Implementation Guide › Performance Tuning › Data Tier Performance › User Store Capacity Planning

User Store Capacity Planning

The Policy Server performs a series of services to authenticate and authorize users. These services result in number of reads and writes, collectively known as requests, to a user directory. A significant contributing factor to SiteMinder performance is determining whether your user directories can handle this workload during sustained and peak periods of operation.

The following general factors influence SiteMinder performance:

• Total operations and sustained user directory search rates—Total operations is the combined number of requests the Policy Server must service when handling authentication and authorization requests. The rate at which these operations occur fluctuate throughout your business day.

  In turn, the rate at which the Policy Server makes user directory requests to process the operations fluctuates. Some periods generate relatively few user directory requests, while others generate more.

  The sustained user directory search rate represents a period during which the Policy Server makes an average number of user directory requests to service an average number of operations.

• Total operations and peak user directory search rates—During sustained periods of activity, user activity can spike. The peak user directory search rate represents a period during which the Policy Server makes the highest number of user directory requests to process peak numbers of operations.

The following graphic illustrates:

• The relationship between total operations and the user directory search rate.
• How each rate fluctuates throughout the day, is sustained for a specific period, and peaks within that period.

  

We recommend using the following guidelines to estimate the load under which your user directories have to operate. Once you have estimated the load, you can use any standard tool to create the load on the directory and track the results.

Note: Many factors can contribute to failing to achieve the required numbers. See your vendor–specific documentation for tuning guidance.