FIX: System performance is decreased for user-mode applications on a 64-bit server that is running SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services

This article describes the following about this hotfix release:

• The issues that are fixed by this hotfix package
• The prerequisites for installing the hotfix package
• Whether you must restart your computer after you install the hotfix package
• Whether the hotfix package is replaced by any other hotfix package
• Whether you must make any registry changes
• The files that are contained in the hotfix package

When you run SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services on a 64-bit server, system performance is decreased for user-mode applications on the server.

For a list of all publicly released SQL Server 2000 Post-Service Pack 3a hotfixes, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

When you use the 64-bit version of Analysis Services, files are opened in buffered mode. The operating system assigns extra system file cache memory for files that are opened in buffered mode. As the system file cache grows larger and larger, other user mode applications on the server have their memory paged out to disk. When another user mode application on the server performs a memory-intensive operation, system performance decreases. The performance decreases because stored data is retrieved from memory that has been paged out to disk.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Microsoft SQL Server 2000 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

• SQL Server 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3)
  
  For information about how to obtain SQL Server 2000 SP3, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  290211  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290211/ ) How to obtain the latest SQL Server 2000 service pack
• If you apply the SQL Server 2000 SP3-based version of this fix, the server must be running SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services SP3.
• If you apply the SQL Server 2000 SP4-based version of this fix, the server must be running SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services SP4.

Restart information

You do not have to restart the server after you apply this hotfix. The Analysis Services service is automatically stopped and restarted as part of this hotfix.

Registry information

You must change the registry. This hotfix implements calls to trim the system file cache by using a thread in the Analysis Services application. This hotfix creates the following two new registry entries:

• Key= HKLM\Software\Microsoft\OLAP Server\CurrentVersion
  Name= LimitSystemFileCacheSizeMB
  Value= (DWORD)
  This registry entry specifies the target size for the system file cache. For example, a value of 8,192 MB gives you a maximum target size of 8 GB for the system file cache. A zero value or a missing value disables this feature and enables the system file cache to grow without limits.
• Key= HKLM\Software\Microsoft\OLAP Server\CurrentVersion
  Name= LimitSystemFileCachePeriod
  Value= (DWORD)
  This registry entry specifies the update period in milliseconds. A zero value or a missing value gives you a default value of 500 milliseconds. Between updates, the system file cache can grow larger than the target size. However, the growth of the system file cache is limited by the bandwidth of the hard disk. For example, a 50 MB per second hardware limit restricts the growth of the system file cache to 25 MB in 500 milliseconds.

Note To change these registry entries, you must be running the Analysis Services service. You must be running this service under an account that has SE_INCREASE_QUOTA_NAME permissions.

Hotfix file information

This hotfix contains only those files that are required to correct the issues that this article lists. This hotfix may not contain of all the files that you must have to fully update a product to the latest build.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

SQL Server 2000 32-bit versions

SQL Server 2000 64-bit version

Note Because of file dependencies, the most recent hotfix or feature that contains these files may also contain additional files.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about the naming schema for Microsoft SQL Server updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information about the terminology that Microsoft uses when we correct software after it is released, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: