I have a tuning issue that I think may relate to either of the following 3 things: memory, raided(block size), and gig nics.
When I copy files to any client whether using Native file(CIFS) or using the Novell client(s), the transfers start out fast but progressively slow down. I can get a good transfer speed for about 10 secs. then it gets slower. This will be the same for the backups as well. Is there any tuning that can be done to improve the performance?
System:
Dell PE2600(Dual-3.0GHzXeon/Rai
All vols are NSS(block size 4kb)
4-Intel Pro/1000 MT in AD team mode with VLANS(latest driver from SP4)
Veritas Backup Exec 9.0 with current SP's and Agents(Backup server is on a W2k3 server)
Copy of configs.
Maximum Directory Cache Buffers = 150000
Minimum Directory Cache Buffers = 500
Maximum Number Of Internal Directory Handles = 500
Maximum Number Of Directory Handles = 500
Open Callback Timeout = 29.7 seconds
Maximum Record Locks Per Connection = 500
Maximum File Locks Per Connection = 2500
Maximum Record Locks = 20000
Maximum File Locks = 200000
Maximum Rights Vector Entry Pool = 128
Read Ahead Enabled = ON
Read Ahead LRU Sitting Time Threshold = 10 seconds
Minimum File Cache Buffers = 1000
Maximum Concurrent Disk Cache Writes = 750
Dirty Disk Cache Delay Time = 0.5 seconds
Minimum File Cache Report Threshold = 20
Maximum Concurrent opens per file and connection = 10000
Novell Storage Services *
**************************
Emulate Classic NetWare Directory Quotas = OFF
NSS Work To Do Count = 75
NSS Maximum Cache Balance Buffers Per Session = 700000
NSS Cache Balance Timer = 30
NSS Cache Balance Percent = 75
NSS Cache Balance Enable = ON
NSS Buffer Flush Timer = 300
NSS Minimum OS Cache Buffers = 500000
NSS Minimum Cache Buffers = 500000
NSS File Flush Timer = 10
NSS Closed File Cache Size = 50000
NSS Open File Hash Shift = 17
NSS Auth Cache Size = 1024
NSS ASCII Name Cache Enable = ON
NSS Name Cache Enable = ON
NSS Name Cache Size = 10000
NSS Low Volume Space Alerts = ON
NSS Low Volume Space Warning Reset Threshold = 15
NSS Low Volume Space Warning Threshold = 10
**************************
* Disk *
**************************
Auto scan for devices = ON
Auto load of CDM modules = ON
Sequential Elevator Depth = 8
Enable IO Handicap Attribute = OFF
Mirrored Devices Are Out Of Sync Message Frequency = 28
Remirror Block Size = 1
Concurrent Remirror Requests = 32
Ignore Partition Ownership = OFF
Ignore Disk Geometry = OFF
Multi-path Support = OFF
Enable Hardware Write Back = ON
Enable Disk Read After Write Verify = OFF
**************************
* Common File System *
**************************
Maximum Transactions = 10000
Maximum Concurrent Directory Cache Writes = 500
Immediate Purge Of Deleted Files = ON
Compression Daily Check Stop Hour = 6
Compression Daily Check Starting Hour = 0
Minimum Compression Percentage Gain = 20
Enable File Compression = OFF
Maximum Concurrent Compressions = 2
Convert Compressed To Uncompressed Option = 1
Decompress Percent Disk Space Free To Allow Commit = 10
Decompress Free Space Warning Interval = 31 minutes 18.5 seconds
Deleted Files Compression Option = 1
Days Untouched Before Compression = 14
Thanks for any help or ideas.
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Didn't see anyproblems with the server's performance stats. There are no dropped packets or retransmits. And yes I'm using the latest drivers. Unfortunately, I can't manually set the switch to full duplex/1000. It automatically detects what it needs to be at for gigabit operation.
I did notice that I may have left out some changes in the teaming config. I added the SMPMODE=ON for the NIC cards and things seem to be running better and more consistent. Repeated copies exhibit similar times from server to workstation and backups seem to be running at a faster speed.
I don't know if gigabit NICs and ports will do anything besides autonegotiate...
If you aren't seeing any performance issues as far as caching or communications on the server itself, maybe it's a problem on the client side. I would think if you had an issue on the network you'd get dropped packets and retransmits.
Do you have more than one client OS, or are they all, say, WinXP Pro? If you have more than one, is the problem consistent across all client OS'es?
Gigabit ports can be either autonegotiate or not. You can also enable or disable pause frames. The one thing that is always true about gigabit ports is that they only run at full-duplex. So, I would still recommend hard coding FDX Pause frames ON and disable autonegotiation at both ends. There's a remote chance you're overwhelming the switch with packets and it pause is turned off, lots of retransmits might be happening.
I don't like full duplex because ithe Netware server doesn't report any meaningful NIC stats but that can't be helped with gigabit. Perhaps the switch may show error info.
How much RAM does the server have?
How is thr NIC teaming configured? How about the VLANs? Perhaps the switch is getting confused by the teaming arrangement. It might be worth troubleshooting by process of elimination. Enable just one port, do a file copy, enable two ports, file copy, etc.
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by: hbuenoPosted on 2004-03-18 at 06:03:12ID: 10623807
Sounds like it could be a network issue.
Make sure your server and network switch ports are MANUALLY set to matching speed and duplex settings. Don't rely on autonegotiate. At the client end, either hard code both ends or make sure both ends are set to fully autonegotiate all settings. Having one end with a fixed setting and the other with autonegotiate is the kiss of death.