Networker

Re: [Networker] [Summary so far] Re: best platform for newest networker?

2008-02-13 09:37:20
Subject: Re: [Networker] [Summary so far] Re: best platform for newest networker?
From: Fazil Saiyed <Fazil.Saiyed AT ANIXTER DOT COM>
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:34:51 -0600
Hello,
My question is, do you see a need for 10G card on Master or SN Legato 
servers ? considering design recommendations ( 50 client per server or SN 
as a start)and client load with Master server or SNodes 1 or 2 GB ethernet 
seems to do the trick, what might be the reasoning behind 10G on any 
platform ? Should you not look to use SN licence and or off-loading 
ethernet traffic  and utilizing block level backups ?  i tend to connect 
any servers who's backups run longer then 4-5 hrs and or over 100+ GB ( 
with no room for any improvements) with SN licences, i wonder how the rest 
of the admins use this guidelines ?
For those who have made such an move, can you explain what were the 
driving factors, performance limitations and how has it improved since you 
used such
technology's, that would set a guideline for the rest of us ?
Similarly, i don't see a huge need for 8-10 G FC except for very large 
shops doing specific implementations ( Multi TB backups, multiple high 
performance Drive i.e LTO4's),



"Reed, Ted G II [IT]" <Ted.Reed AT SPRINT DOT COM> 
Sent by: EMC NetWorker discussion <NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU>
02/12/2008 05:33 PM
Please respond to
EMC NetWorker discussion <NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU>; Please respond 
to
"Reed, Ted G II [IT]" <Ted.Reed AT SPRINT DOT COM>


To
NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
cc

Subject
Re: [Networker] [Summary so far] Re: best platform for newest networker?






        We have one environment that has an HP-UX Storage Node (solaris 
master), using a single 10GbE card for backup network, and 2x 1GbE for 
admin/meta-data/clients not on the proper backup network.  Overall, I 
don't have a problem with the HP...it performs well and does what it's 
supposed to do.  But I've also never pushed it's limits the way I have 
with my all-solaris shops, where I've found my bottleneck appears to be 
solaris i/o handling (note: v490/Solaris8).  No matter what I do with that 
older solaris setup, I can't seem to break the 180MB/sec aggregate 
max...even with 4x 1GbE (TCP/IP Offload cards) and 6x STK 9940B (30/60/90M 
spec).

        I also have to agree with Curtis' comments regarding pro-Solaris 
folk (unix is unix....and it is definitely NOT windows, yech).  I'm 
pro-Solaris myself, and looking forward to using the T5220 w/8x core, 
solaris 10, and (if I'm lucky) 2x 10GbE for my new master/SN 
infrastructure.  However, I still plan on designing it to only push 6 
tapes drives (IBM 3592E05), whether I get 2x10GbE or 8x1GbE for my backup 
network connections.
--Ted

-----Original Message-----
From: EMC NetWorker discussion [mailto:NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU] On 
Behalf Of Curtis Preston
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:54 PM
To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [Networker] [Summary so far] Re: best platform for newest 
networker?

I think the pro-Solaris folks would be just as OK with HP-UX or AIX if
you know that platform better.  Personally, I prefer Solaris because of
an iostat that understands tape drives and because of snoop. If you
prefer HP-UX, I don't see any issues with using it as your NetWorker
server.  It doesn't have the downsides that people listed of Linux or
Windows.

My one question would be to find out how well it can perform.  I'm
hearing really good things about Sun boxes, its recent IP stack, and 10
GbE cards.  Being able to send 500 MB/s into a backup server is a
powerful thing.

I think AIX comes with TSM pre-installed. ;)

---
W. Curtis Preston
Backup Blog @ www.backupcentral.com
VP Data Protection, GlassHouse Technologies

> -----Original Message-----
> From: EMC NetWorker discussion [mailto:NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU]
On
> Behalf Of Sid Shapiro
> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:40 PM
> To: NETWORKER AT LISTSERV.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> Subject: [Networker] [Summary so far] Re: best platform for newest
> networker?
>
> Hello.
> So far I've received the following. Admittedly some of the answers
were a
> bit hard to categorize, but I think this is the gist.
>
> platform        for     against
> Sparc           4
> Windows         1       3
> Linux           1       6
> Solaris x86     1       1
> non-responsive - 7
>
> What I find a little puzzling is that there are no advocates or
detractors
> from HP-UX or AIX. I wonder what that means? My current server is an
HP-UX
> system...
> / Sid /
>
>
> Sid Shapiro/Hercules/US/BIO-RAD wrote on 02/11/2008 01:09:01 PM:
>
> > Hello,
> > I'm about to upgrade to the latest networker and I need to upgrade
> > my hardware as well, so - what better time to ask :
> > What's the best platform on which to run networker server these
> > days. Clients are HP-UX Solaris, AIX, Linux, windows - with oracle,
> > lotus notes, exchange, sql-server.
> >
> > Define "best" anyway you like - best performance, best price-
> > performance, etc., etc..
> >
> > I usually like to go with the primary development platform, but I
> > don't know what that is for networker these days. Do you?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > / Sid /
>
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