By Sanjeev Datta, Senior Consultant for PerformanceG2
Are you deciding to set up TM1? Below is a list of considerations when installing a TM1 environment – an initial insight into the set up and architecture to fill your technical needs. These stats can help determine cube size, server topology and other settings for an upgrade or new TM1 install.
User Definition:
Power Users (PU)- These are TM1 users who would load data, update models and objects and create complex reports and views. Compared to the total number of users and power users, 1:1 can be considered as a close approximation (concurrent user) ration.
Read/Write Users (RWU)- These are TM1 users who would update data in a model on a regular basis. They would create and view complex reports and views. Compared to the total number of users and RW users, 3:1 can be considered as a close approximation (concurrent user) ratio.
Read Only Users (ROU)- These are TM1 users who do not input data. Instead, they only read data or use pre-defined reports in Microsoft Excel or TM1 Web and require fast data access. Compared to the total number of users and RO users, 10:1 can be considered as a close approximation (concurrent user) ratio.
Estimating RAM:
Total concurrent users = 16
RAM required: 16 x 20 (MB per user) = 320MB
Estimating Data:
In TM1, each data item loaded occupies on average 14 bytes of RAM. Each calculated item will proportionally increase the data, and adding more CPU’s will benefit readers more than TM1 users or writers.
Rule of Thumb: Per CPU, 25 power users and 100 RO users
Data– 1,000,000 rows with 12 data items in each row = 160MB
Model with 5 years of data = 801MB
Calculations– Calculations forecast is 1 year of extra data = 160MB
Users– 10 users = 10 x 12MB = 120MB
Total Model Size– 801MB + 10MB + 120MB = 1.1GB
Report Server:
In a TM1 environment, use a Report Server for the following:
- If the RW users require fast access to static reports while data is being uploaded
- If writers lock server to the detriment of the readers
- If the RO user community outweighs the RW user community by a factor of 5 and there is constant RW activity on the main server
- If the RO users request reports simultaneously and if reporting performance is important, then use Reporting Server/Multiple Processes
TM1 Web Server:
In a TM1 environment, if the majority are Web users, then consider a separate TM1 Web server. TM1 Web servers should always run on separate physical servers if possible.
Rule of Thumb: Up to 250 concurrent users per CPU
