Non-recursive method for parameter evaluation within an information

Abstract

A method for non-recursive data driven parameter evaluation within an information management system (e.g., a relational database management system, RDBMS). Parameters are attributes within an RDBMS system whose value can be modified to influence the manner in which a database environment responds. Depending on the character of the data within a database environment or the hardware resources allocated to the database, the parameter values have a large influence on the performance efficiency of the database. For instance, a parameter value may influence the memory size of certain data storage areas within a database environment and, if set too small, can cause an inefficiently large amount of input/output accesses to occur as data is moved in and out of disk storage. Also, many parameters are data dependent on other parameters. The novel system presents an automated system for evaluating parameters using a non-recursive evaluation process. By using a non-recursive approach, the evaluation process is streamlined in that only one pass yields an optimum parameter evaluation and the results are reproducible. The novel system identifies a set of parameters within an environment to be tuned, eliminates cyclic dependencies, and orders the parameters based on independence, levels of dependence, impact on system performance and common data usage. The present invention is data driven because rules within a respective parameter are then evaluated based on data availability to arrive at a set of parameter value recommendations. In one embodiment instance, tablespace, system environment, and schema parameters can be evaluated within a RDBMS tuning session.