Chapter 3: Finding and Eliminating Bottlenecks
In This Chapter
Identifying the problem
Considering possible causes
Pondering possible fixes
Investigating bottlenecks
Judging query efficiency
Using resources wisely
Databases generally start small and grow with time. Operations that could be performed in a reasonable amount of time with a small database gradually take longer as the database grows. This slowdown probably isn’t due to any general inadequacy of the system, but to a specific link in the chain of operations that leads from a request to a result. That specific link is a bottleneck. Finding and eliminating bottlenecks is one of the main jobs of any person charged with maintaining a database. The ability to determine the cause of a performance shortfall, and to find a remedy, is valuable in any organization and can be highly rewarding, both intellectually and financially.
