Small File-server. Will a P100 be sufficient?

[Elledan]

This file-server will run Linux Mandrake and Samba. It will also be the router for the network.

This PC has now 32 MB RAM, but I can easily add another 32/64 MB.

Thanks

 

[reicherb]

What is the definition of small? How many users will be accessing it? How often? What size files?

 

[Sukhoi]

I would think it would be fine. Make sure you put a 100 Mbps NIC in it if all the network traffic is going through it.

 

[tjll11a]

i would put scsi or promise ata-100 controller and run good hard drives with 128 ram. Should be ok if all its doing it transfering info on lan or network.

 

[Elledan]

<< What is the definition of small? How many users will be accessing it? How often? What size files?>>

It's for a network consisting out of 4 (soon 5) PC's. The maximum numbers of users accessing it will thus be 5, but in case the network expands, about 10 users should be able to access it. They'll use the fileserver less than 5 times per minute per user. Size files will range from about 2 kb (text files etc.) up to 200> MB (not very often).

I'll put a 10/100 Mbps NIC in it, for those are really cheap

Thanks for your replies guys!

 

[tippmann]

With the large files you are going to want to add more ram (128)

It should work fine.....

 

[Eug]

<< This PC has now 32 MB RAM, but I can easily add another 32/64 MB. >>

If it's a P100, RAM over 64 MB may not be cached. Depending on what you're doing, 96 MB RAM may actually slow your system down vs. 64 MB. Note that this is true for Windoze. Dunno about Linux.

 

[Sukhoi]

Eug, it's the chipset with the caching limit, not Windows.

Yeah, I'd put in a 10/100 Mbps NIC, 64 MB RAM, a 7200 RPM drive, and an ATA66 or ATA100 controller card.

BTW, I have a P133 and a C433 on my LAN, both with Linksys 10/100 PCI NICs. The P133 has a 5 GB 5400 RPM hard drive, and the C433 has a 30 GB 7200 RPM hard drive. Although you would think the hard drive in the P133 would be faster than the LAN, it doesn't seem to be. I did a test transfering a 492 MB file from my C433 to the P133, and back. I got 1.5 MB/sec (not Mb) going to the P133, and 3 MB/sec coming back to the C433. Something on the P133 is limiting my transfer speed. 60ns EDO RAM has a bandwith of around 70 MB/sec, so the P133 should be able to handle over 1.5 MB/sec. I'm guessing the hard drive on the P133 is what's limiting me, although I know the transfer rate must be over 1.5 MB/sec when writing.

 

[Eug]

<< it's the chipset with the caching limit, not Windows. >>



Yes, I know, but doesn't it matter how the memory is addressed? Ie. Windows will access the uncached memory first. If you have software that usually requires 45 MB, having more than 64 MB will always slow a Windows machine vs. just having 64 MB.

I don't know why, being completely unknowledgeable about this stuff. Does Linux access the uncached memory first as well?

 

[spidey07]

You would think that a P100 would be plenty of processor for a server (and it is) you simply can't get great file transfer speeds. Every frame the NIC sends or receives generates an interrupt. Most likely interrupt handling is what is keeping your speeds down.

Be carefull asking that server to route IP traffic. This is extremely processor intensive and could cause a bottleneck in the network. If you need to route IP traffic then use a router to do so.

 

[Sukhoi]

That may be true too Eug.