[Zope] Cheap LINUX Zope host?

[Ian Blenke]

Using IDE on a dual-proc Linux server is a "bad idea". Use SCSI for any
machine you propose to host multiple users on. If you must use IDE, throw
some DIMMS in the poor box and rely on cache to speed things up.

Also, if you're running a UDMA-66 system, and have a controller (and drive,
etc) that can handle it, you can speed things up quite a bit with hdparm:

	hdparm -u1 -c1 -k1 -m16 -d1 -X66 /dev/hda

PLEASE DO NOT TRY THE ABOVE COMMAND BEFORE YOU RTFM. If you loose data,
there is nothing I can do to help you. TEST THIS CAREFULLY. TEST THIS FULLY.
Don't do this to a production server, PLEASE.

This works GREAT on a FIC SD-11 Athlon system (VIA "VP3" 82C59x based
Southbridge) after enabling the driver support in the kernel along with a WD
27g UDMA66/7200rpm drive.

On an overclocked dual-celery system running two IDE IBM 16Gb drives at
home, attempting to tweak my IDE settings with the onboard Intel chipset
causes the machine to reliably lock solid EVERY TIME.

I have been running Zope on the above dual-celery system for quite some
time. Aside from the 2gb file limit, everything has run very smoothly.

The biggest noticable changes are when DMA is enabled, and when IRQ
unmasking is turned on.

YMMV.

 - Ian C. Blenke <icblenke@2c2.com>

-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:tommy_b@my-deja.com]
Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 1:01 PM
To: zope@zope.org
Subject: [Zope] Cheap LINUX Zope host?


Oops, I'm going to use LINUX as the host OS.

I've done a bit of research on using SCSI.  IWill & Tekram put out SCSI3
cards under $70 (according to http://www.pricewatch.com).  Anyone use these
guys?  However, I'm not sure a cheap/close-out SCSI drive will match the
performance-to-value ratio to a new ATA-66.  http://www.storagereview.com
has lots of drive tests that leads me to this thought.  If I was spending
more than $1000 for a new system, I'd go SCSI for sure.  I need to keep
below $700, but SCSI is one of my first planned upgrades.  Is SCSI worth me
getting a old used system with 64MB of RAM & slapping a SCSI card into it,
or should I go for a new (dual) Celeron with 128MB?

Has anyone actually done performce tests with Zope & SQL to compare what
component has the most impact for a _cheap_ system: CPU, memory, or HD
throughput (ATA vs SCSI)?

Thanks for Stephan, Jim, & Nitin for the replies!
--

On Sun, 14 Nov 1999 18:28:56   Nitin Borwankar wrote in "Re: [Zope] What to
buy for cheap Zope host?":
>tommy_b@my-deja.com wrote:
>> I'm building a computer to train & test Zope.  I hope to use PostgreSQL
or MySQL for storing a good-sized database.  Zope would be used for allowing
users to enter data & for output of formated querries.
>> I wish to spend no more than $700 on this new computer I'm building (not
including sound & video card + monitor).  What should I spend the most money
on, CPU, memory, HD, or a balance?
>> I'm leaning towards a PPGA Celeron 366 (possibly overclocked), buying a
128MB stick of P100 RAM, and the fastest ATA drive $120 can buy.  Is this
the right direction?  Ram's rather expencive now, or else I'd get 256MB
right away.
>
>In either case spending some money and getting a SCSI controller and drive
gives a measurable contribution to performance. However this may take you
into the next price point segment ~1000$. I have found there are good
bargains on SCSI drives to be had on eBay and ONSALE auctions - go for new
and 7200RPM or more.


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