By Robert A. Lund TAMING the HP 3000
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by Robert A. Lund TAMING THE HP 3000 Volume II TAMING THE HP 3000 Volumell The Theory and Practice of Successful Performance Management for Hewlett-Packard lIP 3000 Computer Systems Robert A. Lund Performance Press Publishing AJbany,Oregon 97321 TAMING THE HP 3000 - Volume II The Theory and Practice of Successful Performance Management for Hewlett-Packard HP 3000 Computer Systems Copyright (c) 1992 by Robert A. Lund Manufactured in the United States of America All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher (unless noted otherwise) except for brief quotes in connection with critical reviews written specifically for inclusion in a journal magazine, or newspaper. First edition 1992 Manuscript preparation by Performance Press, Albany, Oregon. Printing by Commercial Bindery Werks , Salem. Oregon. ISBN cr945325-02-9 (cloth) cr945325-03-7 (paper) Library of Congress card catalog number: 87-092025 First Printing 8/92 - 200 Seoond Printing 9/92-1800 NOTICE: Performance Press makes no express or implied warranty with regard to the performance managing techniques herein offered. The ideas offered are made available on an "as is" basis, and the entire risk as to their quality and performance is with the user. Should the methodologies or ideas described herein prove damaging in any way, the user (and not Performance Press, nor Robert A. Lund nor any other party) shall bear the entire cost of all necessary correction and all incidental or consequential damages. Performance Press, nor Robert A. Lund shall not be liable for errors contained herein, or any incidental or consequential damages in connection with. or arising out of, the furnishing. use, or resulting performance of methodologies and ideas included herein. Printing: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Date: 92 93 94 95 For ordering information, call or write the publisher at: Performance Press, P.O.Box 151, Albany, Oregon 97321 (503) 327-3800 Fax (503) 327-3276 To My Lord Jesus Christ, Whom, I Found Out, Actually Cares About HP 3000 System Performance, To A Certain Degree, Because He Cares About Me; And Who Has Unceasingly Poured Out On Me, Joy, Purpose, And Life, This Volume Is Gratefully Dedicated. Foreword The subject of performance analysis on commercial Hewlett-Packard computer systems is something I have been involved with for the last 12 years. Being somewhat of a philosopher at heart and an observer of the species homo sapiens, it has often fascinated me to watch the myths, misconceptions, and plain incorrect information that has circulated regard- ing HP 3000 performance. These incorrect perceptions have not been limited to just end-users and System Managers either. HP SEs, CEs, marketing types, sales reps, independent consultants, and many others, who really should know better, have fallen prey to the mass of information about the subject. This mass seems at times too large, at other times too small, and most of the time too confusing to have any sense made of it by mere mortals with IQs of 150 or less. Fortunately for all those mentioned above, Bob Lund has taken a giant leap toward cutting through the dense fog surrounding the subject of HP 3000 Performance Consulting. This book is the best (heck, the only) concise source of information that exists to my knowledge. Certainly there are myriads of articles, talks, and papers that have been presented over the years that cover much of this information. But never has this material appeared under one cover, presented in a logical sequence, and with the assumption that the reader does not already have a Ph.D. in Computer Modeling. A fundamental assumption that Bob covers very well is a question most of us have overlooked totally, that is, "Why should Icare?" The first part of this book covers the reasons why performance analysis and modeling are vital activities in today's HP 3000 shops, and something that every System Manager should be able to perform. As I read through the book, I wondered why Bob spent so much time making a seemingly obvious argument to the reader. But as I read on, I recognized the truth in this course. So many people I have consulted for did not perform regular analyses, and got themselves into a big jam that required a hired "gun"to come and fix the problems. Bob, I realized, has had the exact same experience too many times, and saw the need to preach this gospel. For the first time in print, that I can recall, his discussion of the important question of Why? is addressed. The other thing that impressed me about the book is his treatment of the 16-bit Classic HP 3000s. Bob, being a pragmatist who lives in the real world, recognizes that there are still a large number of Classic machines running out there, doing very useful work with great cost effectiveness, given the current resale prices of "huge" Series 70s and other high end machines. This is in stark contrast to the so-called "Guru's" at HP, both "labbv", field SE,and marketing types alike, who were referring to MPE V and the 16-bit 3000s in the past tense five years ago, even when MPE XL was barely able to boot by itself. Far from writing off the Classic, Bob gives even more tips to wring the last microgram of performance from this tried-and-true architecture, thus breathing new life into the Classic com- puter. What lies ahead in these pages can be read slowly, a chapter at a time, or can be read at a single sitting. It will certainly be referred to time and again. But for every HP 3000 System Manager, IT MUST BE READ. In these days of cost cutting, "downsizing" etc., getting the most of what you have has become especially important. This book is a concise volume of information that allows the average System Manager, with no advanced degrees or pocket protectors, the ability to get the most of what they have. Jason Goertz July, 1992 II Preface I know what you are thinking ...It's about time for Volume II. I suppose it is a bit over-due. One reason for this was that I wanted to get thoroughly equipped with the new HP-RISC systems. The MPE/iX operating system (originally MPE/XL) has evolved quite a bit since release 1.0 in the late 1980's. The other reason was that I started my own firm. Gee, it looks so easy when you are outside of a small, growing business looking in... I now know that in order to successfully run a business and keep a happy customer base it takes lots of hard work mixed with a servants heart being willing to give $1.15of service and product for every $1.00received. That venture has taken a fair bit of time. In this volume I have pulled out all the stops and provide a very large quantity of, what I believe to be, very relevant information on HP 3000 performance management. Like the subtitle says, it is not only the theory or just the practice, but the theory and the practice that provides a solid foundation for success in a discipline. My desire is that this book will equip you with such a foundation. Now, please spare me a short divergence from the system performance discussion. WARNING, if you really don't want to listen to me speak from my heart, please skip to the introduction and ignore the fine print in the margin of each page. About those funny little quotes on the edge of each page. Lest you think I am crazy, let me explain. As I grow older (I am 34as I pen these words), I am giving more thought as to life;what is it, how people miss it, how to get it, and make the most of it. Consequently, I have been observing, really observing not only how to cure the performance of HP 3000s,but also how to deal with dysfunction in a business, raising kids, what makes a marriage work, etc. Now it gets really philosophical... I am saddened by what I see in 1992happening to people I know, my country, and most nations on earth. iii You know what Iam talking about... Marriages are being blown to smithereens (with all the resulting shrapnel), businesses filing chapter 11 or worse, leaders being exposed and brought down, economies faltering and failing, standards of living, for most, steadily declining, children rebelling, overdosing, and dying at alarming rates, genocide of our young (via abortion) taking place at unprecedented num- bers as a solution to other very complex problems, our inner cities nearly resembling "Escape From New York", the elderly losing hope, and a general, apparent decline of (particularly) western civilization. Some results I observe from the above ... People live with fear, fight to survive, become calloused and hard (if someone smiles at you on the sidewalk of some of our bigger cities, you think their up to something ...), kill and plunder at the drop of a dime (or a court verdict...), compromise for expediency sake, and lose the desire and drive that once motivated people, especially in the United States of America. Once again, if any of this offends you simply ignore it; just go ahead and read the computer stuff ... My goal is not to offend anyone but perhaps to provide a slight wake-up call. It is really hard for me to write this book and not speak of some of the concerns facing us in these times.