Database Host Hardware and Software

N4 connects to the database through a JDBC driver, and can therefore support several different types of database configurations. The database can be hosted on either Microsoft Windows or Linux servers.

N4 is tested with Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, and Oracle RAC software. You, the customer, are responsible for determining the detailed configuration such as the types and number of hosts, and clustering based on the volume of the terminal (expressed as annual twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU)), performance requirements, the storage requirements for historical data, and the availability and failover requirements. Consult with your database vendor to determine your requirements. The references below will provide the information basics to help determine those requirements:

• Database Host Size Based on Annual TEU (on page 1)

• Database Architecture Options (on page 1)

Navis has measured transaction volumes generated by the application on a sample database considered typical for a terminal. The test results are the input for the database host guidelines below. We make no recommendation for specific machines or operating systems except to require 64-bit and that it is configured to handle the transaction volume. It is the customer's responsibility to determine the appropriate configuration and to properly test it. Below are guidelines based on number of transactions per minute (TPM), volume, and quantity of historical data your site requires. See also the host size diagram (on page 1).

Database Recommendations

For all semi-automated terminals, Navis recommends one of the following Enterprise Editions with the latest updates: 

Table 8: Supported Databases

* For Oracle, either a standalone server or RAC.

For terminals with annual TEU volume of less than 100,000, Navis supports Microsoft SQL Server Standard Editions with the latest updates, based on pricing and maintenance/support from the vendor for customers with lower volume database usage requirements. If your terminal is already an Oracle customer, or you are considering other applications due to company-wide usage requirements, Navis supports the Oracle Standard Edition with latest updates for terminals of this volume.

Enterprise vs. Standard Editions

Navis recommends Enterprise editions over Standard editions for both Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle. Only customers with fewer than 100,000 annual TEU should consider using Standard edition. Navis executes all functional and performance testing with Enterprise Editions.

Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition has the following advantages over SQL Server Standard Edition:

• No limitation on the number of CPUs

• Full scalability vs. limited scalability

• High availability

• Ability to create and rebuild indexes online

• Superior performance and diagnostic tools

Oracle Enterprise Edition includes advantages over the Standard Edition:

• No CPU limit (the Standard Edition is limited by 4 sockets)

• Access to the following features: Oracle Parallel Query, Data Guard or Advanced Replication, Online Index Rebuild

• Superior performance and diagnostic tools

Navis requires these options for Oracle:

• For Oracle Enterprise Edition, Navis requires that you license the Diagnostic Pack. This provides the Automatic Workload Repository (AWR) reports and Automatic Database Diagnostic Monitoring. which Navis use to quickly analyze and fix database performance problems.

• For Oracle Standard Edition, Navis requires initialization of Statspack package, which provides similar diagnostic information.

There are many resources available on the internet to help you determine what database edition makes sense for your facility. Pricing should never be the primary determining factor. Maintain an awareness of the full scope of your database operational requirements.

To support batch reporting or ad hoc query requirements, best practice is to have a separate copy of the production database so as not to impact operational performance.