Ryan, The problem is that the statistic you're looking at (physical reads) = does not mean what you think it means. Look at the definition of the = 'physical reads' statistic in the Oracle Reference manual (under = Statistics Descriptions). It is: "Total number of data blocks read from disk. This number equals the = value of "physical reads direct" plus all reads into buffer cache." So, it's the total number of data blocks read from disk. It's NOT the = number of db file scattered read (i.e. readv()) calls. So, by varying = db_file_multiblock_read_count, you'll vary the number of readv() calls = and the number of blocks read per call, but you will NOT affect the = total number of blocks read. Note that reducing the number of readv() = calls reduces the number of context switches and is a good thing. Hope that helps, -Mark PS For more info on read() and readv(), and setting = db_file_multiblock_read_count, go to http://www.hotsos.com and check out = "Why are Oracle's read events named backwards?" and "Predicting = multi-block read call sizes", both by Jeff Holt. -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of ryan.gaffuri@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 10:25 AM To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: db_file_mutliblock_read_count and physical IO I did a 10046 trace and verified that I can get up to 128 blocks/IO with = db_file_multiblock_read_count. How do I metric this? I look at my total physical IOs when I did a = tkprof report and my total number of physical IOs remained the same when = I had the value set to 8 as when I had it set to 128? Before I did this test, my assumption was: 'Oracle would do less total Physical IOs since I am retrieving more = blocks per IO.' That assumption proved false. Can someone explain why?=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe send email to: oracle-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx put 'unsubscribe' in the subject line. -- Archives are at //www.freelists.org/archives/oracle-l/ FAQ is at //www.freelists.org/help/fom-serve/cache/1.html -----------------------------------------------------------------