec workstation, to the point where at times we're just having to terminate the SIMS process on that workstation. Rebuilding the PC and reinstalling the OS etc has made no difference. The hardware all checks out OK. Server is virtualised 2012 R2, 10 cores and 20GB RAM. As the issue is currently presenting itself, the server is running at only 17% CPU demand.

 

Rebooting the server or the workstations makes no difference. The server is nowhere near short of disk space. Starting to run out of ideas... Any suggestions appreciated!!

 

Many thanks in advance :-)

 

Did you try the same network cable into both machines and also logging into the PC with same credentials and also the same into SIMS?

Edited June 28, 2018 by Banjo

[ticktock]

Check the sims server, just had a problem with ours running at 100% CPU. LA said we needed a new server as it was under spec (they supplied it!!!). We finally go to the bottom of it when they ran a query in sql which highlighted which users were hogging the CPU. It turned out our attendance officer had told staff to pin a widget/panel onto their sims page with attendance YTD for the whole school, this refreshed every 12 mins causing the server to die as lots of staff had added it. One teacher had 28 panels pinned! Oh and the server now consistently runs at under 10% CPU.

[ITGURU]

Check the sims server, just had a problem with ours running at 100% CPU. LA said we needed a new server as it was under spec (they supplied it!!!). We finally go to the bottom of it when they ran a query in sql which highlighted which users were hogging the CPU. It turned out our attendance officer had told staff to pin a widget/panel onto their sims page with attendance YTD for the whole school, this refreshed every 12 mins causing the server to die as lots of staff had added it. One teacher had 28 panels pinned! Oh and the server now consistently runs at under 10% CPU.

 

What's the spec and how old is the server? It may have been correctly spec'd at the time. What process specifically was running at 100%

[ticktock]

It was the SQL process in task manager. This was narrowed down by the sql query the LA provided which listed who was hogging CPU time within SQL hence we could find the users causing the issue. The server is fine now and sims is back to normal.