2) I've had good luck putting the database on a 7137 disk array (RAID-5)
and the recovery log (mirrored) and disk storage pools on SSA disks.
I'd definitely try to keep the database, recovery log, and disk storage
pools on separate physical devices regardless of what kind of disk
drives you use.
3) We did look at DLT but ultimately decided on 3590 drives.
4) I've been very satisfied with our 3494 and 2 3590 tape drives - we
have the 2 tape drives hanging off of 2 separate, dedicated SCSI
controllers.  Performance is excellent for everything except when
migrating a lot of small files from disk storage pools to tape... this
is more a limitation of ADSM than the hardware.  We're able to do a full
database dump (8 GB) to a 3590 cartridge in under 40 minutes.
5) We're running ADSM on an RS/6000 R30 with 2 processors.  We were
running the 2.1.5.x code and the most CPU I saw ADSM using was 75-80% so
it was definitely taking advantage of the multiple processors.  However,
I had to back off the 2.1.5.x code and go with the 2.1.0.x line of code
because of some software problems.  I hope to get back to the 2.1.5.x
code when the next maintenance level becomes available
.
Tim Pittson
tpittson AT himail.hcc DOT com

>----------
>From:  Peter Talajic[SMTP:pmt2f AT UOTTAWA DOT CA]
>Sent:  Thursday, September 05, 1996 9:15 AM
>To:    Multiple recipients of list ADSM-L
>Subject:       ADSM Server Selection
>
>Hello everyone.
>
>At the University of Ottawa, we are in the process of selecting some new
>equipment to run our ADSM server.  Currently, we have about 90-gig of data
>stored in backups.  The current server configuration is:
>
>- RS/6000 (model 520H)
>- 3 x 2-gig drives (fast and wide)
>- 2 x 1-gig drives
>- EXB-120 robot having 116 x 8mm tapes.
>
>The clients we currently backup are:
>
>- 20 unix servers
>- 25 Novell servers
>- 1 NT server
>- 200 desktop computers, mostly Windows 3.1/95 and some Macintosh
>
>I am soliciting suggestions (especially from IBM staff) concerning the
>following issues:
>
>1.  What number of tape/disk devices per SCSI controller do people suggest
>one uses with the server, i.e., to maximize throughput?
>2.  Are there any suggestions as to how we should organize our disk storage
>pools and database?  By this I mean:  Are there any advantages in locating
>storage pools and database components onto (A) the same physical disk (B)
>their own physical disk, or (C) it doesn't matter
>3.  Does anyone have information as to the internal structure of ADSM's
>database?
>3.  Does anyone make use of and/or have opinions concerning DLT drives?
>4.  What do people think of MagStar or any other types of robotics?
>5.  When running 2.5.1.x of the ADSM Server software on a SMP machine, does
>it truly take advantage of the multi-processors?
>
>Thanks to everyone in advance.  Peter.
>