In regard to: [Networker] Sizing a Linux x86 server for Networker, Varaldi,...:

The actual server performs poorly mainly because of the slow performance of
de SBUS architecture and CPUs.

We will add 4 LTO3 drives (FChannel 4Gb) to 2 StorageTek L700 libraries. The
server will have 2 Gbit Nics with trunking to maximize throughput for LAN
backups.

This probably sounds like a silly question, but are you planning on
utilizing all four LTO3 drives at once?

Does anyone know if Networker uses threads under Linux? If so, it would be
beneficial to have multicore CPU's?

It's beneficial to have (true) multicore CPUs for other reasons, but
before the Linux 2.6 kernel, thread support was fairly rudimentary.  I
would question whether it would make much difference (to the OS or
NetWorker) whether you had 2N real processors or N dual-core processors.

Frankly, I would be more worried about I/O constraints than I would about
CPU.  You're going to want to have as many separate, high-speed busses as
possible.  Getting a PC architecture system (either AMD or Intel CPUs)
with multiple distinct busses is sometimes fairly challenging.

I would look for a system that has multiple PCI-X 2.0 busses and also
hopefully PCI Express (PCI-E), as several I/O cards (like FC HBAs from
QLogic) are now available for PCI-E.

Tim
--
Tim Mooney                              mooney AT dogbert.cc.ndsu.NoDak DOT edu
Information Technology Services         (701) 231-1076 (Voice)
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North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5164

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