DBTA talked with Greg Nerpouni, Embarcadero Technologies’ senior product manager, to better understand how DBAs can best meet the new challenges for database performance optimization.

1. The Journal of
Information Integration and Management
SEPTEMBER 2009
Volume 23 | Number 3
Performance Optimization—
Helping DBAs Extend the IT Infrastructure
As databases and applications become increasingly sophis- Q: Where else is performance optimization needed?
ticated, performance optimization has become increasingly Nerpouni: Developers can profile their database while
vital. Current business conditions and IT budgets make it stress-testing their SQL code and then tune poor-performing
more difficult to “throw more hardware” at performance SQL. Doing this early and often reduces the chance of ineffi-
problems, so optimizing database and application per- cient code entering your production environment. Arming the
formance has emerged as a way of extending investments quality assurance team with database profiling capabilities
and meeting business goals with existing IT infrastructure. allows them to collect useful information during load testing
Usually, both the application layer and the database layer of that can be used for quick resolution if they find SQL that
the software stack must be optimized for a process to run as causes performance problems.
efficiently as possible. Moreover, optimization techniques can
be productively applied at different points throughout
database administration practices. DBTA talked with Greg Q: So performance optimization really spans the IT
Nerpouni, Embarcadero Technologies’ senior product organization.
manager, to better understand how DBAs can best meet the Nerpouni: Performance optimization has a collaborative
new challenges for database performance optimization. aspect and a productivity aspect. Development and QA teams
Embarcadero offers a broad array of database and application can work together to reduce development lifecycles, and
development and administration tools, including performance DBAs can work harmoniously with developers by sharing
optimization solutions. database snapshots that pinpoint bottlenecks to solve per-
formance issues quickly. From a productivity standpoint,
nobody wants to waste cycles chasing phantom issues. SQL
Q: What has changed for performance optimization? profiling helps identify the top SQL statements that, if cor-
Nerpouni: The size and complexity of databases rected, will return the greatest performance improvements.
throughout the enterprise are growing and changing so fast The idea is to be specific where you focus your attention—
that DBAs are struggling to keep up with SLAs and other efficiency is a key to productivity and maximizing your
performance requirements. Mission-critical systems simply IT resources and systems.
can’t go down. Shrinking IT resources and more M&A
activity mean more DBAs often must manage DBMS plat-
forms on which they are not fully trained. So IT organizations Q: What optimization tools does Embarcadero offer?
need to stretch or replicate the expertise of their DBAs and Nerpouni: Embarcadero offers tools for database opti-
increase efficiency through automation. For instance, 24x7 mization, monitoring, and administration. We offer DB
monitoring tools such as Embarcadero Performance Center Optimizer for SQL profiling and tuning, and Performance
let DBAs set thresholds and alarms to monitor, and take cor- Center for 24x7 database monitoring. Of course, we also offer
rective actions, in large complex environments even with DBArtisan, arguably the industry’s most respected cross-
different DBMS platforms. It is like having a 24x7 watchdog platform database administration tool. All of these products
to warn them before a system is dragged to its knees or an are complementary. And while optimization tools may not be
outage occurs. needed on a daily basis, when you need them, you need them
Database Trends and Applications ■ September 2009 Subscribed today at www.dbta.com/subscribe

2. 2
Performance Optimization–Helping DBAs Extend the IT Infrastructure
immediately or you risk wasting time Embarcadero’s All-Access bundles all
manually hunting down problems or of Embarcadero’s tools into a single, CONTACT INFORMATION
researching tools while the per- cost-effective “tool chest.” For larger
formance issues persist. The costs for organizations, All-Access offers cost-
these delays add up. Moreover, opti- saving advantages with centralized
mization tools should complement licensing administration and other
your development and database benefits.
Embarcadero
administration tools to streamline work
Q: How many tools are included? Technologies, Inc.
cycles so DBAs can focus their efforts
on business needs not putting out Nerpouni: Basically, the entire
100 California Street,
fires. Significantly, Embarcadero’s Embarcadero product portfolio. And
12th Floor
database tools support all major DBMS with Embarcadero ® Instant-On™
platforms, so DBAs can manage, Technology, you click-and-run most of San Francisco, CA 94111
monitor, and optimize heterogeneous these tools on-demand, locally or over
database environments from a single the network. Consequently, staff Phone: 415-834-3131
interface. spends less time on software instal-
lation and license management and Fax: 415-434-1721
Q: With tight budgets, how can more time doing their work. All-
people afford all these tools? Email:
Access reduces the TCO for the tools
info@embarcadero.com
Nerpouni: A better question may organizations need to maximize staff
be, “how can you afford not to have productivity and keep critical systems www.embarcadero.com
optimization tools?” The tools are running with optimum performance
very cost-effectively priced. And and reliability. ■
Database Trends and Applications ■ September 2009 Subscribed today at www.dbta.com/subscribe