Server Running Very Slow

[Guest DHamer]

Firstly.... the server:

 

POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

 

Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

15k) as a raid 5 array

 

The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

one time.

 

Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

 

As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

something my 8month old might draw!

 

For the last 30 minute averages:

 

Pages/sec Averages:997

Disk Queue Length: 10.2

% Processor Time: 41

 

Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

 

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Guest Filipe Matias]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

DHamer wrote:

> Firstly.... the server:

>

> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

>

> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> 15k) as a raid 5 array

>

> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> one time.

>

> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

>

> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> something my 8month old might draw!

>

> For the last 30 minute averages:

>

> Pages/sec Averages:997

> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> % Processor Time: 41

>

> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

>

> Thanks for any help you can offer.

Hello,

 

Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you post

here your average queue lenght for your disks?

 

If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is cleared.

[Guest DHamer]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> DHamer wrote:

> > Firstly.... the server:

>

> > POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> > 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> > ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> > ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> > PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

>

> > Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> > 15k) as a raid 5 array

>

> > The server is acting as the storage for user's home area.  We have

> > around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> > one time.

>

> > Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill.  The

> > users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything.  We have run

> > some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> > problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> > regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

>

> > As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> > concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> > something my 8month old might draw!

>

> > For the last 30 minute averages:

>

> > Pages/sec Averages:997

> > Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> > % Processor Time: 41

>

> > Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

> > problem with this server?  How do those stats look to you?

>

> > Thanks for any help you can offer.

>

> Hello,

>

> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you post

> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>

> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

readings are;

 

Last:13.04

Average: 6.5

Minimum: 0.97

Maximum: 34.459

 

Thanks again.

[Guest Filipe Matias]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

DHamer wrote:

> On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

>> DHamer wrote:

>>> Firstly.... the server:

>>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

>>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

>>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

>>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

>>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

>>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

>>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

>>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

>>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

>>> one time.

>>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

>>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

>>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

>>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

>>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

>>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

>>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

>>> something my 8month old might draw!

>>> For the last 30 minute averages:

>>> Pages/sec Averages:997

>>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

>>> % Processor Time: 41

>>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

>>> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

>>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

>> Hello,

>>

>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you post

>> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>>

>> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>>

>> - Show quoted text -

>

> I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

> performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

> readings are;

>

> Last:13.04

> Average: 6.5

> Minimum: 0.97

> Maximum: 34.459

>

> Thanks again.

Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

problems.

You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

 

What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?

[Guest DHamer]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

The server itself has 2 internal drives, using RAID1. This raid

contains only the OS (server 2003)

 

The drive array (PV220S) has 7 drives (sorry not 6), and is configured

as RAID 5.

 

 

On 18 Mar, 09:17, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> DHamer wrote:

> > On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> >> DHamer wrote:

> >>> Firstly.... the server:

> >>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> >>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> >>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> >>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> >>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

> >>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> >>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

> >>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area.  We have

> >>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> >>> one time.

> >>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill.  The

> >>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything.  We have run

> >>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> >>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> >>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

> >>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> >>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> >>> something my 8month old might draw!

> >>> For the last 30 minute averages:

> >>> Pages/sec Averages:997

> >>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> >>> % Processor Time: 41

> >>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

> >>> problem with this server?  How do those stats look to you?

> >>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

> >> Hello,

>

> >> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you post

> >> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>

> >> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>

> >> - Show quoted text -

>

> > I assume I am quoting the correct thing.  I have added a counter in

> > performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length"  the current

> > readings are;

>

> > Last:13.04

> > Average: 6.5

> > Minimum: 0.97

> > Maximum: 34.459

>

> > Thanks again.

>

> Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

> Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

> problems.

> You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

>

> What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

[Guest Craig Collins]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

Hi DHamer,

 

 

 

Have you found any solution to your problem, I am curious I about to get a

server with pretty much the same configuration Raid1for the OS and Raid 5

for the data, not as many users?

 

 

 

"DHamer" <d.hamer@blackburn.ac.uk> wrote in message

news:b6b1b2f4-89be-48ed-93a4-c4483f65f87a@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

The server itself has 2 internal drives, using RAID1. This raid

contains only the OS (server 2003)

 

The drive array (PV220S) has 7 drives (sorry not 6), and is configured

as RAID 5.

 

 

On 18 Mar, 09:17, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> DHamer wrote:

> > On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> >> DHamer wrote:

> >>> Firstly.... the server:

> >>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> >>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> >>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> >>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> >>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

> >>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> >>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

> >>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

> >>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> >>> one time.

> >>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

> >>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

> >>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> >>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> >>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

> >>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> >>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> >>> something my 8month old might draw!

> >>> For the last 30 minute averages:

> >>> Pages/sec Averages:997

> >>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> >>> % Processor Time: 41

> >>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

> >>> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

> >>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

> >> Hello,

>

> >> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you

> >> post

> >> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>

> >> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is

> >> cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>

> >> - Show quoted text -

>

> > I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

> > performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

> > readings are;

>

> > Last:13.04

> > Average: 6.5

> > Minimum: 0.97

> > Maximum: 34.459

>

> > Thanks again.

>

> Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

> Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

> problems.

> You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

>

> What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?- Hide

> quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

[Guest DHamer]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

On 19 Mar, 14:30, "Craig Collins" <u49...@uic.edu> wrote:

> Hi DHamer,

>

> Have you found any solution to your problem, I am curious  I about to get a

> server with pretty much the same configuration Raid1for the OS and Raid 5

> for the data, not as many users?

>

> "DHamer" <d.ha...@blackburn.ac.uk> wrote in message

>

> news:b6b1b2f4-89be-48ed-93a4-c4483f65f87a@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> The server itself has 2 internal drives, using RAID1.  This raid

> contains only the OS (server 2003)

>

> The drive array (PV220S) has 7 drives (sorry not 6), and is configured

> as RAID 5.

>

> On 18 Mar, 09:17, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

>

>

>

> > DHamer wrote:

> > > On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> > >> DHamer wrote:

> > >>> Firstly.... the server:

> > >>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> > >>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> > >>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> > >>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> > >>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

> > >>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> > >>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

> > >>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

> > >>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> > >>> one time.

> > >>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

> > >>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

> > >>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> > >>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> > >>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

> > >>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> > >>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> > >>> something my 8month old might draw!

> > >>> For the last 30 minute averages:

> > >>> Pages/sec Averages:997

> > >>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> > >>> % Processor Time: 41

> > >>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

> > >>> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

> > >>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

> > >> Hello,

>

> > >> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you

> > >> post

> > >> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>

> > >> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is

> > >> cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>

> > >> - Show quoted text -

>

> > > I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

> > > performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

> > > readings are;

>

> > > Last:13.04

> > > Average: 6.5

> > > Minimum: 0.97

> > > Maximum: 34.459

>

> > > Thanks again.

>

> > Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

> > Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

> > problems.

> > You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

>

> > What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?- Hide

> > quoted text -

>

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

Sadly no solution as yet. It has been suggested that we shouldnt use

RAID 5 on a home area storage array by one DELL technician I spoke to,

but I havent had anyone else back that up yet. Someone else suggested

increasing the cache one the scsi controller from 128Mb may help.

Someone else has suggested totally changing the drive array for a new

MD3000 with 7x 15k SAS drives. Very difficulat to try and solve a

problem like this without just throwing cash at it.

[Guest Bruce Sanderson]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

If you have an anti-virus package installed on the server, that can create

performance issues. Consider either:

1. configure the anti-virus to only scan files when they are written, but

not when they are read

2. turning off the real-time virus checking completely

 

This is a risk to some extent, but you probably have anti-vurs software on

the workstations which will be doing exactly the same scanning of files, so

the risk is mitigated to some degree.

 

You could schedule a full scan during some not busy time, either daily or

weekly, and this may be sufficient.

 

--

Bruce Sanderson

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/

It's perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

 

"DHamer" <d.hamer@blackburn.ac.uk> wrote in message

news:daf9cf33-56ad-4b19-b9c5-147118846033@i29g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

On 19 Mar, 14:30, "Craig Collins" <u49...@uic.edu> wrote:

> Hi DHamer,

>

> Have you found any solution to your problem, I am curious I about to get a

> server with pretty much the same configuration Raid1for the OS and Raid 5

> for the data, not as many users?

>

> "DHamer" <d.ha...@blackburn.ac.uk> wrote in message

>

> news:b6b1b2f4-89be-48ed-93a4-c4483f65f87a@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> The server itself has 2 internal drives, using RAID1. This raid

> contains only the OS (server 2003)

>

> The drive array (PV220S) has 7 drives (sorry not 6), and is configured

> as RAID 5.

>

> On 18 Mar, 09:17, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

>

>

>

> > DHamer wrote:

> > > On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> > >> DHamer wrote:

> > >>> Firstly.... the server:

> > >>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> > >>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> > >>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> > >>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> > >>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

> > >>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> > >>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

> > >>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

> > >>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> > >>> one time.

> > >>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

> > >>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

> > >>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> > >>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> > >>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

> > >>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> > >>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> > >>> something my 8month old might draw!

> > >>> For the last 30 minute averages:

> > >>> Pages/sec Averages:997

> > >>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> > >>> % Processor Time: 41

> > >>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve

> > >>> the

> > >>> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

> > >>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

> > >> Hello,

>

> > >> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you

> > >> post

> > >> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>

> > >> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is

> > >> cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>

> > >> - Show quoted text -

>

> > > I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

> > > performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

> > > readings are;

>

> > > Last:13.04

> > > Average: 6.5

> > > Minimum: 0.97

> > > Maximum: 34.459

>

> > > Thanks again.

>

> > Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

> > Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

> > problems.

> > You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

>

> > What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?- Hide

> > quoted text -

>

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

Sadly no solution as yet. It has been suggested that we shouldnt use

RAID 5 on a home area storage array by one DELL technician I spoke to,

but I havent had anyone else back that up yet. Someone else suggested

increasing the cache one the scsi controller from 128Mb may help.

Someone else has suggested totally changing the drive array for a new

MD3000 with 7x 15k SAS drives. Very difficulat to try and solve a

problem like this without just throwing cash at it.

[Guest Filipe Matias]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

DHamer wrote:

> On 19 Mar, 14:30, "Craig Collins" <u49...@uic.edu> wrote:

>> Hi DHamer,

>>

>> Have you found any solution to your problem, I am curious I about to get a

>> server with pretty much the same configuration Raid1for the OS and Raid 5

>> for the data, not as many users?

>>

>> "DHamer" <d.ha...@blackburn.ac.uk> wrote in message

>>

>> news:b6b1b2f4-89be-48ed-93a4-c4483f65f87a@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

>> The server itself has 2 internal drives, using RAID1. This raid

>> contains only the OS (server 2003)

>>

>> The drive array (PV220S) has 7 drives (sorry not 6), and is configured

>> as RAID 5.

>>

>> On 18 Mar, 09:17, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

>>

>>

>>

>>> DHamer wrote:

>>>> On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

>>>>> DHamer wrote:

>>>>>> Firstly.... the server:

>>>>>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

>>>>>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

>>>>>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

>>>>>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

>>>>>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

>>>>>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

>>>>>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

>>>>>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

>>>>>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

>>>>>> one time.

>>>>>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

>>>>>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

>>>>>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

>>>>>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

>>>>>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

>>>>>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

>>>>>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

>>>>>> something my 8month old might draw!

>>>>>> For the last 30 minute averages:

>>>>>> Pages/sec Averages:997

>>>>>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

>>>>>> % Processor Time: 41

>>>>>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

>>>>>> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

>>>>>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

>>>>> Hello,

>>>>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you

>>>>> post

>>>>> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

>>>>> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is

>>>>> cleared..- Hide quoted text -

>>>>> - Show quoted text -

>>>> I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

>>>> performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

>>>> readings are;

>>>> Last:13.04

>>>> Average: 6.5

>>>> Minimum: 0.97

>>>> Maximum: 34.459

>>>> Thanks again.

>>> Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

>>> Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

>>> problems.

>>> You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

>>> What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?- Hide

>>> quoted text -

>>> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

>> - Show quoted text -

>

> Sadly no solution as yet. It has been suggested that we shouldnt use

> RAID 5 on a home area storage array by one DELL technician I spoke to,

> but I havent had anyone else back that up yet. Someone else suggested

> increasing the cache one the scsi controller from 128Mb may help.

> Someone else has suggested totally changing the drive array for a new

> MD3000 with 7x 15k SAS drives. Very difficulat to try and solve a

> problem like this without just throwing cash at it.

Changing to a new MD3000 isnt going to solve your problem.

From what you mentioned here i belive that it is the RAID for your OS

disks that is creating the problem and if you get a new array with

faster disks it may make it worse.

Even if all your student data is in the disk array it is still the OS

that responds to requests.

Probably the only solution to your problem would be to upgrade that

rAID( maybe a new RAID 10 with SAS disks)but that would be an extra cost.

Of course this is an assumption based on what you posted here and it is

hard to say it would be the best solution without knowing your system

better.

[Guest DHamer]

Re: Server Running Very Slow

 

On 20 Mar, 12:14, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> DHamer wrote:

> > On 19 Mar, 14:30, "Craig Collins" <u49...@uic.edu> wrote:

> >> Hi DHamer,

>

> >> Have you found any solution to your problem, I am curious  I about to get a

> >> server with pretty much the same configuration Raid1for the OS and Raid 5

> >> for the data, not as many users?

>

> >> "DHamer" <d.ha...@blackburn.ac.uk> wrote in message

>

> >>news:b6b1b2f4-89be-48ed-93a4-c4483f65f87a@e6g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> >> The server itself has 2 internal drives, using RAID1.  This raid

> >> contains only the OS (server 2003)

>

> >> The drive array (PV220S) has 7 drives (sorry not 6), and is configured

> >> as RAID 5.

>

> >> On 18 Mar, 09:17, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

>

> >>> DHamer wrote:

> >>>> On 17 Mar, 10:38, Filipe Matias <filipe.mat...@unitek.pt> wrote:

> >>>>> DHamer wrote:

> >>>>>> Firstly.... the server:

> >>>>>> POWEREDGE 2800 - XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB

> >>>>>> 4GB SINGLE RANK DDR2 MEMORY (4X1GB)

> >>>>>> ADDITIONAL XEON 3.2GHZ/2MB 800FSB, CACHE

> >>>>>> ADAPTEC SCSI 39160 CONTROLLER CARD(N)

> >>>>>> PERC 4/DC DUAL CHANNEL RAID CARD, 128MB

> >>>>>> Hooked upto this is a Powervault Drive Array housing 6 drives (all

> >>>>>> 15k) as a raid 5 array

> >>>>>> The server is acting as the storage for user's home area. We have

> >>>>>> around 10,000 users (students), but only around 400 logged on at any

> >>>>>> one time.

> >>>>>> Basically the server is quite often comming to a standstill. The

> >>>>>> users cant login, the ones logged in cannot do anything. We have run

> >>>>>> some performance monitoring, and have tried to find out the

> >>>>>> problem....but there is so much conflicting information out there

> >>>>>> regarding perfmon, and how to resolve the problems.

> >>>>>> As I write, the server is running OK as far as the users are

> >>>>>> concerned, but the perfmon is showing a graph which resembles

> >>>>>> something my 8month old might draw!

> >>>>>> For the last 30 minute averages:

> >>>>>> Pages/sec Averages:997

> >>>>>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2

> >>>>>> % Processor Time: 41

> >>>>>> Does anyone have any clues about how I can event start to resolve the

> >>>>>> problem with this server? How do those stats look to you?

> >>>>>> Thanks for any help you can offer.

> >>>>> Hello,

> >>>>> Disk Queue Length: 10.2 -------> This may be a I/O problem. can you

> >>>>> post

> >>>>> here your average queue lenght for your disks?

> >>>>> If your queue is too high everything will seem to stop until it is

> >>>>> cleared..- Hide quoted text -

> >>>>> - Show quoted text -

> >>>> I assume I am quoting the correct thing. I have added a counter in

> >>>> performance monitor called "Avg. Disk Queue Length" the current

> >>>> readings are;

> >>>> Last:13.04

> >>>> Average: 6.5

> >>>> Minimum: 0.97

> >>>> Maximum: 34.459

> >>>> Thanks again.

> >>> Well if i had to bet money i would say that is your problem right there.

> >>> Usualy a queue above 2 indicates a high load on disks and originates I/O

> >>> problems.

> >>> You are having a average of 6.5 and a maximum of 34.

> >>> What kind of raid do you have on the disks that contain the S.O.?- Hide

> >>> quoted text -

> >>> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

> >> - Show quoted text -

>

> > Sadly no solution as yet.  It has been suggested that we shouldnt use

> > RAID 5 on a home area storage array by one DELL technician I spoke to,

> > but I havent had anyone else back that up yet.  Someone else suggested

> > increasing the cache one the scsi controller from 128Mb may help.

> > Someone else has suggested totally changing the drive array for a new

> > MD3000 with 7x 15k SAS drives.  Very difficulat to try and solve a

> > problem like this without just throwing cash at it.

>

> Changing to a new MD3000 isnt going to solve your problem.

>  From what you mentioned here i belive that it is the RAID for your OS

> disks that is creating the problem and if you get a new array with

> faster disks it may make it worse.

> Even if all your student data is in the disk array it is still the OS

> that responds to requests.

> Probably the only solution to your problem would be to upgrade that

> rAID( maybe a new RAID 10 with SAS disks)but that would be an extra cost.

> Of course this is an assumption based on what you posted here and it is

> hard to say it would be the best solution without knowing your system

> better.- Hide quoted text -

>

> - Show quoted text -

 

We have pudchased a new set of 15k disks....we are going to create a

new second array and set it up at RAID50.

 

We also found a possible faulty drive in the array...so this has been

replaced. DELL have also suggested previous problems with the SCSI

cable they had supplied. Hopefully one of these will solve the

problem.