Important OS Parameters for HANA Database Installation on SUSE Linux
SAP BASISHANA SIZINGHANA SIZING ON SUSES4HANASAP HANAHANA INSTALLATION
Biswa Ranjan
2/27/20242 min read


Installing the HANA database on SUSE Linux requires careful consideration of various operating system (OS) parameters. These parameters play a crucial role in ensuring optimal performance and stability of the database. In this article, we will discuss some of the important OS parameters that need to be configured before installing HANA on SUSE Linux.
1. Memory Configuration
Memory is a critical resource for running any database, including HANA. It is important to configure the OS to allocate enough memory for the database to operate efficiently. The following parameters need to be adjusted:
vm.overcommit_memory: Set this parameter to 2 to avoid memory overcommitment.
vm.swappiness: Set this parameter to a lower value, such as 10, to minimize swapping.
vm.dirty_ratio: Set this parameter to a lower value, such as 10, to reduce the amount of dirty data in memory.
2. File System Configuration
The file system configuration is crucial for the performance of the HANA database. The following parameters should be considered:
fs.file-max: Increase this parameter to allow a higher number of open files.
fs.aio-max-nr: Increase this parameter to allow more asynchronous I/O operations.
fs.nr_open: Increase this parameter to allow a higher number of file handles.
3. Network Configuration
The network configuration also plays a significant role in the performance of the HANA database. Consider the following parameters:
net.core.netdev_max_backlog: Increase this parameter to allow a higher number of packets in the network backlog.
net.ipv4.tcp_max_syn_backlog: Increase this parameter to allow a higher number of pending TCP connections.
net.core.somaxconn: Increase this parameter to allow a higher number of pending connections in the listen queue.
4. CPU Configuration
Optimizing the CPU configuration is essential for the performance of the HANA database. The following parameters should be considered:
kernel.sched_min_granularity_ns: Decrease this parameter to allow smaller time slices for CPU scheduling.
kernel.sched_wakeup_granularity_ns: Decrease this parameter to allow faster CPU wake-ups.
kernel.sched_migration_cost_ns: Decrease this parameter to reduce the cost of CPU migrations.
5. Disk Configuration
Efficient disk configuration is crucial for the performance of the HANA database. Consider the following parameters:
blockdev --setra: Set the read-ahead value for disks to a higher value, such as 2048, to improve I/O performance.
vm.dirty_background_ratio: Set this parameter to a lower value, such as 5, to reduce the amount of dirty data in memory.
vm.dirty_expire_centisecs: Set this parameter to a lower value, such as 3000, to reduce the time it takes for dirty data to be written to disk.
These are just a few of the important OS parameters that need to be configured before installing the HANA database on SUSE Linux. It is crucial to consult the official SAP HANA documentation and follow the recommended guidelines for your specific installation. Proper configuration of these parameters will ensure optimal performance and stability of your HANA database.