Why and when to perform this task
To optimize your WebSphere Application Servers to their fullest extent, use the Performance Advisors in addition to the suggested procedures or parameters in the tuning parameter hot list and the tuning performance parameter index.
Performance Advisors
The Performance Advisors use the PMI data to suggest configuration changes to ORB service thread pools, Web container thread pools, connection pool size, persisted session size and time, prepared statement cache size, and session cache size. The Runtime Performance Advisor runs in the application server process, while the other advisor runs in the Tivoli Performance Viewer (TPV). For more information, see Using the Runtime Performance Advisor and Using the Performance Advisor in Tivoli Performance Viewer.
Tuning parameter hot list
Review the Tuning parameter hot list, which is a subset of the tuning parameter index. These hot parameters have an important impact on performance.
The tuning guide focuses on server tuning. If you want to tune your applications, see Performance: Resources for learning for more information about application tuning.
For your convenience, procedures for tuning parameters in other products, such as DB2, Web servers and operating systems are included. Because these products might change, consider these descriptions as suggestions.
Each WebSphere Application Server process has several parameters influencing application performance. You can use the WebSphere Application Server administrative console to configure and tune applications, Web containers, EJB containers, application servers and nodes in the administrative domain.
First, review the Tuning parameter hot list, which is a subset of the tuning parameter index. These parameters have an important impact on performance. Because these parameters are application dependent, the parameter settings for specific applications and environments can vary.
Each parameter in the tuning parameter index links to information that explains the parameter, provides reasons to adjust the parameter, how to view or set the parameter, as well as default and recommended values.
The WebSphere Application Server contains interrelated components that must be harmoniously tuned to support the custom needs of your end-to-end e-business application.
The JVM offers several tuning parameters affecting the performance of WebSphere Application Servers (which are primarily Java applications), as well as the performance of your applications.
Several topics including Web modules, EJB modules, client modules, Web services and application services comprise the application programming model and provide numerous services supporting deployed applications.
WebSphere supports the integration of several different database systems. Each is tuned in its own manor. DB2 tuning parameters are provided for your convenience.
Java messaging service (JMS) can be tuned to balance memory with the servicing of the JMS subscribers.
Security may have an affect on performance depending on certain actions taken.
A few hardware factors should be taken into consideration that will affect performance.
This section discusses considerations for tuning the operating systems in the server environment.
The WebSphere Application Server product provides plug-ins for several Web server brands and versions. Each Web server operating system combination features specific tuning parameters that affect the application performance.