Conference mvblab::alphaserver_4100

584.0. "performance, 4100 and SWXRC-05" by BERGEN::ARVID () Fri May 02 1997 10:59

	Hello,


  I have a few questions I hope someone can answer.

A customer in Norway has an AlphaServer 4100 with 4 CPU's, 2 GByte
of memory, and using disk "units" (mirror-sets and Raid-sets)
connected to both Mylex controllers and a SWXRC-05 (a variant of
HSZ40). They are running Digital Unix V3.2G, Oracle and some
application (from a company in England "KPMG") using Oracle. The
customer has complained about terrible response times and thats why
memory was upgraded to 2GB and the english company "KPMG" is
rewriting the application.
  Things are somewhat better, but the response is still not good.


  A funny thing that we have noticed is : when using Performance
Adviser we see long disk response times, but the system doesn't seem
to be DOING anything at the time, CPU load is low, I/O is
moderate...
Does anyone have some performance advice on these matters ? :


1 -	the Raid controller has SWXRC-05 marked on its front, but
"show this" says its a SWXRC-04. Is this controller properly
supported on Unix V3.2G / AlphaServer 4100 / KZPSA ?

2 -	We want to upgrade the SWXRC-05 to the newest firmware. We
have got hold of HSOF for HSZ40 V30 ( V30Z/2 ,  BG-QHD30-3A ). 
Can we use this FW on the SWXRC-05 ?

3 -	Are there any known performance issues with the SWXRC-05
controllers ??

4 -	Are there any known performance issues with the Alpha-
Server 4100 ??

5 -	I've heard that if the operating system can't tell what
kind of device/controller the SWXRC-05 is, it might give bad
performance. Will Unix V3.2G be able to recognize the SWXRC-05 ?
How can I check this ? If the SWXRC-05 is not recognized, what
should I do so it IS recognized ?
	Statistics from Performance Adviser gives a page of info
for "...all drives mounted (in fstab)...". The two units off the
SWXRC-05, rz8 ( 10 drive raid-set) and rz11 ( 2 drive mirror-set)
are NOT on this page of info. Does that indicate that "things"
are not as they should be ?


	regards
	Arvid Nes
	Digital, Norway

Arvid,

	If the SWXCR-05 is a third party (HSZ40) UNIX will does
use the perfomance features for the "HSZ40". These are only
used on the Digital HSZ40. Please have the customer talk to the
supplier of the SWXCR for resolotion of the problem.


Unix Hardware Support.
Rich Freiss