Hi all,
I have a SuSE Linux server that is running some databases, when they are the only thing running the system runs fine however, I need to run other processes on these machines everynow and again, and when I do the database system starts slowing down. Is there a way to allocate memory/cpu power to the databases and let them keep it all?

For example, I would prefer that the database always has access to 60-70% of the machines power, even if it's not in use and so any other processes get throttled down when they start up, not the dbase.

You could set the nice level higher (lower numeric value) than the other processes you speak of. That isn't going to dedicate a certain percentage, but they would at least run at a higher priority.