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Cost Threshold for Parallelism - SQL Server

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Cost Threshold for Parallelism - SQL Server

Uploaded by

Rofiq Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cost Threshold for Parallelism is an important configuration setting in SQL Server that controls when SQL Server
will use parallel execution plans for queries. Parallel execution plans split a query into multiple threads that can run
concurrently across multiple processors, potentially improving query performance. However, not all queries benefit
from parallelism, and improper settings can lead to resource contention or inefficiencies.

1. Understanding Cost Threshold for Parallelism


- Definition: The cost threshold for parallelism is a configuration setting that defines the minimum threshold for
the cost of a query to be considered for parallel execution. The "cost" here is an estimated measure of the
resources required to execute a query, primarily in terms of CPU and I/O.
- Default Value: The default value is set to 5, which means that any query with an estimated cost higher than 5
units (as calculated by the SQL Server query optimizer) will be considered for parallel execution.
- Query Cost: The cost is a numeric value assigned by the SQL Server Query Optimizer based on the complexity
of the query, the volume of data, and the expected resource usage.

2. Impact of Cost Threshold for Parallelism


- Low Threshold Value:
- A low value (like the default 5) means more queries are likely to be executed in parallel.
- This can lead to improved performance for complex queries but may also cause unnecessary parallelism for
simpler queries, leading to increased CPU utilization and potential contention.
- High Threshold Value:
- A higher value means only more complex and resource-intensive queries will be parallelized.
- This can reduce the overhead associated with parallelism, such as context switching and synchronization
between threads, but might also result in slower execution of certain queries that could benefit from parallelism.

3. Optimizing Cost Threshold for Parallelism


- Evaluating Workloads:
- The optimal setting for the cost threshold depends on your specific workload.
- For OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) systems with many short, simple queries, a higher threshold might
be appropriate to avoid unnecessary parallelism.
- For OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) or data warehouse systems with large, complex queries, a lower
threshold could help improve query performance by leveraging parallelism.
- Performance Monitoring:
- Monitor query performance using tools like SQL Server Profiler, Extended Events, or Query Store.
- Look for queries that are being parallelized unnecessarily (i.e., simple queries with high CPU usage).
- Adjusting the Setting:
- Gradually adjust the cost threshold value based on the performance monitoring results.
- Test the impact of different values in a controlled environment before applying them to production systems.
- Common Recommendations:
- A common recommendation for modern hardware is to set the cost threshold to a value between 25 and 50.
However, the optimal value can vary based on the specific environment and workload.

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4. How to Change Cost Threshold for Parallelism
You can change the Cost Threshold for Parallelism setting using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or
Transact-SQL.

- Using SSMS:
1. Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.
2. Right-click on the server instance in Object Explorer and select "Properties."
3. In the "Server Properties" dialog, select the "Advanced" page.
4. Under the "Parallelism" section, find "Cost Threshold for Parallelism."
5. Change the value and click "OK" to apply the change.

- Using Transact-SQL:

-- Change the Cost Threshold for Parallelism to 25


EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;
RECONFIGURE;
EXEC sp_configure 'cost threshold for parallelism', 25;
RECONFIGURE;

Replace `25` with your desired threshold value.

5. Monitoring the Effects


- Wait Statistics: After adjusting the cost threshold, monitor wait statistics for parallelism-related waits such as
`CXPACKET`. A reduction in excessive waits might indicate a more efficient use of parallelism.
- Query Performance: Use Query Store or Dynamic Management Views (DMVs) like `sys.dm_exec_query_stats`
to monitor the execution times of queries before and after the change.
- CPU Usage: Monitor overall CPU usage to ensure that parallelism is not leading to CPU bottlenecks.

6. Best Practices
- Regular Review: Regularly review the Cost Threshold for Parallelism setting, especially after significant
changes in workload or server hardware.
- Consider MAXDOP: The Cost Threshold for Parallelism should be configured alongside the `max degree of
parallelism (MAXDOP)` setting, which limits the number of processors used for parallel plan execution.
- Avoid Default Values: In most cases, the default value of 5 is too low for modern hardware and workloads,
leading to unnecessary parallelism. Adjusting it to suit your environment can lead to better performance.

7. Real-World Scenarios
- OLTP Workload: In a high-transaction OLTP environment, increasing the cost threshold (e.g., to 30 or 50)
might be beneficial to prevent small, fast-running queries from being parallelized unnecessarily, which could
otherwise lead to contention and higher CPU usage.
- Data Warehousing: In a data warehouse scenario with complex queries involving large datasets, a lower cost
threshold (e.g., 15 or 20) might be appropriate to ensure that parallelism is leveraged to reduce query execution
times.

The Cost Threshold for Parallelism is a powerful tool in SQL Server performance tuning, but it needs to be
configured carefully based on the specific needs of your environment to strike the right balance between parallel
query execution and system resource usage.
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