Optimising performance
There are a number of ways in which you can optimise the performance of the Asta Enterprise system. The following tips should help to ensure that your Asta Enterprise system runs at the fastest possible speed.
Use direct connection data sources and optimise transaction data
Using direct connection data sources and choosing to 'optimise transaction data' when you create a data source gives performance benefits.
In order to make use of 'optimise transaction data', you must set up a database instance and a user that has database administrator rights and 'bulk insert' rights. Use of the 'optimise transaction data' facility calls Microsoft SQL Server's BULK INSERT statement during record insert operations. The Database Administrator must ensure that the Asta Powerproject user has at least the fixed server role 'bulkadmin' assigned. Members of the bulkadmin role are allowed to execute the BULK INSERT statement, but they still must have the INSERT permission on the tables on which they wish to insert data.
Premount frequently-used projects and baselines
A project is normally mounted when it is opened, and dismounted when all users have finished working with it. It can take some time to mount projects. If particular projects will be opened and closed frequently, you can speed up access times by premounting them each time the Enterprise server starts. Premounting a project also prevents it from being dismounted automatically when all users have finished working with it.
For each project that you premount, you can specify whether its baselines are premounted at the same time. This speeds up access times for the baselines, which is useful if they will be opened and closed frequently.
Use no more than two or three data sources per server
The Asta Enterprise system may work slowly if you set up and use more than two or three data sources per server. Therefore, for optimal performance, set up and use no more than two or three data sources per server.
Make sure your Enterprise server has plenty of RAM
Increasing the amount of RAM on your Enterprise server means that projects and baselines can be mounted into memory without having to use paging space, thus improving performance.
Avoid server-intensive processes at peak usage times
While working with the Asta Enterprise system, avoid the use of server-intensive processes during peak usage times, as this can slow down the system significantly. For example, if you have to create a baseline or save a project under another name, try to do this when no other users are using the system.
Structure your projects well
Structuring your projects in an ordered, hierarchical manner means that each project view contains less information. As less information passes to and from the server with smaller views, this improves the performance of the system.