Correct, HP doesn't do CAS.
There are some shared read latch operations that Oracle therefore implements through the CAS latch, which emulates a Compare and Swap operation used by sharable read latches on other platforms.
There is also a latch called 'RM cas latch' which is the resource manager CAS latch, which allows minimum blocking on updates to resource management totals for resource groups.
I'm no sure, though, which actions are most likely to result in significant loss of time on the CAS latch.
Regards
Jonathan Lewis http://jonathanlewis.wordpress.com
Author: Cost Based Oracle: Fundamentals http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/cbo_book/ind_book.html
The Co-operative Oracle Users' FAQ http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/faq/ind_faq.html
Why am I not surprised? If I recall correctly, the HP RISC arctitecture is one that does not support the CAS instruction, at least on some of the older CPUs. Not sure if that is still true for it's most recent CPU offerings.
-Mark
--
Mark J. Bobak
Senior Oracle Architect
ProQuest Information & Learning
There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which shouldn't be done at all. -Peter F. Drucker, 1909-2005
________________________________
From: LS Cheng [mailto:exriscer@xxxxxxxxx] Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 1:18 PM To: Bobak, Mark Cc: kaygopal@xxxxxxxxx; oracle-l Subject: Re: cas latch
I saw quite a few cas latch waits today, Oracle 9.2.0.4 on HP-UX 11.11 PA-RiSC. Do these CPUs support CAS instructions?
I am not sure why I am having it. I will read about wikipedia and see what it is all about.
Thanks!
On 10/30/06, Bobak, Mark <Mark.Bobak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
As K Gopalakrishnan mentioned, CAS latch is "Compare and Swap". My understanding is that, on *most* modern CPUs, the CAS instruction is built-in to the instruction set as an atomic operation. In those cases, you shouldn't see CAS latch used at all, cause Oracle can directly use the CAS instruction itself. In cases where the CPU does not support a CAS instruction, Oracle has implemented the CAS functionality in software. To support the atomicity of the CAS functionality in software, the CAS latch is utilized.
-Mark
--
Mark J. Bobak
Senior Oracle Architect
P roQ uest Information & Learning
There is nothing so useless as doing e fficiently that which shouldn't be done at all. -Peter F. Drucker, 1909-2005
________________________________
From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ] On Behalf Of K Gopalakrishnan Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 12:17 PM To: exriscer@xxxxxxxxx; oracle-l Subject: Re: cas latch
Cheng,
Do you see any contention for this latch?
CAS is Compare and Select. Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compare_and_swap for some details on CAS.
Have a nice day !! ------------------------------------------------------------ Best Regards, K Gopalakrishnan, Co-Author: Oracle Wait Interface: Oracle Press 2004. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007222729X/
Author: Oracle Database 10g RAC Handbook, Oracle Press 2006 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/007146509X/
----- Original Message ---- From: LS Cheng < exriscer@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:exriscer@xxxxxxxxx>
To: oracle-l <oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, 30 October, 2006 8:43:47 AM Subject: cas latch
Hi
I was wondering if anyone know what does cas latch do? I know is a shared latch but not sure for what part of SGA?
Thanks
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