Raid Array Memory

What database platform...??? Pervasive, MSSQL, MySQL access, foxpro etc etc

Sounds like the application needs tweaking...

We used to have all kinds of fixes for larger databases..depending on number of users and number of transactions??

anyhoo...

Recommended by MS for thier mid range SQL database set up.

OS and app mirrored drives..on its own controller

Data on a RAID 5 array ...on its own controller

all in one server

Dual or Quad processors...lotso RAM...Fast SCSI disks

You could break out your phones onto thier own switches...get that traffic off the network.

From the perfmon you put up in the other thread....your disks are thrashing....

hence the slowdown

Have you done any of the other suggestions??

And the app vendor...they are no help???

They have no suggestions???

MLF

Quote:

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Note that the network is not always the limiting factor: at the highest network speeds (over 100 Mb/s) it is often the client's disk that limits the file transfers. This happens not because the quantity of data is so large, but because writing new files on a client's disk implies creating directory entries. On some operating systems, including many UNIXs, directory updates are handled synchronously. This improves the integrity of the on-disk data in the case of a power failure or system crash, but carries quite a performance penalty.

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from the Vendors website

http://www.perforce.com/perforce/wan.html

MLF

RAID5 is to slow for heavy IO database applications. For very large intensive IO systems I've always seen raid1+0 as the best solution when money is not a factor and speed is essential.

It really gets into what kind of IO you are doing as to what kind of array you should build. If all you are doing is sequential writes you might choose a certain type of raid array.. If you want a high level of redundancy, and the fastest possible writes/reads raid1+0 is without a doubt the winner. Look at any MS whitepaper about building large SQL or exchange servers and 1+0 is always the recommended config for database systems.

yes yes mohaughn is right...

I was confused on my RAIDS..

I know the system is mirrored..then the data is striped

I was confusing the striping with RAID 5..

oops

:(

MLF

Quote:

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You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to mohaughn again.

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:(

MLF

Raid 5 is stripe + parity bits. As is raid 4 I think. But it works differently.

Anyhoo, after a quick check of performance monitor it seems our raid peaks at about 25Mb/s of throughput. Well, possibly more. But for transferring several large files you can see how the system crunches. Even at the theoretical max of about 40Mb/s (320Mbit controller card) thats quite slow as far as 50 users goes.

Quick question and update...

Can I add the 256mb cache chip to the raid controller without having to rebuild the raid itself. Is it just like a memory upgrade where I just pop it in and turn the server on and it goes?

Never done a cache upgrade before so I am wondering what if anything could be problematic in this upgrade.

Yes, there is no need for a rebuild of the container. Snap in the RAM and off you go.

--TH13