Microsoft BizTalk Server

End-to-End Performance Testing GuidanceEwan Fairweather & Paolo SalvatoriBizTalk Customer Advisory TeamMicrosoft

Session Objectives

• Describe how we run BizTalk performance assessments

• Demonstrate tools and techniques that can be used during a BizTalk performance assessment

• Introduce the BizTalk Server Performance Optimization Guide

Session Agenda

• Assessing application performance• Key learnings• BizTalk Server performance

assessment−Methodology−Tools

Tuning the Microsoft Platform

Using LogParser To Generate KPIs For Your Results

Example results spreadsheet from a recent performance lab

Demo

Session Agenda

− Assessing application performance− Key learnings • BizTalk Server performance

assessment−Methodology−Tools

Key LearningsPlatform Tuning

• Turn off hyperthreading• Adjust Windows Server 2003 for best

performance• Use a separate disk for PAGEFILE• Stop unnecessary services (for

instance, Print Spooler)• Defrag volumes hosting BizTalk dbs

Key LearningsPlatform Tuning• Disable the SynAttackProtect feature• Prevent antivirus scanning• Networking

− Adjust TCP/IP parameters in the registry− Use 1-gigabit networks− Separate subnets for Mgmt, Data, and

Messaging− Tune NICs for performance

− Memory for packet buffering− Offload processing to NIC if possible

Key LearningsPlatform Tuning – CLR Hosting Threads• To prevent thread starvation, BizTalk needs

enough threads allocated to the .NET thread pool• Controlled by per host reg key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BTSSvc$hostname\CLR Hosting

DWORD entry Default Value Recommended Value

MaxIOThreads 20 100

MaxWorkerThreads 25 100

MinIOThreads 1 25

MinWorkerThreads 1 25

1 2

3 4

Key LearningsBizTalk Host Configuration • Split up the sending, receiving, processing,

and tracking into multiple hosts • This technique allows each host to:

− Have its own set of resources such as memory, handles, .NET thread pool

− Decreases the contention on the MessageBox Host Queue tables

• Avoid running too many host instances on the same box

Key LearningsSQL Performance• Isolate BizTalk data and transaction log files• Pre-allocate space to prevent autogrowth at

run time• Create multiple data files of the same size,

one for each available core on the SQL machine, for the TempDb

• Add filegroups and files to the BizTalkMsgBoxDb

• Scale up the SQL Server resources− CPU, disk, memory

• Separate BizTalk Databases across servers• Multiple MessageBox databases• Configure DTA Purge and Archive job

Key LearningsLow Latency• Internal message queue• MaxReceiveInterval parameter

− 500 ms default

• BatchSize parameter• Turn off global tracking• Use inline sends

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Key LearningsOrchestrations (1 of 2)• Eliminate unnecessary persistence points• Minimize the internal state/size• Use the Call Orchestration shape for performance• Asynchronous mechanisms give flexibility but

require a MessageBox round trip− Direct Bound Ports, Self-Correlating Ports and Start

Orchestration shape

• Eliminate logical ports and use inline sends• Prefer distinguished field over promoted properties• Turn off unnecessary tracking:

− Message send and receive tracking− Begin and end tracking shape

• Define a performance counter for each orchestration type

Key LearningsOrchestrations (2 of 2)• Avoid using XmlDocument for processing large

messages− The memory amount required to load an

XMLDocument is up to 10 times the actual size of the message

• Instead use one the following techniques:// Use an XmlReader object to read the content of the message partusing (XmlReader reader =(XmlReader)xlangMessage[0].RetrieveAs(typeof(XmlReader))){

...}// Retrieve the content of the message part as a stringusing (string message =(XmlReader)xlangMessage[0].RetrieveAs(typeof(string))){

...}// Deserialize the content of the message part to an instance of a custom .NET classusing (RequestClass request =(XmlReader)xlangMessage[0].RetrieveAs(typeof(RequestClass))){

...}

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Key LearningsPipelines (1 of 2)• Use PassThruReceive and PassThruTransmit

pipelines whenever possible• Avoid loading the entire document into

memory using an XmlDocument object− Use a streaming approach instead

• If you need to read the value of specific nodes inside an XML message part, do not use the SelectSingleNode method exposed by the XmlDocument class− Use an instance of the XPathReader class contained

in the Microsoft.BizTalk.XPathReader.dll assembly− Use an instance of XPathMutatorStream class

contained in the Microsoft.BizTalk.Streaming.dll if you need to read and eventually change the value of one or more elements.

Key LearningsPipelines (2 of 2)• Use an instance of the VirtualStream class

(Microsoft.BizTalk.Streaming.dll) when reading a large message

• Promote items to the message context only if you need them for:− Message Routing (Orchestrations, Send Ports)− Demotion of message context properties (Send Ports)

• “Write” to the context instead of “Promote”• Use the IPipelineContext.ResourceTracker to track

and dispose non-CLR resources• Instrument your source code to make your

components simple to debug• Avoid ordered delivery and transaction support

Optimizing BizTalk Memory Usage

Streaming techniques that can be used in pipelines

Demo

WCF Adapters• Whenever possible, use one of the following WCF-* Adapters.

− WCF-NetTcp Adapter − WCF-Custom Adapter + CustomBinding with the

binaryMessageEncoder and tcpTransport Binding Elements.

• Add the serviceThrottling service behavior to a WCF-Custom Receive Location and use the following settings:

Parameter Default Suggested tcpTransport->ConnectionPoolSettings->maxOutboundConnectionsPerEndpoint

1 try changing to 20

tcpTransport->maxPendingAccepts 1 try changing to 20 tcpTransport->maxPendingConnections 10 try changing to 20 tcpTransport->listenBacklog 10 try changing to 20

Send Side (BizTalk Send Port):

Receive Side (BizTalk Receive Location):

Parameter Default Suggested tcpTransport->maxPendingAccepts 1 try changing to 20 tcpTransport->maxPendingConnections 10 try changing to 200 tcpTransport->listenBacklog 10 try changing to 20

Parameter Default Suggested serviceThrottling->maxConcurrentCalls 16 try changing to 20 serviceThrottling->maxConcurrentSessions 10 try changing to 20 serviceThrottling->maxConcurrentInstances - leave the default

WCF Adapter

Optimizing WCF for performance

Demo

Session Agenda

− Assessing application performance− Key learnings • BizTalk Server performance

assessment−Methodology−Tools

BizTalk Server Performance Optimization Guide

MSDNhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc558617.aspx

Announcing

Assessing Application Performance• The usual story

− We all know testing is important for every solution

− Testing is neglected

• This is a problem− Solutions using BizTalk tend to be

business critical and tolerate little downtime

− Poor testing increases the risk profile of your project

− This runs the risk of huge technical and political problems

Minimize Project Risk

• Unit testing• Functional testing• Integration testing• User acceptance testing• Disaster recovery testing/dry runs• Overload testing• Performance assessment

Effective testing

reduces your project risk

Session Agenda

− Assessing application performance− Key learnings • BizTalk Server performance

assessment−Methodology−Tools

BizTalk Performance Assessment• An end to end process with a set of

goals and objectives

• Occurs over a set period of time• It requires a team of individuals with

the right skill sets to “tune the stack”

• Iterative knowledge transfer processOptimizeOperateDesign & Deliver

POC Performance Assessment Pre-Live

Performance Assessment

Post-Live Performance Assessment

ScopeEngagement Summary• Determine resource requirements

− What scenarios are you testing− What technologies are involved− What adapters are needed− SAN requirements− 32 bit vs. 64 bit

• Other requirements− Throughput− Latency

• Document all information!− Guidelines, Goals, Constraints, etc.

• Staff the right people

ScopeDefining Goals• Provide objectives and success criteria for

the lab• Goals should cover

− Performance metrics− Throughput, Latency

• Roles and Responsibilities• Deliverables• Define any constraints

− Is hardware fixed?− Scale up/out BizTalk/SQL− Can third party systems be scaled out?

− Web servers, MQ Series, Custom DB’s

ScopeDefining Goals (Example)Objective

Measure the Maximum Sustainable Throughput (MST) for the given use cases with different hardware configurations.

Test Case 1Messaging-Only scenario

Throughput : 50 messages/sec sustainableLatency: response time < 2 sec

for 90% of messagesTest Case 2

Payment service BizTalk orchestration Throughput : 3.6 million messages withinan 8 hour period (125 messages/second)Latency : N/A

ScopeLogical and Physical Architecture

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PlanDetermining Resource RequirementsTimeline

− 2 weeks of preparation time− 1 week per test case− 1 week to document findings

SMEs required− MQSeries, SQL Server,

IIS, SAN Specialist

Hardware request− SAN Storage (HBA, Luns), Networking, Clustering

Lab space− Appropriate space, whiteboard, projector, security of

room

PlanSample Timeline

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Prepare

• Detailed Solution Design• Code complete• Invest in test assets

− Build/Deploy− MSBUILD, MSI,

BTSTask, Scripts− Functional test

− BizUnit, Visual Studio− Load test

− Loadgen, Visual Studio

Building The Lab EnvironmentInstallation and Configuration• Infrastructure

− RAID10/0+1?− Databases and logs separated− Database autogrowth− Virus scanning software

• Third party systems− Non-default values, scale-out options

• BizTalk− Host configuration− Message tracking− Adapter configuration

Building The Lab Environment• Performance monitoring• Deployment

− MSBuild, BTSTask, MSI

• Functional testing• Validate automated load test• Document Solution

Performance Baseline− Latency− Throughput− Spool depth− etc

Executing the Performance Lab Assessment High Level Flow• Run automated test

− BizUnit, VSTS, LoadGen

• Document results− KPIs, Check after every run

• Tuning for performance − One modification at a time− Perform platform

modifications

Session Agenda

− Assessing application performance− Key learnings • BizTalk Server performance

assessment−Methodology−Tools

Helpful Tools

• BizTalk BPA 1.2• PerfMon• BizTalk LoadGen• BizUnit• Log Man• Relog• Log Parser• PAL• SQLIO • BizTalk Orchestration Profiler

Related Content

• MSDN Guidance− Microsoft BizTalk Server Performance Optimization Guide

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc558617.aspx − Microsoft BizTalk Server Operations Guide

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc296643.aspx − BizTalk Server 2006 R2 Hyper-V Guide

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc768518.aspx

• BizTalk Customer Advisory Team Site− http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/biztalk/dd876758.aspx

Resources

• BizTalk Server 2006: Managing a Successful Performance Lab− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa972201.aspx

• Scaling Your Solutions− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa561567.aspx

• Configuration Parameters that Affect Adapter Performance− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa561380.aspx

• Persistence and the Orchestration Engine− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa547090.aspx

• Troubleshooting MessageBox Latency Issues− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa561709.aspx

• Performance Tips and Tricks− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa560694.aspx

• Rule Engine Configuration and Tuning Parameters− http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa548008.aspx

• Performance Considerations When Using the Rule Engine− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa952929.aspx

Filegroup – Resources• BizTalk Server Database Optimization

− http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb743398.aspx

• Understanding Files and Filegroups− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189563.aspx

• How to: Add Data or Log Files to a Database (SQL Server Management Studio)− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189253.aspx

• How to: Move an Existing Index to a Different Filegroup (SQL Server Management Studio)− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175905.aspx

• Physical Database Files and Filegroups− http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms179316(SQL.90).aspx

• Working with tempdb in SQL Server 2005− http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/working

withtempdb.mspx

• Optimizing Server Performance Using I/O Configuration Options− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189892.aspx

MQ Adapter Resources

• HOW TO: Set Up and Test the BizTalk Adapter for MQSeries− http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821489

• BizTalk Adapter for WebSphere MQ− http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa772116.aspx

Q & A

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