Eleanor Finch
The number of CPU cores used by a SQL server has a direct impact on its performance and licensing costs. A core is a processor unit that can consist of one or more logical processors. The number of cores used by a SQL server depends on the edition and version of the server, with some editions having a maximum number of sockets or physical processors. For example, the SQL Server 2008 R2 Express edition uses four cores, while the SQL Server 2012 Developer edition uses eight cores. The performance of a SQL server can be improved by configuring the processors to direct the load to a preselected group of processors using a CPU affinity mask. Additionally, parallelism can be used to take advantage of multiple processors and distribute tasks among them to improve performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of CPU cores | 4, 8, 12, 16, 32,767 |
| CPU capacity | Depends on the number of cores |
| Performance | Depends on the number of cores and the CPU speed |
| Licensing costs | Depends on the number of cores |
| Socket | A socket is mapped to zero or more cores |
| SMT | SMT is on when the mapping of cores to logical processors is one to two |
| NUMA | A BIOS or firmware configuration can reduce the logical core count presented to the operating system to a maximum of 64 logical processors per NUMA node |
| Worker threads | Adding more threads can improve performance when there are a large number of clients connected to SQL Server |
| CPU affinity | By default, SQL Server uses all available CPUs during query execution if the per-processor core license is chosen |
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What You'll Learn
Core mapping
On Intel CPUs, simultaneous multithreading (SMT) is known as Hyper-Threading. Core mapping involves determining whether SMT is enabled or disabled. When SMT is off, the mapping is one core to one logical processor. Conversely, when SMT is turned on, the mapping changes to one core to two logical processors. This means that with SMT enabled, each core can handle two threads simultaneously, enhancing the processing capacity.
Furthermore, core mapping considerations come into play when optimizing performance. By understanding the core mapping architecture, administrators can configure the processors to direct the SQL Server load to a preselected group of processors. This ensures that the SQL Server workload is efficiently distributed, minimizing potential performance issues caused by multitasking and high resource consumption. Techniques such as CPU affinity masks and the max worker threads option help optimize the utilization of CPU cores and improve overall SQL Server performance.
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Multitasking
To optimise performance during multitasking, SQL Server offers several configuration options. One approach is to use the CPU affinity mask, which allows you to direct all SQL Server load to a preselected group of processors. This ensures that the operating system or other applications do not switch process threads between processors, which can impact the performance of this resource-intensive application.
Another technique to enhance multitasking performance is to configure the max worker threads option. This creates a pool of worker threads that can collectively service a larger number of query requests, particularly when numerous clients are connected to the server. However, adding more threads may not always improve performance, especially if the load is CPU-bound or experiencing heavy waits.
The number of CPU cores available to SQL Server also plays a crucial role in multitasking. Licensing models for SQL Server are often based on the number of cores, with a minimum of four cores per server. While faster CPUs can reduce the required core count for the same workload, it is essential to monitor CPU utilisation and wait times to determine if additional cores are necessary to meet business needs.
In summary, multitasking in SQL Server involves efficient utilisation of CPU cores and threads to handle multiple tasks concurrently. By configuring settings such as MAXDOP, CPU affinity, and max worker threads, administrators can optimise performance and ensure that the server effectively manages its workload.
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CPU capacity
The CPU cores available to SQL Server can vary depending on the server version and licensing. For example, SQL Server 2008 R2 Express is designed to use a single core, while the SQL Server 2012 Developer version can utilise up to 8 cores. The number of cores can be determined using commands within SQL queries.
The CPU capacity of a server can be increased by utilising multiple processors or hyper-threading. Hyper-threading allows a single physical core to function as multiple logical cores, increasing the number of threads that can be executed simultaneously. This can be beneficial for improving performance and handling larger workloads.
However, it is important to note that simply increasing the number of cores may not always lead to better performance. The design of the applications and databases also plays a crucial role in the overall performance. Additionally, having too many cores can lead to management issues and affect the efficiency of updates.
To optimise CPU capacity and performance, it is recommended to monitor CPU utilisation and adjust configurations accordingly. This may include limiting parallelism to the number of physical cores, using the CPU affinity mask to direct the load to a preselected group of processors, and configuring the maximum number of worker threads.
Furthermore, the choice of CPU vendor and generation can also impact CPU capacity and performance. Newer generations of CPUs often offer improved capabilities, such as advanced vector extensions (AVX) and higher clock speeds, which can enhance the performance of SQL Server operations.
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Core licensing
When licensing per core, customers only need to purchase core licenses for the virtual cores assigned to the virtual machine (VM). This is in contrast to the Server + CAL licensing model, where client access licenses (CALs) are required for each user or device accessing the server. Core licensing is particularly suitable for scenarios where the number of users connecting to the server is uncertain, such as in app or web server environments.
For virtual machines, core licensing requires Software Assurance, which adds to the overall cost. Software Assurance offers benefits such as VM license mobility across private and public clouds and expanded fail-over rights for disaster recovery and high availability. Without Software Assurance, VM density is limited to one VM per Enterprise Edition core license, and licenses can only be moved between servers once every 90 days.
Microsoft offers different editions of SQL Server, such as Enterprise and Standard, each catering to specific needs like mission-critical applications, data warehousing, core database capabilities, reporting, and analytics. The choice of edition influences the licensing requirements, with core licensing being one of the available options.
It is important to note that the number of cores utilized by SQL Server can vary depending on the version and configuration. For instance, SQL Server 2008 R2 Express typically uses one core, while SQL Server 2012 Developer Edition can use up to eight cores.
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Core performance
To improve core performance, it is recommended to have a CPU with fast single-core processing. This is particularly important for versions prior to 2017. Additionally, when choosing between a higher CPU clock speed and a higher core count, it is generally advised to opt for a lower core count and a higher processor speed. This decision, however, depends on the specific use case. For instance, if you require a large number of parallel processing tasks, faster core speeds will significantly reduce processing time.
Another factor influencing core performance is the chosen SQL Server license plan. The 'Per Core' licensing plan offers flexibility for an unlimited number of users in both physical and virtual environments. The standard license plan restricts the number of cores and sockets, with the maximum compute capacity varying across different versions of SQL Server. For example, versions 2012 and 2014 allow for a maximum of 4 sockets or 16 cores, while version 2017 permits up to 4 sockets or 24 cores.
Furthermore, the number of CPU cores can impact the cost of licensing. The SQL Server Enterprise edition, for instance, allows for the maximum number of cores supported by the underlying OS, but this can result in higher licensing fees. It is important to carefully consider the hardware configuration to avoid unnecessary costs associated with having more CPU power than the license permits.
To summarise, core performance in SQL Server can be optimised by selecting an appropriate CPU with fast single-core processing and considering the trade-off between core count and processor speed based on specific use cases. Additionally, choosing the right license plan and managing hardware configuration can help balance performance and cost.
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Frequently asked questions
A core is a processor unit. It can consist of one or more logical processors.
SQL Server uses all CPUs available from the operating system if the per-processor core license is chosen.
The Performance tab in Task Manager or the CPU tab in Resource Monitor will show the number of CPUs running.
A physical processor is the same as a processor package or a socket. A logical processor is one logical computing engine from the perspective of the operating system.
The CPUs used in a SQL Server instance directly affect CPU capacity and performance. Faster CPUs can often let you have fewer cores for the same workload, which can reduce license costs. Faster processors will also have beneficial effects on performance.
