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Conference turris::digital_unix

Title:DIGITAL UNIX(FORMERLY KNOWN AS DEC OSF/1)
Notice:Welcome to the Digital UNIX Conference
Moderator:SMURF::DENHAM
Created:Thu Mar 16 1995
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:10068
Total number of notes:35879

9938.0. "news server setup suggestions?" by TROOA::MSCHNEIDER ([email protected]) Fri May 23 1997 18:27

    I've been asked by a local ISP for suggestions in configuring a news
    server under Digital UNIX.  Specifically I am looking for suggestions
    in terms of:
    
    1.	filesystem --- Advfs or UFS
    2.	tuning tips for filesystem
    3.	storage subsystem configuration
    	- RAID level 
    	- HW versus SW RAID
    
    BTW, the platform is an AlphaServer 1000.
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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9938.1a few suggestionsKITCHE::schottEric R. Schott USG Product ManagementSun May 25 1997 13:5871
>
>    I've been asked by a local ISP for suggestions in configuring a news
>    server under Digital UNIX.  Specifically I am looking for suggestions
>    in terms of:

you might contact some folks in ibg...you might
try [email protected] as I know she has been involved in tuning
news servers.


>    
>    1.	filesystem --- Advfs or UFS

you can use either one.  I generally prefer advfs, but one
needs to be a little more careful in initial setup and ongoing
operation.

Generally:

   - if possible use storage with non volatile WBC like HSZ50s or
     SWCXR (with proper batteries).

   - Keep each volume given to advfs to be around 4-5GB or less

   - If you need a bigger domain, use multiple volumes, or
     multiple domains 

   - enable the WBC on the volumes, for hszs ensure the max transfer
     size is set big (> 128KB)

   - run defragment and balance regularly on each domain (i suggest
     once a week).

   - use V4.0B of Digital unix.


>    2.	tuning tips for filesystem

run sys_check 

http://www-unix.zk3.dec.com/tuning/tools/sys_check/sys_check.html

size the BMT extent size (mkfdmn -x -p or addvol -x -p) to
2048.




>    3.	storage subsystem configuration
>    	- RAID level 

depends on load...if write load is real heavy, use RAID1

If caches are working well, you might get away with RAID5

>    	- HW versus SW RAID

use LSM, regardless of where the raid is done...this will make
mgmt (and tuning) much easier as we will have much better statistics
to monitor.


since it is a single system, use the hardware raid (on hsz50 or
swxcr)...but ensure each device is given to LSM to give to the file
system.


>    
>    BTW, the platform is an AlphaServer 1000.
>    
>