V2002A%TEMPLEVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.EDU (10/27/87)
Hi,
We were given an ATT 3B2 as part of a grant. For the forseeable
future our only use for it is as a dumb file server for Starlan. We
have roughly 12 meg of DOS programs for pharmaceutical and nursing
CAI programs on one of the partitions. The number of CAI programs
and data will no doubt grow continuously.
Our dilemma is that we 'tuned' the system to the default state
given in the SYS V (3.0) manuals. My hunch is that this is not
maximizing throughput and could some day give us trouble. We already
have partitioned both 72 meg disks into several 23 meg sections (with
two small leftover partitions).
There are no programmers, mail, networking (uucp), and only rare
wordprocessing on this machine. Does anyone have a similar type of
setup? And if so what have you done to tune your system as strictly
a dumb server for STARLAN. I could probably hack it out by analyzing
data from 'sa' and 'sar',but the time I can spend on this machine is
very limited. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Andy Wing V2002A%TEMPLEVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU
Config: 3B2-400 16 tty ports (3 activated by /etc/inittab)
2 72 meg HD
Math accelerator unit
23 meg Cartrige tape unit
Network (STARLAN) access unit
1 line printer port (rarely used)
1 96 tpi floppy
3 (later 6) ATT 6300s as remote nodes on
STARLANrwhite@nusdhub.UUCP (10/28/87)
In article <9990@brl-adm.ARPA>, V2002A%TEMPLEVM.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.EDU writes: > Hi, > We were given an ATT 3B2 as part of a grant. For the forseeable > Our dilemma is that we 'tuned' the system to the default state > given in the SYS V (3.0) manuals. My hunch is that this is not > maximizing throughput and could some day give us trouble. First off, you had better upgrade to UNIX 3.1 and Network Support Utilities 1.1. This can as much a double your systems speed, and can be done for a grand total lf $110 if you do it by Oct 30, 1987. [It REALY makes a difference. The STREAMS modules have been speeded almost by a factor of 2] > We already > have partitioned both 72 meg disks into several 23 meg sections (with > two small leftover partitions). I would not have bothered to partition the disk. The NETBIOS extension to ms-dos releases all the disk size limitations. Also, as you disk space fragments, you avrage block-access time will normalize throughout the partition. if you put two partitions on the same disk that normalization will include a defacto half-the-sruface-every-time you access alternate partitions. Your i-nodes buffering will have to work harder to span the partitons [two or more free lists.] The more partitions you have on a platter, the worse your preformance will get. Careful sub-directory sharing will serve well enough for ANY ms-dos uses. > There are no programmers, mail, networking (uucp), and only rare > wordprocessing on this machine. Does anyone have a similar type of > setup? And if so what have you done to tune your system as strictly > a dumb server for STARLAN. I could probably hack it out by analyzing > data from 'sa' and 'sar',but the time I can spend on this machine is > very limited. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! If all you do is network stuff, you may find an immediate benifit in jacking up all the numbers of STREAMS buffers of the sizes which most closley match your disk record sizes, and or the big ones for massive sequental reads and program loading if your ms-dos users are shared their executable programs. The approprate buffer names may be found in a seprate section of the output of /etc/sysdef <I think that's the name?!?< > > Andy Wing V2002A%TEMPLEVM.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU > > Config: 3B2-400 16 tty ports (3 activated by /etc/inittab) 3B2/600 26 tty ports (soon to be more all to our ISN) > 2 72 meg HD 2 142M Hard Disks > Math accelerator unit MAU also > 23 meg Cartrige tape unit 60M Tape on SCSI [not CTC compatable] > Network (STARLAN) access unit NAU (STARLAN) & ISC (intelegent Serial Controller for RJE) > 1 line printer port (rarely used) Same > 1 96 tpi floppy Same > 3 (later 6) ATT 6300s as remote nodes on > STARLAN STARLAN<-->ISN link w/variant number of mixed-vendor PCs and Compatables on Direct STARLAN link. Soon: 3B2/310 Served through STARLAN w/RFS Soon: 3B2/400 Served through STARLAN w/RFS 400 will act a area sub-server for educational applications. Other Complex plans in the works. I have been doing a good bit of never-tried-yet stuff with my local AT&T reps. Every now and again I like to shock my account reps. Disclaimer: You asked, I answered... The ball is in your court now... :-) Rob.