How to adjust the Java heap size of DB Change Manager

DB Change Manager

DB Change Manager is a Java-based application designed for managing and tracking changes to databases. It plays a crucial role in assisting database administrators and developers in organizing, documenting, and overseeing modifications to database structures. The application facilitates version control, change tracking, and synchronization of database schema changes across different environments.

DB Change Manager helps database administrators and developers to streamline database management tasks through the following capabilities:

• Comparison Capabilities:
  DB Change Manager offers features for comparing different database states, enabling users to identify discrepancies and variations.
• Synchronization Functionality:
  The tool allows synchronization of databases, ensuring consistency and alignment between different database instances.
• Data Masking Features:
  DB Change Manager includes data masking capabilities, providing a mechanism for safeguarding sensitive information during testing or development.
• Auditing Capabilities:
  The application facilitates auditing by tracking and recording changes, allowing for comprehensive reporting on modifications made to the database.
• Release Management:
  Users can utilize DB Change Manager to roll out new releases efficiently, ensuring a smooth and controlled deployment process.
• Problem Identification:
  The tool aids in pinpointing issues resulting from changes at various levels, including data, schema, and database configuration, enhancing troubleshooting and issue resolution.

By comparing a live database to a schema or configuration “snapshot,” administrators can quickly identify changes and correct problems. By monitoring configuration settings, administrators can ensure compliance with regulatory policies and performance standards and maintain overall database performance and availability.

If you compare 2 datasources with lots of objects, you may need to adjust the memory used by DB Change Manager to avoid out-of-memory errors.

-Xms and -Xmx

In Java applications, the parameters -Xms and -Xmx are integral to Java Virtual Machine (JVM) memory management.

• -Xms: This parameter dictates the initial heap size allocated by the JVM when the application starts.
• -Xmx: This parameter sets the maximum heap size that the JVM can use for the application during its execution.

Properly configuring these parameters is crucial for optimizing the performance of Java applications, especially when handling extensive datasets or executing complex operations that demand significant memory resources.

Editing -Xms and -Xmx in change.ini and changec.ini

To adjust the Java heap size of DB Change Manager, adhere to these steps:

1. Locate the Files:
   Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\IDERA\CMxxxx. (xxxx depends on the version you have installed)
2. Open the Files with Administrator Rights:
   Right-click on your chosen text editor (e.g., Notepad) and choose “Run as administrator” to ensure necessary privileges for editing files in the `Program Files` directory.
3. Understand JVM Options in Files:
   Look for lines in both change.ini and changec.ini specifying JVM options. The lines are the following:

   -Xms256M
   -Xmx768M

4. Edit the Values:
   Adjust the values of -Xms and -Xmx based on the available system resources. For example:

   -Xms1024M
   -Xmx4096M

   This configuration sets the initial heap size to 1024 megabytes and the maximum heap size to 4 gigabytes. Adjust these values according to your specific needs.

5. Save the Changes:
   Save the changes made to both change.ini and changec.ini files.
6. Restart the Application:
   After editing the files, restart the DB Change Manager application to apply the changes effectively.

Bonus

You can view the Heap status by checking the Show Heap Status checkbox from the application preferences (Tools/Preferences menu).

Heap Status

Summary

• Exercise caution when modifying these parameters to avoid impacting the application’s performance negatively.
• Administrative privileges are required for editing files in the Program Files directory.
• Adjust the values based on your application’s memory requirements and the available system resources.
• Following these steps will enable you to successfully modify the Java heap size settings for the DB Change Manager application and being able to compare huge databases.
• You can download a trial version of DB Change Manager here!