Benchmarks prove the performance of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux platform

Abstract

This paper describes how database benchmarks demonstrate the performance of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS and Oracle9i Database running on HP ProLiant hardware. Combined with the compelling Total Cost of Ownership model presented by this software and hardware combination, the paper shows why solutions such as this are rapidly replacing proprietary RISC/Unix and Microsoft Windows solutions.

Sample

Executive Summary

During the Summer of 2002 TPC-C and ECperf Benchmark results were published that dramatically demonstrated the benefits of migrating to a Red Hat Enterprise Linux/Intel-based Architecture/HP ProLiant platform. These configurations can offer significant performance and cost advantages over a traditional RISC/Unix environment.

HP Proliant servers delivered the first Linux TPC-C benchmark results running Oracle9i RAC on Red Hat Linux Advanced Server (this product has since been renamed to Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS1). In that benchmark, an 8-node, 32-processor cluster of DL580 servers achieved 138,362.03 transactions per minute (tpmC) at a cost of $17.38/tpmC, setting a new price performance world record for a clustered database. This benchmark illustrated the price/performance leadership of Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS on HP ProLiant Intel-based servers, out-performing a configuration running Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 on a IBM eServer xSeries 370 cluster with 32 processors.

With this benchmark, HP ProLiant servers became the first industry-standard server platform to offer enterprise-class performance for a clustered Oracle Database in a Linux environment. It clearly demonstrates the cost and maintenance benefits of running Linux-based software and industry-standard hardware in enterprise operating environments.

The objective of this document is to describe the levels of stability, scalability and reliability that can be achieved using this platform. In each case presented, the Red Hat/Oracle/HP combination was the clear winner in price and performance. Simply put, these solutions deliver better performance for the price. In certain comparisons the performance improvements are very significant and achievable at a fraction of the cost of other solutions.

Price/Performance

Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS has been optimized to provide exceptional performance on Intel X86-compatible chipsets. Real-world examples from enterprise users suggest that Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 2.1 running on the Intel Pentium 4 chip is able to match the performance of Solaris 8 when running natively compiled C/C++ or Java code. Additional optimizations in specific instances have been able to achieve two-to-five times increases in performance over the application performance on Solaris. It is important to recognize that with less expensive Intel-based hardware, it is probable that customers can purchase substantially faster and more well-equipped industry-standard systems than they would be able to get for the same price from with Solaris, allowing a dramatic leap over Solaris in cost/performance.

Such statements, however, are directed only at raw processing performance. In terms of I/O and network throughput, evidence suggests that the two architectures are closer to parity. Fibre Channel attached storage reads, for example, will not usually be noticeably faster on Linux than Solaris. However, this still permits Linux a cost/performance edge because of the high value of HP ProLiant servers. In certain networking circumstances, Linux is able to best Solaris performance, although more at the application level than in terms of raw TCP/IP or UDP throughput capabilities.

TPC-C and ECperf Benchmarks

The following paragraphs describe the recent audited benchmark results achieved on the Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS operating system. It is worth noting the rapid advances that have been made in Linux performance over the past 12-18 months; the figures achieved in these benchmarks are nearly double what could have been reached in 1999 or 2000. This rate of improvement underscores the effectiveness of the Open Source development methodology when combined with the experience of industry leaders such as Oracle and HP.

TPC-C Benchmark

Benchmark C from the Transaction Processing Performance Council is an online transaction processing (OLTP) database server benchmark. The TPC-C is a highly regarded benchmark that simulates a variety of transactions at various user loads. The benchmark measures the throughput of a database server in an OLTP client/server environment. The power and capacity of database software and server hardware are measured in transactions per minute (tpmC). The benchmark compares the tpmC results with the cost of hardware, software and support for three years to get price/performance values.

TPC-C simulates an environment where a body of virtual users is measured performing a variety of interactive transactions. The best simulations are not limited to a particular branch, but reflect an industry of activity. Though the test focuses on online retail activity, the results are applicable to any enterprise that must manage the sale and distribution of any product or service.

Eight 4-CPU DL580 servers hosted the Oracle9i Real Application Clusters database, which was located on 18TB of storage (configured using SAN Fibre Channel switches and 32 HP MSA1000 storage subsystems). The complete configuration had approximately 1,000 disk drives. 16 dual processor DL360 systems were configured as the database clients.