IBM Software Group / DB2 Information Management

Informix on Linux and A “Sneak Peek” at the

New IDS Next Installer

Jerry Keesee, Director of the Informix lab

Sandor Szabo, Development, Informix R&D, Munich
Kozhikode Venugopalan (Venu), Architect, Informix R&D
Srini Bhagavan, Architect, IBM Data Management

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Informix on Linux

Sandor Szabo, Development, Informix R&D, Munich

Kozhikode Venugopalan (Venu), Architect, Informix R&D

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Agenda

 IBM Informix and LINUX

 Performance & Scalability
 Tips and Tricks !
 Usage Trend
 Strategy and Roadmap
 Summary

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History

2004 : IBM IDS 9.4

64 bit on Itanium
2003 : IBM IDS 9.4 - 64 bit
DB Engine on zSeries

1999 : LINUX edition – IBM

IDS 9.20. Full feature set
1999 : LINUX edition – IBM
support.
IDS 7.30. Limited features. 4GL
& I-SQL clients.

1998 : First commercial

Enterprise LINUX DB – IBM
IDS 7.24
1998 : IBM Informix ESQL/C
& SE on LINUX

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2004 Achievements & near future plans

 Reintroducing RPM support from IDS 9.40.UC5

 Certification of IDS products on Red Hat & SUSE enterprise
versions
 Test suites to vendors
 Time limited license support
 Support for ALL IBM platforms that support LINUX !!
 IA64 (64-bit edition for Intel Itanium based systems)
 POWER™ 64-bit (IBM eServer™ iSeries™ and pSeries® systems)
 AMD64 (64-bit edition for AMD Opteron and Athlon64 based systems)
 Intel® EM64T

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2004 Achievements & near future plans

 Exploitation of the 2.6 kernel

 KAIO support
 Processor Affinity to achieve improved scalability
 SNMP support

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Current HW support on Linux

 Support for 32 bit Intel x86 platforms

(32-bit edition for Intel Pentium®, Xeon and AMD Athlon )
 zSeries® 64 bit (IBM eServer zSeries systems)
 IA64 (64-bit edition for Intel Itanium based systems)

 POWER™ on Linux (IBM eServer™ iSeries™ and pSeries®

systems) supported with IDS vNext
 AMD 64 & EM64T supported with IDS vNext

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IBM Informix leverage

 Leveraging IBM relationships & partnerships with Linux vendors

like SUSE, Red Hat (Better escalation channel for issues).
 Access to alpha/beta versions of Linux distributions
 Beta program participation
 Supply test suites to Linux distributors
 Share IBM Linux strategy vision
 Easier access to new hardware

Translates as benefits to our customers!

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Agenda

IBM Informix and LINUX

Performance & Scalability
Tips and Tricks !
Usage Trend
Strategy and Roadmap
Summary

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Performance Tips

 Scales linearly on SMP – internal benchmarks

 Up to 2.5GB of contiguous shared memory (32 Bit)
 Very Large Memory > 4 GB support (64 Bit)
 Large file suport > 2G in 9.4 (>7.25, SE and CISAM)
 Choose your FS carefully for cooked files

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Scalability & Performance improvements

 Choose PAGE size carefully in IDS vNext

 Processor Affinity
 KAIO (on raw devices)

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IDS 9.4 for Linux on zSeries

 IBM Informix 9.40 is the first IBM database engine to fully

exploit the large memory, 64-bit capabilities of the Linux
kernel on the zSeries.

 Fully implemented 64-bit architecture

 64-bit systems reduce the work of the application

programmer by removing the design constraints inherent in
31-bit architectures

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Objectives of the sizing project

 Analyze the performance of the Informix database by

scaling CPUs, memory and database size
 Identify the scalability of Linux for IBM zSeries using
Informix transactional workloads
 Investigate the performance of different disks
 The test environment is a customer-like environment,
not a system for high-end benchmarking.

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Workloads used.....

TPC-C like
• High hit ratio: use a small number of warehouses (10 or 20) and
stay with this through CPU and memory scaling

• Low hit ratio: scale number of warehouses with throughput while

scaling CPUs and memory. The ratio between warehouses and new
order transactions per minute is 1:12.

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CPU Scaling [2GB workload fully cached – 10WH]

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Large Scale Linux Solution Test Center

Informix 9.4.0 FC3 on
SUSE LINUX ENTERPRISE SERVER 8 SP2 (64-bit)
on IBM zSeries

"The workload scales perfectly from 1 to 16 CPUs,

demonstrating that the
Informix database, SUSE SLES8 and the zSeries
hardware are very well suited for scaling
even beyond 4 CPUs"

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Agenda

IBM Informix and LINUX

Performance & Scalability
Tips and Tricks !
Usage Trends
Strategy and Roadmap
Summary

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Tips and Tricks

LibAIO.so library – OS requirement

minimum version is libaio 0.3.96-3.
KAIO automatically works on raw devices and can be
turned off by KAIOOFF=1
Processor affinity onconfig variables
• AFF_SPROC = <Start Processor>
• AFF_NPROCS = <# Processors>

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Tips and Tricks

Experiences with different
2.6 Kernel I/O schedulers on zLinux

 AS (Anticipatory I/O)

 NOOP (No-op I/O)

 CFQ (Complete Fairness Queueing )

 DEADLINE

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How to Change the Location of Shared Library for

a Process on SUSE Linux……

 Beginning with kernel version 2.4.19, Linux provides a way to

dynamically change the default start address for shared libraries
on a per-process basis. This feature is available, if the file
/proc/$$/mapped_base exists.

 To change the start address for shared libraries of the oninit

processes, the new start address needs to be specified by user
root in the shell from where oninit is started.

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How to Change the Location of Shared Library for

a Process on SUSE Linux……
 Example:
$ echo $$
29712
$ su root
Password:
# # the following sets the start address of shared libraries to
0xB0000000:
# echo -1342177280 > /proc/29712/mapped_base
# exit
$ oninit

Assuming the $ONCONFIG parameter SHMBASE is 0x10000000, this

gives 2.5 GB of contiguous address space available for the database
server.

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How to Change the Location of Shared Library for

a Process on RedHat Linux……

 On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 the start address for shared

libraries is 0xb7600000 and memory address space is utilized
downwards.

 The ONCONFIG variable SHMBASE is recommend to be set at

SHMBASE 0x10000000L

 - $ cat /proc/25830/maps [see notes]

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LINUX file systems

EXT2 is good ….
JFS gave very good performance in our tests
Reiser File System (reiserfs), which is the default file
system on some Linux distributions gives bad
performance....
Lots of memory is good for file system caching!!

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Agenda
IBM Informix and LINUX
Performance & Scalability
Tips and Tricks !
Usage Trend
Strategy and Roadmap
Summary

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Informix Success Stories on Linux

 Cisco: voice over IP as embedded DB

 Italian Foreign Ministry: 200 embassies world wide
 GE Interlogix: world´s largest access-control system supplier
 Online Computing: ERP supplier for Fireworks companies
 CornerCap: Portfolio management a
 Physics Institute of University of Cantabria: GRID research

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Informix Success Stories on Linux

 Apropos Retail: Management system for retailers

 French Air Force: Human Resource Department
 Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik
 Morgan Stanley: Financial Datablade and Real-time Loader
 Sabo Italy: Fire fighting liquids, products for cosmetic industry

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Reference Customers on Linux zSeries

 T-Systems International GmbH

 Bayersiches Landesamt fuer Statistik und Datenverarbeitung
 State of California
 Datenzentrale Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
 China Life and PICC

All quotes from published success stories or references

See the success story section off of http://www.ibm.com/software/data/informix or talk to your sales rep for more details

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IDS + WebSphere
Flexibility, Options, Efficiency Reduced Costs!

Secretaria de Finanzas
Gobierno del Estado de
Jalisco

 Web-based tax collection system

 Needs: resiliency, 24x7 availability, ease of use, open standards
 Solution:
– Web portal based based on IBM WebSphere Application Server on Linux
– IBM Informix Dynamic Server
– IBM Informix SQL, ESQL/C, MaxConnect
 Value:
– Significant cost reduction
– More efficient tax collection
– Convenience and speed lead to increased customer satisfaction
– Current solution allows for future expansion

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El Salvador Tax Administration Office

Comparison Statistics

Characteristic Original Server Production Server

RDBMS ODS 7.31 FC2 IDS 9.4 UC2
Avg Client Connections 360 500
Response Time Data Entry - 50% faster
Base Tax Report 15 minutes 5 minutes
1/3 of the time
Declaration Posting 7 hours 3 hours
<1/2 of the time
Processing Tax Forms 4 hours 40 mins
<1/6 of the time
Processing EDA 3 hours 60 mins
1/3 of the time

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Agenda

IBM Informix and LINUX

Performance & Scalability
Tips and Tricks !
Usage Trend
Strategy and Roadmap
Summary

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LINUX Strategy

Overall IBM strategy and not just DM!

Support for enterprise versions of Redhat and SUSE
Other versions evaluated purely based on business
needs
Support the 2.6 Kernel +
Support for newer glibc versions
GOAL: Certify on enterprise [Red Hat & SUSE] within
90 days of GA

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Linux Intel x86 Support

Product SUSE SLES 8 / UL 1.0 SUSE SLES 9 RHEL 3 RHEL 4

IDS 9.40   (UC5)  (UC4) Planned

IDS vNext Planned Planned Planned

CSDK 2.81   (UC3)

CSDK vNext Planned Planned Planned

4GL 7.32  Planned (UC2) Planned

C-ISAM 7.26  Planned  Planned

SE  Planned  Planned

Online 5.2  Planned  Planned

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Linux zSeries (64-Bit) Support

Product SUSE SLES 8 / UL 1.0 SUSE SLES 9 RHEL 3 RHEL 4

IDS 9.40   (FC5)  (FC5) Planned

IDS vNext Planned Planned Planned

CSDK 2.81 

CSDK vNext Planned Planned Planned

4GL 7.32  Planned Planned Planned

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Linux Itanium (64-Bit) Support

Product SUSE SLES 8 / UL 1.0 SUSE SLES 9 RHEL 3 RHEL 4

IDS 9.40  Planned  (FC3) Planned

IDS vNext Planned Planned Planned

CSDK 2.81   (FC3)

CSDK vNext Planned Planned Planned

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Linux pSeries/iSeries (64-Bit) Support

Product SUSE SLES 8 / UL 1.0 SUSE SLES 9 RHEL 3 RHEL 4
IDS vNext No Planned Planned Planned

CSDK vNext No Planned Planned Planned

4GL 7.32 No Planned Planned Planned

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Linux AMD64 (32-Bit) Support

Product SUSE SLES 9 RHEL 3 RHEL 4

IDS vNext Planned Planned Planned

CSDK vNext Planned Planned Planned

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Agenda

IBM Informix and LINUX

Performance & Scalability
Tips and Tricks !
Usage Trend
Strategy and Roadmap
Summary

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Summary

 IDS is continually evolving to exploit Linux features for best

performance
 Similarly, tuning practices are very portable across IDS platforms,
but an understanding of Linux gives more opportunities
 Linux is maturing as a platform for the enterprise
– Consolidation of major distributions is occurring, but very vigorous open-
source development continues
– Tools to enable deployment are more available & robust
 There are strong performance advantages to moving to a recent
kernel
 Adoption rates for IBM Informix on Linux increase
 LINUX is unique … lets put it to work!

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External Website for Informix Linux Information

www.ibm.com/informix/linux

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Sneak peek at the new IDS vNext Installer

Srini Bhagavan
Architect, IBM Data Management

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Agenda

The new Installer

What is changing?
How will it benefit me?
Installation options
Screen shots

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IDS vNext Install Platform choice

 Embedded requirement
 Product integration with IBM offerings like IR, ISV product
bundling advantages, etc.,
 Autonomic Improvements
 Uniform interface across all UNIX platforms
 GUI based install capability
 Permissions - entire installation is run as a single user instead of
combination
 Silent install capability

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IDS vNext Install Platform choice

 Uninstall capability
 Helps achieve uniform installation across IBM product portfolio.
Same look and feel for our customer base regardless of the
product.
 Helps us set the stage for a single install & deployment across
DM at some point.
 Enhanced error reporting - dynamic in many cases. Errors are
reported up-front and prevents the need to deal with debris.
 Minimizes critical manual steps required prior to installation
 Usability enhancements
 Experienced user support

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Script Vs Java/ISMP Installer – A Comparison

1. Getting Started…
 The product usually delivered as a tar ball, had components
tar’d twice.
 An user extracts it once, only to find another tar ball which has
to be extracted again.
 The ISMP based product is also a tar ball.
 An user extracts it once, instead of getting another tar ball, ends
up with a jar file not requiring an additional step of extraction.

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Script Vs Java/ISMP Installer – A Comparison

2. Installing the Product…

 The product is not provided in extracted form in the Media.
 The user has to either copy or extract to a local file system to
install the product.
 Only TUI mode of installation was supported.
 The installer has the capability to be started from the Media. No
local extraction is required
 The installer support GUI, TUI and Silent modes of installation

GUI: Graphical User Interface

TUI: Text User Interface (also referred to as console mode).

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Script Vs Java/ISMP Installer – A Comparison

3. Product Requirements…
 Lots of Disk Space was needed for performing various
activities (to the tune of 1.5GB)
 Some portion of installation has to be run as one user and
another portion as root user.
 Media size reduced anywhere from 30-50% making the product
less Bulky
 Start to finish only with one user id and all the steps required
for the installation are taken care of

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Script Vs Java/ISMP Installer – A Comparison

4. Audience – opening doors to Novice users…

 A person with very less expertise doing product installation will
have to understand the product structure to get started with
installation.
 User has to start all over again, if some problem happens during
installation.
 On a side note, licensing (SEL) was external and visible.
 A person with very less expertise doing product installation can
install the product
 The Installer drives the user by getting the required information
 Licensing is embedded into the product

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Script Vs Java/ISMP Installer – A Comparison

5. Eliminate Manual Steps…

 User had to define, environment variables based on their setup
($INFORMIXDIR, $ROLE_SEP etc.,)
 Possible problems with file permission with extraction of source
files.
 The installer accepts information dynamically, eliminating the
need for preset values in the environment
 A single user based installation performs all the required tasks
and the product is setup properly at the destination

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vNext Installer Options

1. Current Installer can be invoked by the following methods

2. installserver [preferred] Uses bundled JVM, if JAVA not found in
the PATH
3. Installserver –javahome [for users that want to use a local java]
4. Java –cp IIF.jar run [for users who want to invoke directly –
advanced]
5. Installserver –legacy [extracts a legacy distribution]

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Installer Options

 Additionally on LINUX also package the following RPMs [since

9.40.UC5]
• Product.rpm
• GLS.rpm
• Message.rpm
 LINUX users have a choice to use this option and its details are
documented in users guide
 For enhanced usability, a wrapper script is provided that invokes
the RPMs in the correct sequence

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vNext Installer Screen Shots

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Splash screen

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GUI Welcome Screen

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License Panel

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Install Destination

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Product choices – All or Specific components

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GUI Role Separation

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GUI Summary Panel

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GUI Installation Progress

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GUI Installation Complete

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Console Screen shots

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License Agreement

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Console Product Uninstall

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Key take aways

 Java based Installer using ISMP

 Eliminated all the critical manual steps
 Simple to use compared to previous installer
 GUI based Installer in addition to console mode
 Silent install support
 Uninstaller capability
 Legacy install extraction option to support advanced
users

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http://www.ibm.com/software/data/informix

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