multi processors

I have a quad processor machine not running hyperthreading. I am also
running sQL enterprise additions. I would like to understand why the
processing load is not distrubuted evenly. The second and third processors
seem to have most of the utilization.
I assume that you have configured SQL Server to use all processors via
sp_configure and the affinity mask. SQL Server will split and distribute
the query load as it sees fit. You might not end up with a perfect
distribution of processor utilization.
exec sp_configure 'affinity mask'
/*
to use all processors:
exec sp_configure 'affinity mask' , 0
*/
Keith
"Ruth Henderson" <Ruth Henderson@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2BB0F14B-CA24-4EB4-B120-F88044A2B55F@.microsoft.com...
> I have a quad processor machine not running hyperthreading. I am also
> running sQL enterprise additions. I would like to understand why the
> processing load is not distrubuted evenly. The second and third
processors
> seem to have most of the utilization.
|||There can be several reasons. First, all threads do not require the same
amount of processor resource so there will always be some imbalance.
Second, Windows binds physical processors to service particular IO cards, so
your NIC and Disk subsystems are likely bound to the second and third
processors. On very-multi-processor systems (16-way and up) excluding
certain processors from SQL because of this OS binding can improve
performance. On a four-way box, you are best to leave things as is.
Geoff N. Hiten
Microsoft SQL Server MVP
Senior Database Administrator
Careerbuilder.com
I support the Professional Association for SQL Server
www.sqlpass.org
"Ruth Henderson" <Ruth Henderson@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2BB0F14B-CA24-4EB4-B120-F88044A2B55F@.microsoft.com...
> I have a quad processor machine not running hyperthreading. I am also
> running sQL enterprise additions. I would like to understand why the
> processing load is not distrubuted evenly. The second and third
processors
> seem to have most of the utilization.