Introduction
Lately i was wondering if it was possible to run a SAP system on cheap hardware. With x86 hardware becoming more and more powerful, cpu power to operate databases and SAP systems is cheaply available for everybody now. I plan to start a series of blogs on different issues like migrating a SAP system to a consumer like pc, memory / i/o issues and database compression. I will also cover some technologies not widely known today in the SAP and database world.
Beware some things covered here will not be SAP supported (yet). This is still a fun project. I will add the not yet officially supported icon to indicate this.
However it is a sure bet oracle 11g will be supported in the near future and I am convinced the table compression will be as well someday.
To give myself a real challenge i plan to run one of our larger ERP systems (database size 2tb+).The original system runs on hp-ux, database server is having 16 cpus and 96gb memory, with4 application servers with 12 cpus 24 gb memory each. Overall the system has approx. 50000 SAPS. Obvouisly my hardware will not be a match to that, especially if one considers the i/o too.
Well honestly i expect things to run quite terribly, if they run at all. But with a few tricks it might be possible to run the system at least with decent performance. Do not forget I am be no means an expert in any of the above fields. I am just a regular SAP basis guy, but eager to learn
Preparation
As a preparation i will start migration a smallish test database to gather first impressions and to get the basic procedures ready.
Blog: "Codename SOL" - Preparation: Test migration
Second point is to try to get a somehow decent performance without a real storage system. I hope i can get decent io rates with a solid state disk.
Database compression
This is about how to get a database larger than 2gb on a consumer pc. I will have a look at the new OLTP compression, one feature of the advanced compression option of oracle 11g.
Blog: "Codename SOL" - Oracle Advanced Compression - Estimating the Potential
Finding the Hardware
I hope i can get decent io rates with a solid state disk.
Blog: "Codename SOL" - Solid as a Rock, SSD disk evaluation
Blog: "Codename SOL" - Solid as a Rock II, performance tests
Here i cover the process and decisions to find a suitable piece of hardware.
Still doing small tests, no money spent yet 😉
More updates coming soon, stay tuned...
