Networker

Re: [Networker] block size [ OBSERVATIONS WHEN YOU CHANGE STINIT.DEF ]

2003-07-23 17:12:02
Subject: Re: [Networker] block size [ OBSERVATIONS WHEN YOU CHANGE STINIT.DEF ]
From: Matthew Temple <mht AT RESEARCH.DFCI.HARVARD DOT EDU>
To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2003 16:45:37 -0400
If anyone is interested, we now have some clear data on the implications
of suddenly implementing <stinit>.

At our site (Linux Server /Qualstar / AIT) I blissfully ran our server in
ignorance for 3 years without an stinit.def file and without running
stinit.   I didn't pay attention because everything worked (with the
exception of the "unable to decode block" messages, which seemed to have
little impact on us.)

After implementing stinit, I now find that everything seems to have
previously defaulted to a 512-byte block.   There also seem to be
implications when restoring files:

        Once you have implemented stinit, the Networker and the AIT
drives have a major problem reading tapes made before stinit.   The fix
for us was to reboot without calling stinit.   Perhaps I could have had
a blank stanza for the AIT3/AIT2 drives in the stinit.def file and tried
again.   This seems clearer.   Tapes labeled after invocation of
stinit.def restore cleanly, and the large blocking speeds up writes.

        So there are now two worlds -- pre and post stinit.   Improtant,
now, for us, to look at the dates of tapes we're restoring.

        Anyone have a similar experience?

                                                        mht

========================================================================

On Wed, 23 Jul 2003, Teresa Biehler wrote:

> Ok, this sounds like a process I can use on the server, but is nsrd
> started on the storage nodes too?
>
> Thanks.
> Teresa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Davina Treiber [mailto:treiber AT HOTPOP DOT COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2003 10:57 AM
> To: NETWORKER AT LISTMAIL.TEMPLE DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: [Networker] block size
>
> On Wed, 23 Jul 2003 08:40:05 -0400, Teresa Biehler <tpbsys AT RIT DOT EDU>
> wrote:
>
>
> In case you didn't know, the way to find out what block sizes are used
> for
> each device is to set an environment variable NSR_DEV_BLOCK_SIZE_MSG
> before
> starting nsrd, then check the daemon.log for the block size messages.
>
> --
> Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via email
> to listserv AT listmail.temple DOT edu or visit the list's Web site at
> http://listmail.temple.edu/archives/networker.html where you can
> also view and post messages to the list.
> =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
>

--
=============================================================
Matthew Temple                Tel:    617/632-2597
Director, Research Computing  Fax:    617/582-7820
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute  mht AT research.dfci.harvard DOT edu
44 Binney Street,  ML105      http://research.dfci.harvard.edu
Boston, MA 02115              Choice is the Choice!

--
Note: To sign off this list, send a "signoff networker" command via email
to listserv AT listmail.temple DOT edu or visit the list's Web site at
http://listmail.temple.edu/archives/networker.html where you can
also view and post messages to the list.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>