The full table scan direct path read decision for version 12.2

This post is about the decision the Oracle database engine makes when it is using a full segment scan approach. The choices the engine has is to store the blocks that are physically read in the buffercache, or read the blocks into the process’ PGA. The first choice is what I refer to as a ‘buffered read’, which places the block in the database buffercache so the process itself and other processes can bypass the physical read and use the block from the cache, until the block is evicted from the cache. The second choice is what is commonly referred to as ‘direct path read’, which places the blocks physically read into the process’ PGA, which means the read blocks are stored for only a short duration and is not shared with other processes.

There are some inherent performance aspects different between a buffered and a direct path read. A buffered read can only execute a single physical read request for a single range of blocks, wait for that request to finish, fetch and process the result of the physical read request after which it can execute the next physical read request. So there is maximum of one outstanding IO for multiple (adjacent) Oracle blocks. A direct path read works differently, it submits two physical IO requests, each for a distinct range of Oracle blocks asynchronously, after which it waits one or more IOs to finish. If an IO is returned, it is processed, and an IO for another range of Oracle blocks is submitted to restore the number of IOs in flight to two. If the database engine determines (based upon a non-disclosed mechanism) that enough resources are available it can increase the amount of IO physical IO requests in flight up to 32. Other differences include a maximum for the total size of the IO request, which is 1MB for buffered requests, and 32MB for direct path requests (which is achieved by setting db_file_multiblock_read_count to 4096).

At this point should be clear that there are differences between buffered and direct path reads, and when full segment scans switch from direct path reads to buffered reads it could mean a significant performance difference. On top of this, if your database is using Exadata storage, this decision between buffered reads and direct path reads is even more important. Only once the decision for direct path reads has been made, an Exadata smartscan can be executed. I have actually witnessed cases where a mix of partitioning and HCC lead to the situation that the partitions were so small that a direct path read was not chosen, which meant a smartscan was not considered anymore, meaning that instead of the cells decompressing the compressed blocks all in parallel, the process now had to fetch them and do the decompression on the database layer.

There have been some posts on the circumstances of the decision. However, I have seen none that summarise the differences for the different versions. In order to investigate the differences between the different Oracle versions, I created a git repository at gitlab: https://gitlab.com/FritsHoogland/table_scan_decision. You can easily use the repository by cloning it: git clone https://gitlab.com/FritsHoogland/table_scan_decision.git, which will create a table_scan_decision directory in the current working directory.

Oracle version 11.2.0.2.12
Please mind this version is very old, and SHOULD NOT BE USED ANYMORE because it’s not an actively supported version. However, I do use this version, because this version has different behaviour than the versions that follow.

First determine the small table threshold of the database:

SYS@test AS SYSDBA> @small_table_threshold

KSPPINM 		       KSPPSTVL
------------------------------ ------------------------------
_small_table_threshold	       1531

Let’s create tables just below and just over 1531 blocks/small table threshold:

TS@test > @create_table table_1350 1350
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1408
TS@test > @create_table table_1531 1531
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1664

So the small table threshold is 1531, this means that an internal statistic that is used for determining using the direct path mechanism, medium table threshold will be approximately 1531*5=7655. Let’s create tables just below and just over that number of blocks:

TS@test > @create_table table_7000 7000
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7168
TS@test > @create_table table_7655 7655
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7808

For the other versions, trace event ‘nsmtio’ can be used to learn how the decision is made. However, this trace event does not exist in Oracle version 11.2.0.2. The workaround is to just execute a SQL trace and interpret the wait events. For a full table scan, the wait events ‘db file scattered read’ means a buffered read is done, and wait events ‘direct path read’ means a direct path read was done (obviously).

TS@test > alter session set events 'sql_trace level 8';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_1350;
-- main event: db file scattered read
TS@test > alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_1531';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_1531;
-- main event: db file scattered read
TS@test > alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7000';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_7000;
-- main event: db file scattered read
TS@test > alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7655';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_7655;
-- main event: direct path read

This shows that in my case, with Oracle version 11.2.0.2, the switching point is at 5 times _small_table_threshold.

Oracle 11.2.0.3.15
This version too should NOT BE USED ANYMORE because it is not in active support. This too is for reference.
Small table threshold for this database:

SYS@test AS SYSDBA> @small_table_threshold

KSPPINM 		       KSPPSTVL
------------------------------ ------------------------------
_small_table_threshold	       1531

With the small table threshold being 1531, the medium table threshold should be approximately 1531*5=7655.

TS@test > @create_table table_1350 1350
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1408
TS@test > @create_table table_1440 1440
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1536
TS@test > @create_table table_7000 7000
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7168
TS@test > @create_table table_7655 7655
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7808

Flush buffer cache and set trace events, and test the scans. By doing that I ran into something peculiar with the ‘nsmtio’ event in this version (11.2.0.3 with the latest PSU). This event does exist for this version (which you can validate by running ‘oradebug doc component’), however, it does not yield any output. This means I have to revert to the previous method of running sql_trace at level 8 and interpret the wait events.

TS@test > alter session set events 'trace[nsmtio]:sql_trace level 8'; -- no NSMTIO lines, only sql_trace!
TS@test > select count(*) from table_1350;
-- main event: db file scattered read
TS@test > alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_1440';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_1440;
-- main event: direct path read
TS@test > alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7000';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_7000;
-- main event: direct path read
TS@test > alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7655';
TS@test > select count(*) from table_7655;
-- main event: direct path read

This shows that with Oracle version 11.2.0.3, the direct path read switching point seems to have moved from 5 times small table threshold to small table threshold itself.

Oracle 11.2.0.4.170718
This version is in active support!
Small table threshold for this database:

SQL> @small_table_threshold

KSPPINM 		       KSPPSTVL
------------------------------ ------------------------------
_small_table_threshold	       1538

With the small table threshold being 1538, the medium table threshold should be approximately 1538*5=7690.

SQL> @create_table table_1350 1350
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1408
SQL> @create_table table_1538 1538
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1664
SQL> @create_table table_7000 7000
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7168
SQL> @create_table table_7690 7690
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7808

Flush buffer cache and set trace events, and test the scans.

SQL> alter session set events 'trace[nsmtio]:sql_trace level 8';
SQL> select count(*) from table_1350;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]:Obect's size: 1378 (blocks), Threshold: MTT(7693 blocks),
-- main event: db file scattered read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_1538';
SQL> select count(*) from table_1538;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 14422, objn: 14422
-- main event: direct path read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7000';
SQL> select count(*) from table_7000;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 14423, objn: 14423
-- main event: direct path read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7690';
SQL> select count(*) from table_7690;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 14424, objn: 14424
-- main event: direct path read

This shows that with Oracle version 11.2.0.4, the direct path read switching is at small table threshold, which was changed starting from 11.2.0.3.

Oracle version 12.1.0.2.170718
Small table threshold for this database:

SQL> @small_table_threshold

KSPPINM 		       KSPPSTVL
------------------------------ ------------------------------
_small_table_threshold	       1440

SQL>

With small table threshold being 1440, the medium table threshold is approximately 1440*5=7200.

SQL> @create_table table_1350 1350
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1408
SQL> @create_table table_1440 1440
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1536
SQL> @create_table table_7000 7000
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7168
SQL> @create_table table_7200 7200
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7424

Now flush the buffer cache, and use the ‘nsmtio’ trace event together with ‘sql_trace’ to validate the read method used:

SQL> alter session set events 'trace[nsmtio]:sql_trace level 8';
SQL> select count(*) from table_1350;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]:Obect's size: 1378 (blocks), Threshold: MTT(7203 blocks),
-- main events: db file scattered read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_1440';
SQL> select count(*) from table_1440;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 20489, objn: 20489
-- main events: direct path read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7000';
SQL> select count(*) from table_7000;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 20490, objn: 20490
-- main events: direct path read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7200';
SQL> select count(*) from table_7200;
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 20491, objn: 20491
-- main events: direct path read

This is in line with the switch in version 11.2.0.3 to small table threshold as the switching point between buffered reads and direct path reads.

Oracle 12.2.0.1.170814
Small table threshold for this database:

SQL> @small_table_threshold

KSPPINM 		       KSPPSTVL
------------------------------ ------------------------------
_small_table_threshold	       1444

SQL>

With small table threshold being 1444, the medium table threshold is approximately 1444*5=7220.

SQL> @create_table table_1350 1350
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1408
SQL> @create_table table_1440 1440
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      1536
SQL> @create_table table_7000 7000
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7168
SQL> @create_table table_7200 7200
...
    BLOCKS
----------
      7424

Now flush the buffer cache, and use the ‘nsmtio’ trace event together with ‘sql_trace’ to validate the read method used:

SQL> alter session set events 'trace[nsmtio]:sql_trace level 8';
SQL> select count(*) from table_1350;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]:Obect's size: 1378 (blocks), Threshold: MTT(7222 blocks),
-- main events: db file scattered read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_1440';
SQL> select count(*) from table_1440;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]:Obect's size: 1504 (blocks), Threshold: MTT(7222 blocks),
-- main events: db file scattered read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7000';
SQL> select count(*) from table_7000;
-- nsmtio lines:
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]:Obect's size: 7048 (blocks), Threshold: MTT(7222 blocks),
-- main events: db file scattered read
SQL> alter session set tracefile_identifier = 'table_7200';
SQL> select count(*) from table_7200;
NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]: Checking cost to read from caches(local/remote) and checking storage reduction factors (OLTP/EHCC Comp)
NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead: tsn: 4, objd: 22502, objn: 22502
-- main events: direct path read

Hey! With 12.2.0.1 the direct path read switching point reverted back to pre-11.2.0.3 behaviour of switching on 5 times small table threshold instead of small table threshold itself.

Update!
Re-running my tests shows differences in the outcome between buffered and direct path reads. My current diagnosis is that the scan type determination uses a step based approach:

– The first determination of size is done with ‘NSMTIO: kcbism’ (kcb is medium). If islarge is set to 1, it means the segment is bigger than STT. If islarge is set to 0 it means the segment is smaller than STT, and the segment will be read buffered, and the line ‘qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]' is shown in the NSMTIO output.

– The next line is 'NSMTIO: kcbimd' (kcb is medium determination?) It shows the size of the segment (nblks), STT (kcbstt), MTT (kcbpnb) and is_large, which in my tests always is set to 0. Here, there are 4 options that I could find:

1) Segment size between STT and MTT and a buffered read is executed.
If the segment is between STT and MTT, the Oracle engine uses a non-disclosed costing mechanism, which probably is externalised in the line 'NSMTIO: kcbcmt1'. The outcome can be a buffered read, for which the line 'qertbFetch:NoDirectRead:[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]' is shown.

2) Segment size between STT and MTT and the direct path code path is chosen.
If the segment is between STT and MTT, the Oracle engine uses a non-disclosed costing mechanism, probably externalised in the line 'NSMTIO: kcbcmt1'. If the costing determines it would be beneficial to use a direct path mechanism, it seems it switches to the direct path with cache determination code, which is also used for any table scan that is smaller than VLOT. Because of switching to that code, it will determine if the segment is bigger than VLOT: 'NSMTIO: kcbivlo', which of course in this case isn't true. Then, it will show the line 'NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]'

3) Segment size bigger than MTT but smaller than VLOT.
If the segment is between MTT and VLOT, the Oracle engine does not apply the costing mechanism (which is means the kcbcmt1 line is not shown). It will determine if the segment is bigger than VLOT ('NSMTIO: kcbivlo'), and then show 'NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT VLOT]’, and there is no kcbdpc to analyse choosing doing a buffered or direct path read.

4) Segment size bigger than VLOT.
If the segment is bigger than VLOT, the Oracle engine execute the functions kcbimd and kcbivlo, the NSMTIO line for kcbivlo will show is_large 1 to indicate it’s a very large object (VLOT by default is ‘500’, which is 5 times the total number of buffers in the buffer cache. The qertbFetch line will say ‘NSMTIO: qertbFetch:DirectRead:[OBJECT_SIZE>VLOT]’, and there is no kcbdpc to analyse choosing doing a buffered or direct path read.

In the cases where ‘NSMTIO: qertbFetch:[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]' is shown, which is either a segment between STT and MTT which switched to this code path, or between MTT and VLOT, the code will apply a second determination and potential switching point from buffered to direct path or vice versa, which is shown with the line 'kcbdpc' (kcb direct path check). The outcome can be:

– NSMTIO: kcbdpc:NoDirectRead:[CACHE_READ] to indicate it will use a buffered read.
– NSMTIO: kcbdpc:DirectRead to indicate it will use a direct path read.

I have verified the above 'decision tree' in 11.2.0.2, 11.2.0.3, 11.2.0.4, 12.1.0.2 and 12.2.0.1. It all seems to work this way consistently. I derived this working by looking at the NSMTIO tracing of 12.2, and then gone back in version. You will see that going lower in versions, there is lesser (nsmtio) tracing output; 11.2.0.4 does show way lesser information, for example, it does not show the kcbcmt1 line, and of course 11.2.0.3 and 11.2.0.2 do not show NSMTIO lines altogether. In order to verify the working, I used gdb and quite simply breaked on the kcbism, kcbimd, kcbcmt1, kcbivlo and kcbdpc functions in the versions where this information was missing in the trace.

Still, at the kcbcmt1 point:
– 11.2.0.2 seems to quite consistently take MTT as the direct path switching point.
– 11.2.0.3-12.1.0.2 seem to quite consistently take STT as the direct path switching point.
– 12.2.0.1 varies.

Conclusion.
This article first explained the differences between buffered and direct path reads, and why this is important, and that it is even more important with Exadata for smartscans.

The next part shows how to measure the switching point. The most important message from this blog article is that starting from 11.2.0.3 up to 12.1.0.2 the direct path read switching point is small table threshold, and with Oracle database version 12.2.0.1, the direct path switching point is changed back to pre-11.2.0.3 behaviour which means 5 times the small table threshold of the instance.
The next part shows measurements of the switching point. The addition shows that between STT and MTT there is a cost based decision to go direct path or buffered path. Once the direct path is chosen, it still can go buffered if the majority of the blocks are in the cache.

If you look closely at the output of the nsmtio lines for version 11.2.0.3-12.1.0.1 for tables that had a size between small table threshold and medium table threshold, it seemed a bit weird, because the nsmtio trace said ‘[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]', which to me means that Oracle detected the object size to be between medium table threshold and very large object threshold, which was not true. I can't tell, but it might be a bug that is solved for measuring the wrong size.
The text description in the NSMTIO qertbFetch line is bogus, it simply is a code path; ‘[- STT < OBJECT_SIZE < MTT]' means it's a buffered read, and could be chosen when < STT or in between STT and MTT, '[MTT < OBJECT_SIZE < VLOT]' means it's a direct path read, and could be chosen when in between STT and MTT or MTT and VLOT.

I added the scripts and examples of the tracing events so you can measure this yourself in your environment.

• debug
• internals
• IO
• nsmtio
• oracle
• performance
• trace events
• wait event