http://www.sqlmag.com/authors/author/author/5777258/rsscomment/5777258en-USFri, 25 May 2012 08:27:57 GMTFri, 25 May 2012 08:27:57 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorWed, 25 May 2005 08:06:08 GMT
Defragmentation can enhance the performance of a disk array. Multi-disk arrays, such as RAID 5 arrays, are seen by the operating system as a single disk, known as a virtual disk. The operating system builds a master file table (MFT) that arranges files on the virtual disk and requests data from the RAID controller based on its layout in the MFT. If a file is fragmented into several pieces, the OS must make multiple I/O requests, one to retrieve each chunk (or fragment) of data from the disk. A common misconception is that fragmentation does not affect a disk array because files are stored across multiple drives. It’s important to remember that, even on a single drive, the physical layout of the drive is different than the logical layout of the drive. At the logical level, the disk is represented as a series of contiguous blocks. This is the “picture” that the disk presents to the operating system. At the physical level, factors such as multiple heads and platters, rotation of the disk, etc., determine how blocks of data are placed for optimal retrieval speed; blocks that are logically contiguous may not be physically next to one another (in fact, they probably won’t be). Likewise, with a disk array, the physical placement of the data blocks is not important. The disk array controller handles all that; the operating system sees a single logical drive (the virtual disk). Therefore, disk arrays see the same benefits from defragmentation as do single drives.]]>Anonymous User Wed, 25 May 2005 08:06:08 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/troubleshooting-windows-nt-performance#commentsAnchorMon, 24 Jan 2005 04:49:56 GMT
Critically evaluate the effect of changes to settings on the performance of a chosen NT operating system ? ?]]>Anonymous User Mon, 24 Jan 2005 04:49:56 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/troubleshooting-windows-nt-performance#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorMon, 22 Nov 2004 18:49:06 GMT
i have avg 6 i cant uninstall itsays something about 16 bit windows subsystem and C:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt. the system file is not suitable for running ms-dos and microsoaft windows applictions chose close to terminate the application]]>Anonymous User Mon, 22 Nov 2004 18:49:06 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorFri, 11 Jun 2004 11:57:34 GMT
I find the document by Curt Aubley very interesting and will try some of his suggestions. I however, have the same question that Joost van Halm had. I wasn’t sure whether it would make sense to run a defragmentation utility on any RAID subsystem but is of the opinion that defragmenting should help since the process of writing and reading data from the disk is the same as a non-RAIDed subsystem.]]>Johnathan Wilks Fri, 11 Jun 2004 11:57:34 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/third-party-monitoring-tools#commentsAnchorWed, 09 Oct 2002 08:24:37 GMT
Can anyone please tell me of any SQL third party database monitoring tool that will monitor more than server level i.e CPU,MEMORY ETC but also database level i.e deadlocks,database integrity]]>Kemi Banjoko Wed, 09 Oct 2002 08:24:37 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/third-party-monitoring-tools#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorThu, 04 Oct 2001 12:11:20 GMT
Correction to text. The Administrative Tools are envoked through the Control Panel in Win2K Professional.]]>David Nealey Thu, 04 Oct 2001 12:11:20 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/troubleshooting-windows-nt-performance#commentsAnchorTue, 15 May 2001 02:35:49 GMT
Thanks for the ’Important Monitor Objects and Counter table’. We are moving to a Win2k server environment and I want to know if there are any additional objects and counters I should be monitoring specifically for Windows 2000 Advanced Server.]]>lisa gilholm Tue, 15 May 2001 02:35:49 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/troubleshooting-windows-nt-performance#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorTue, 13 Feb 2001 13:39:02 GMT
Great. Another pointless article that explains the features of a W2k application without offering a solution. HOW DO I MEASURE THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL THE COMPUTERS ON MY NETWORK? From start to finish, recommend a total process for accomplishing this task.]]>ShawnTue, 13 Feb 2001 13:39:02 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorThu, 08 Feb 2001 10:43:38 GMT
I too am disappointed with both NT and Win2K performance monitors. For a quick view on some key counters like memory or CPU utilization they work fine. In my job testing an application to recommend HW I want to be able to run the log over a period of time and be able to see a timestamp so I know what the performance counters are when we have x number of users running the app, and how other variables affect performance. I have looked high and low and cannot find any acceptable utility. The ones that sound promising require SQL and or SMS which we will not install just to be able to run a decent log. Anyway this is my 2 cents.]]>Sandy Tucker Thu, 08 Feb 2001 10:43:38 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorFri, 28 Apr 2000 12:05:31 GMT
Performance monitor is the natural solution that most people are confronted with. I find it lackluster in many regards, particularly visually - even compared to win98’s System Monitor - which is much easier to see from across the room, due to it’s bar graphs (as apposed to PerfMon’s line graphs). My hunt continues for a review that offers alternative (pref. shareware) tools - perfmon doesn’t cut it if you want it in the corner of your screen... too much real estate.]]>Nik Trahen Fri, 28 Apr 2000 12:05:31 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorSun, 02 Apr 2000 06:56:35 GMT
As a professional who has used Windows NT, for stability and security, since Microsoft released v3.1 I really appreciate articles that are geared towards the users who are running NT 4.0 or now Win2K Professional on a stand-alone computer. I must at the same time say that Windows NT and now Windows 2000 is the only computer magazine that I buy. In the medical profession there are rags published by quacks that aren’t worth their weight in BTUs and peer reviewed journals that maintain very high standards; I say with confidence that Windows NT/2000 Magazine falls into the latter catagory and stands high above all of the other computer magazines on shelf. At the same time I must say that there are some highly specialized journals for code-slingers etc. but they are of no relavence to me. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK !!! Cheers, PN PS: The alphabet soup after my name ia there only because the CMPA, that insures me against malpractice, regulations say that it has to go on all corresponce that contains any reference to the medical profession.]]>Philip Norman Ph.D. OCPCS FRIP Sun, 02 Apr 2000 06:56:35 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/windows-2000-performance-tools#commentsAnchorhttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchorMon, 09 Aug 1999 11:24:28 GMT
I’m a consultant who mainly works in the Windows NT migration area. I read Curt Aubley’s “Tuning NT Server Disk Subsystems” (March) and came up with the following questions that no one seems able to answer: Does defragmenting a RAID 5 subsystem make any sense? Does fragmentation have any effect on the performance of a RAID 5 subsystem?
--Joost van Halm

Defragmenting your disk arrays can help performance. In its most basic form, defragmentation groups the parts of fragmented files closer together. In the worst case, you don’t get any help; in the best case, you get a lot of help. Run some benchmarks (or watch those Performance Monitor files closely) before and after you defragment your disks.
--Curt Aubley]]>Joost van Halm Mon, 09 Aug 1999 11:24:28 GMThttp://www.sqlmag.com/article/performance/tuning-nt-server-disk-subsystems#commentsAnchor