Setting up a Linux Server
Hi, I am going to install Informix onto a Dell PowerEdge 2650 in a couple of weeks. I was looking for some advice. 1) I was told that Informix doesn't like to be on a journalling file system, like ext3. Is this true? Should I use ext2 instead? 2) I was also told (by the same person) that I shouldn't use hardware RAID to mirror drives, but instead use Informix's built-in mirroring capability. True? 3) The 2650 server has dual SCSI channels. I will have four drives on it, and thought I would install two on each channel, then use Linux RAID to mirror the boot/operating system drive from a small disk on channel A to another small disk on channel B. I would then use Informix to mirror the data from the large disk on A to the large disk on B. Does this make sense? Thanks. -- Jim Kaufman mailto:jmk@linuxforbusiness.net Linux Evangelist cell: 612-481-9778 public key 0x6D802619 fax: 952-937-9832 http://www.linuxforbusiness.net
James 1) Anything that gets between Informix and the disk is a potential problem, if only to performance. Raw disk is best, then the simplest filesystem available. 2) Informix's built in mirroring is reasonable but cannot touch a hardware mirror for performance. If you can hardware mirror then go for that. 3) Without knowing how many users will be on this server, or what the use of the data is then your idea for placement seems ok for a first stab. Once you get some performance stats out you may see some disk problems that could be resolved by moving the root dbspace and/or the physical log and/or the logical logs on to your boot disks away from the data. hope this helps Keith -> -----Original Message----- -> From: James Kaufman [mailto:jmk@kaufman.eden-prairie.mn.us] -> Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 1:28 PM -> To: ids@iiug.org -> Subject: Setting up a Linux Server [875] -> -> -> Hi, -> -> I am going to install Informix onto a Dell PowerEdge 2650 in -> a couple of weeks. -> I was looking for some advice. -> -> 1) I was told that Informix doesn't like to be on a -> journalling file system, -> like ext3. Is this true? Should I use ext2 instead? -> -> 2) I was also told (by the same person) that I shouldn't use -> hardware RAID to -> mirror drives, but instead use Informix's built-in mirroring -> capability. True? -> -> 3) The 2650 server has dual SCSI channels. I will have four -> drives on it, and -> thought I would install two on each channel, then use Linux -> RAID to mirror the -> boot/operating system drive from a small disk on channel A -> to another small -> disk on channel B. I would then use Informix to mirror the -> data from the large -> disk on A to the large disk on B. Does this make sense? -> -> Thanks. -> -> -- -> Jim Kaufman mailto:jmk@linuxforbusiness.net -> Linux Evangelist cell: 612-481-9778 -> public key 0x6D802619 fax: 952-937-9832 -> http://www.linuxforbusiness.net -> ******************************************************************************** ** This message is sent in strict confidence for the addressee only. It may contain legally privileged information. The contents are not to be disclosed to anyone other than the addressee. Unauthorised recipients are requested to preserve this confidentiality and to advise the sender immediately of any error in transmission. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses, however we cannot guarantee that this message is free from such problems. ******************************************************************************** **
James Kaufman wrote My two pence worth > I am going to install Informix onto a Dell PowerEdge 2650 in a couple of weeks. > I was looking for some advice. > > 1) I was told that Informix doesn't like to be on a journalling file system, > like ext3. Is this true? Should I use ext2 instead? Use raw by preference, Standard files (cooked) next. Never journalled > > 2) I was also told (by the same person) that I shouldn't use hardware RAID to > mirror drives, but instead use Informix's built-in mirroring capability. True? Use hardware mirroring whenever possible. If it is a time critical system, set Informix mirroring on, even if you do not expect to use it. If a chunk is down or failing you can mirror and replace it without taking the engine off line. > > 3) The 2650 server has dual SCSI channels. I will have four drives on it, and > thought I would install two on each channel, then use Linux RAID to mirror the > boot/operating system drive from a small disk on channel A to another small > disk on channel B. I would then use Informix to mirror the data from the large > disk on A to the large disk on B. Does this make sense? I would avoid OS mirroring IF possible. Otherwise sounds OK for small system. How big are the disks, and will there be an issue with maximum 2GB chunks on IDS < 9.4, and maximum OS partitions of > 7 or 8. Colin Bull c.bull@VideoNetworks.com