Conference iosg::all-in-1_v30

1746.0. "Shared Mail Areas & Directories" by ODIXIE::HAM () Tue Nov 10 1992 01:57

    ALL-IN-1 V2.4 - VMS V5.3
    
    Customer has a cluster of eight nodes.  Total ALL-IN-1 accounts exceed 
    3,000+.  There is one mail area and 1,950 shared directories.  The 
    window range is presently set at 951 - 1950.  These directories were 
    recently created and reside on a singular disk.  There are no other 
    files located on the disk.  Directories 1 - 949 located on two separate 
    disk exceed the recommended 500 files per directory.  The SDAF is 
    870,000+ blocks large.  The RSD housekeeping procedure is not run on 
    the system.  The housekeeping procedures that shutdown ALL-IN-1 for 
    purposes of reorganizing system files and the FCVR are run everyother 
    weekend, requiring that ALL-IN-1 be unavailable for approximately 9 
    hours.
    
    The customer is leaning towards recommendation of additional mail areas 
    with shared directories spread across several disk.
    
    Would like some feedback from individuals that have moved from a single 
    mail area system to multiple mail areas.
    
    Information pertaining to the following would be appreciated.
    
    1.  Recommendations on mail areas and disk configuration.  SDAF and 
    directory locations.
    
    2.  Whether user noticed improved performance with new configuration.
    
    3.  Housekeeping procedure schedules and run times.  Whether new 
    configuration allowed for fewer hours of downtime.
    
    4.  Account management considerations with multiple mail areas, if any.
    
    5.  Is there a performance hit with multiple mail areas.  If user 
    performs multiple options on shared files in multiple areas, would this 
    perform differently than a single area.
    
    6.  I have not worked a system with multiple mail areas, therefore,
    any other recommendations or considerations would be appreciated.  
    
    Thanks...
    
    Bill