Sparx Performance Degradation - Need Ideas to Tune Configuration

[Hawkins]

Experiencing significant performance degradation. Sparx EA users report that response times have been increasing over the last few weeks. I have consulted with our Network Ops team - no one component seem responsible.

CONFIGURATION
Corporate Intranet Network is expansive and global. Servers are hosted in a datacenter with direct pipe to our intranet. Users are connected to the intranet via efficient VPN solution.
40+ Users have Sparx EA 21.1 client and connect to Sparx repositories via Sparx Cloud Service

SQL SERVER 2012                1 VM  Windows 2012-R2 Std  CPU=8, RAM=16GB     (am a little surprised SQL is not gobbling up more than 6GB RAM)
SPARX KEYSTORE/CLOUD SERVICE   1 VM  Windows 2012-R2 Std  CPU=4, RAM=8GB


I have monitored the following resources during peak periods:
   SQL Server - CPU and RAM utilization remains well below 60%, Network leaps to max levels often
   Sparx Cloud Service Server - CPU and RAM utilization remains well below 60%, Network leaps to max levels often
   Client PCs - CPU and RAM utilization remains well below 50%, Network leaps to max levels often


QUESTIONS
1. Is the Sparx Cloud Service the same as the WAN Optimizer discussed on Sparx Systems Website?  (If not, explain difference please)
2. Do any Sparx tuning guides exist?  (is someone available from Sparx Systems consult with us to fine tune our configuration?)
3. What measures do large corporate Sparx deployments use to ensure good performance?  (Network modifications, Server modifications, performance improving appliances)

Thanks in advance for your ideas and suggestions!

[qwerty]

I have no idea about the cloud, but creating larger and larger diagrams is often a point where performance starts to drop.

q.

[Eve]

The cloud server completely replaces a direct DB connection, the WAN optimizer still required the direct DB connection, providing a compressed channel for read-only data from the server.

Check the settings and log for the cloud service. How many concurrent db connections are you allowing? From the logs, how many are you getting? What is the network bandwidth between the servers (and to users?) I wouldn't be concerned about short jumps to maximum utilization, but if it's running in that state for sustained periods that would be an indicator of where the bottleneck is.

How are you connecting to the cloud service? IIS integration or directly? TCP, HTTP or HTTPS?

Does anything change if you restart the service? (from the Windows services list)

[Hawkins]

Hi, and thanks for the feedback!

I do understand that the Cloud Service replaces the direct DB connection, but what I do not know is if Cloud Service also performs WAN Optimization.  (does it?)  I ask because the setup/interface looks so similar .. it made me wonder. Interesting that you would suggest that the WAN Optimization only provides a compressed channel for read-only, because I did not see that in the documentation anywhere so I assumed it was read-write like the other connection methods. hmm..

I am allowing 10 concurrent db connections presently.  I'm a little confused by looking at the log -
   when there is no activity it says                             Free:0  |  Max Active:0  |  Acquisitions:0
   when there is some activity it says something like   Free:5  |  Max Active:5  |  Acquisitions:6450
I would have thought "Free:" would be 10 when not in use?  and I am not sure what the Acquisitions tally indicates? - is that total connections over time, or?

We are connecting to the Cloud Service from our Sparx EA 21.1 client using HTTP - is there a more efficient protocol?  (I'd appreciate knowing if there is)

The performance did not change when I restarted the Cloud Service - I have tried cycling services and the VM itself.  No change.

[Glassboy]

It sounds like you should be talking to your infrastructure people about what QoS settings exist in our environment.  There's a limit to what EA can do in terms of optimization, especially if it's fighting QoS.

[KP]

Interesting that you would suggest that the WAN Optimization only provides a compressed channel for read-only, because I did not see that in the documentation anywhere so I assumed it was read-write like the other connection methods. hmm..

IRTA read is optimized, write is "normal" speed.

[Eve]

I do not know is if Cloud Service also performs WAN Optimization.  (does it?)

Yes it does. The cloud service is an extension to the wan optimizer. In addition to abstracting the db connection itself, it also allows parallel queries, which helps a lot when latency is an issue in the connection.

I am not sure what the Acquisitions tally indicates? - is that total connections over time, or?

Effectively it's the total number of queries handled in the report time period.

We are connecting to the Cloud Service from our Sparx EA 21.1 client using HTTP - is there a more efficient protocol?  (I'd appreciate knowing if there is)

I would recommend http given you're operating within a VPN so security isn't an issue. The only thing to check though is if the cloud service is directly handling the http queries on the port you are communicating or if IIS integration is being used. That is invisible to the EA client, so the best thing to do is check the cloud service config file to see what ports it is handling.