Gary Roach wrote at about 09:02:22 -0700 on Monday, April 8, 2013:
> On 04/07/2013 02:26 PM, backuppc AT kosowsky DOT org wrote:
> > Gary Roach wrote at about 13:43:28 -0700 on Sunday, April 7, 2013:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am modifying my whole backup system for greater volume and speed.
> > The
> > > new system is as follows:
> > >
> > > Software - Backuppc using rsync (without SSH)
> > > Server - D865PERL Motherboard
> > > Pentium 4 - 2.4 GHz Processor
> > > IDE System hard drive
> > > SATA, 1 TB WD green backup data storage disk.
> > (S/B
> > > 1.5 Gb/S)
> > > 1GB system memory
> > > PCI bus
> > > Intel PWLA8391GT PRO/1000 GT PCI Network Adapter
> > > Cat 6 cable
> > >
> > > Clients (2)
> > > Intel DP55KG motherboard
> > > Intel i5-750 Processor 4 core, 2.66 GHz
> > > Hard Drive - Western Digital WD5000AADS -500GB, 32MB
> > > Cache, SATAII (3 Gb/s)
> > > PCIX bus
> > > 2 GB system memory
> > > Intel Gigabit CT PCI-E Network Adapter EXPI9301CTBLK
> > > Cat 6 Cable
> > >
> > > I have read all sorts of complaints about this type setup and need
> > some
> > > advice.
> >
> > I am not aware of *any* general complaints about any general
> > hardware. Complaints if any typically reflect a lack of understanding
> > about how BackupPC works or unrealistic expectations of performance
> > relative to the size/number of backups on the one hand and network
> > bandwidth and to lesser extents CPU speeds and disk setup on the
> > other.
> >
> > That being said, I am puzzled by your statement that you are
> > "modifying my whole backup system for greater volume and speed", yet
> > your server setup seems to be based on 10 year old technology -
> > Pentium 4 2.4GHz (presumably single core), 1GB DRAM, IDE system drive
> > and a WD Green (i.e.., exact opposite of a performance) data disk. In
> > fact, it would be harder to imagine a *less* suitable hardware setup
> > if you are interested in greater volume and speed.
> >
> > Now this doesn't mean that BackupPC won't run on such a setup -- indeed, my
> > home backup server is approaching 10 years and has only slightly
> > better hardware (p4 2.8GHz, 2GB DRAM, pair of RAID1 Seagate
> > (non-green) 1TB drives). It works fine for me but it is at the low end of
> > performance. I get about 5-6 MB/sec max (on a 100bps ethernet). Of
> > course, my backup backup server is even lower powered being an 800MHz
> > ARM plugcomputer with 512MB DRAM and a USB hard drive... but it's slow.
> >
> > > It would appear that I should get around 1 Gbit/S transfer rate
> > > for continuous data transfer. If this is not true, why not and what
> > can
> > > I realistically expect.
> >
> > How would you ever expect to get 1 Gbit/second????
> >
> > First, while you mention that your ethernet cards are GigE, you don't
> > say anything about your actual network speed being GigE which would
> > require a GigE router/switch.
> >
> > Second, GigE can't even do 1 Gbit/second raw data transfers due to the
> > ethernet (and other) protocol overheads plus collisions, etc. Even
> > under ideal conditions, one would get a good fraction less than 1
> > Gbit/second.
> >
> > Third, your old IDE-based motherboard (even with onboard SATA
> > adapters) is unlikely to have more than about 150 mbit/sec capacity.
> >
> > Fourth, while your drive may have a 1.5Gb/sec interface and may in
> > burst mode approach such a speed when reading/writing from its buffer,
> > there is no way it can do sustained transfers anywhere near that
> > speed -- especially Green drives that are optimized for power usage
> > and not for performance.
> >
> > Finally, how do you expect your lowly p4 2.4GHz to keep up with rsync
> > at anything approaching 1 Gbit/second let alone any of the overhead of
> > BackupPC (and in particular compression).
> >
> > My guess is that if you don't have a true GigE network (including your
> > router/switch), you are unlikely to get more than about 6-8 mbit/sec
> > (i.e. .006 - .008 Gbit/sec). If you have a GigE network, maybe you can
> > expect to get a little more before your motherboard and cpu are rate
> > limiting.
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > Project: http://backuppc.sourceforge.net/
> >
> Thank you all for you input.
>
> Some clarification:
> The router/switch is being replaced with a Verizon M1424 Gegabit
> device.
> I plan on increasing the memory on the server.
> This is a home system and the real need for the re-do is to get
> more storage space.
> I don't need a high rel system assuming that all of the computers
> are not going to fail at the same time. ( a chance I am willing to take
> for cost reduction)
> While these are home systems, they still run 24/7 and power
> consumption is a consideration.
> I have my backups staggered so that full backups happen on
> different days.
> The amount of file churning is relatively low.
>
> Above, do you really mean that I could expect transfer rates as low
> as 600 to 800 KB/S. I could carry the data in a bucket faster. I don't
> have a real good figure for the transfer rates for my present setup but
> know they are way faster than that.
I think you could expect 5-10 MB/S on a GigE network (assuming truly
GigE) with the rate limiting step being your CPU and the combined
limitations of non-RAID, Green drives on an old SATA/IDE motherboard.
>
> I am getting the idea that putting in a GigE system isn't going to buy
> much speed. Any comments?
See above...
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