For many of us, working with databases is an important part of our daily routines. Whether drawing from information to help customers, updating listings to reflect new products or price changes, or anything in-between, these tools are indispensable. As with any technology, we can be content to sit with existing systems as long as possible, for fear of rocking the digital boat. For the sake of performance, however, a more proactive approach can offer enormous advantages.
What is Database Performance?
In simple terms, database performance refers to how the database responds under regular operation. For a healthy and well-performing database, requests for information and changes to the information contained within should all process quickly, consistently, and without errors.
A poorly performing database can illustrate itself clearly, though this is not always the case. Typically, when performance suffers, the most common illustration is an extension of loading times, and periods of instability when attempting to add or modify information. While frustrating, these issues can illustrate on the tip of what might be an immense iceberg of coming dangers.
“Hard drive head” (CC BY 2.0) by AMagill
When performance starts to drag, any number of components could be to blame. Sometimes these issues are benign and easily traceable and treatable, such as when storage capacity runs low. Other times, such as with disk degradation, problems can offer far more nebulous symptoms until a massive cascade failure-state is reached. Unfortunately, there’s so much variety here that determining causes for the uninitiated can be difficult, which is where dedicated tools come in.
Addressing Database Performance Issues
In general terms, there are some simple checks or forms of maintenance that can be performed on database systems for longevity and increased performance. These can range from a physical cleaning of a database server as you would a PC to a complete defragment of storage media. Like with cleaning, some treatments are similar to those which apply to any other standard desktop and laptop system.
The problem is that most regular tools aren’t made with databases in mind. Because of this, it can be best to instead invest in specialized systems to reveal and diagnose database performance issues and operational complications.
Modern database monitoring software solutions are a reliable choice in this regard. Specifically made to address database servers, networks, and data systems, these forms of software go far more in-depth and reveal far more information than manual methods can.
“DATABASE at Postmasters, March 2009” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by mandiberg
For an example of this, database performance analyzers give real-time readouts of performance in areas like memory, CPU, and disk usage. By tracking these readouts, and the patterns which they illustrate over time, it can be possible to identify both active issues, and issues which could be soon to appear. Rather than being reactive to just the worst outcomes, these systems can mitigate or completely overcome performance problems before they even occur.
A Matter of Inevitability?
Database performance degradation, like anything involved with computer hardware, is a matter of when, and not if. That is not to say that issues will necessarily be sudden, unavoidable, or catastrophic by any means, but eventual degeneration is a reality every business operator needs to understand.
In cases like these, consider an active approach to keep your systems running efficiently as long as possible. Then, even if you do need an upgrade, you’ll have some indication of what is needed, and what might prove unnecessary.
