High Network I/O waits for a local process!!

  • Hi there,

    I have a quick question about something that looks strange to me.

    I am running an SQL 2005 EE Server with Analysis Services and have been given the task of speeding things up.

    I have identified a couple of areas where we can help things (we will be swapping from 32 Bit to 64 bit if our tests can prove that it is useful).

    When I process a cube I am getting quite a few Network I/O waits which belong to the Analysis Services process.

    Why is this? The Analysis Services process runs on the same machine as the SQL Server, so it doesn't make any sense to me that there would be network i/o. If anything I would expect Disk I/O waits.

    Is this erroneous data because SQL Server "thinks" it is talking to a process/server over the network (OLEDB connection between the two processes), or is there really data flowing through the NIC?

    Thanks in advance!

    Regards,

    WilliamD

  • Watch the blinky blinky things while the process is running?  Just kidding, what kind of storage does your server use DAS, NAS, iSCSI, SAN?  If you're running NAS or iSCSI could very well be that you're seeing the network storage equivalent of a Disk I/O wait.

    Joe

     

  • ahhh the blinky blinky things..... those little doofers next to the thingumybob right?

    We have an IBM DS400 storage bay, it is attached to a dedicated controller card. Does this count as a NAS or is it seen like a SCSI device (directly attached)?

    All DBs are on the IBM storage system, internal disks are used for the os only.

    Please also note, that we do also have I/O waits for queries that are running too.

    Thanks

    Regards,

    WilliamD

  • Is TCP/IP enabled for the sql server? Make sure Shared Memory network protocol is enabled and top of the list, then AS should use that preferentially since it is on the same box as sql server.

    Best,
    Kevin G. Boles
    SQL Server Consultant
    SQL MVP 2007-2012
    TheSQLGuru on googles mail service

  • Hi SQLGuru,

    I just checked what you suggested and the configuration was already setup as you recommended.

    We are wanting to make a clean install in the near future and swap to 64 bit, maybe that will help things out.

    Unfortunately we have a DBA who has changed to a managment role, but still likes to "play" with our systems! Too many cooks.........

    Regards,

    WilliamD

  • Hey, I have a client who's CEO is still hacking out code - - COMPLETELY OUTSIDE of the IT department's control processes no less!! :-))

    Best,
    Kevin G. Boles
    SQL Server Consultant
    SQL MVP 2007-2012
    TheSQLGuru on googles mail service

  • He can't let go and ends up writing stuff that doesn't get documented (documenting is something he shoves in our faces when we don't get it done).

    Best thing is though.... he uses non-ansi standards (supposed to be banned within our company, by himself!)

    All in all, quite a nightmare

    Regards,

    WilliamD

  • When you say you're seeing a network I/O wait, where are you seeing that, within SQL Server or via perfmon?

    On a machine here in the office I can't find a "Network I/O" performance counter so I assume that either (1) additional performance counters have been installed by your HBA drivers or (2) you're seeing this within sql server.

    In case it's number 2, put a perfmon trace on the server that includes the various disk counters and let us know what you see there...

  • Hi Joe,

    I recently installed/ran the performance dashboard report that can be downloaded from Microsoft.

    On the dashboard I was shown that there were Network I/O waits which could be classed as a Network I/O problem.

    I took a look at the offending process and saw that this was created by Analysis Services (a cube was being processed at the time).

    I will try to get the trace done and results posted.

    Regards,

    WilliamD

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