CPU Utilization: The Misunderstood Metric

by Gerhard Adam

Ask anyone what they look at when a system is reported as running slow and invariably they will respond with “CPU utilization.” Yet, this metric is the one value that’s fundamentally meaningless in this situation. Given how common the use of this measure is, let’s explore what it means and what kind of insight it may actually provide.

Approaches to DB2 Tuning: What’s the Best Use of Your Time?

by Lockwood Lyon

Assume you’ve been given a directive by IT management to “tune” things. What strategies are available and how do you judge which ones are best? Considering the current economic climate, can any be implemented on a shoestring budget? Can any of these tasks be assigned to resources with basic DBA skills and still be productively accomplished?