Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!comp.vuw.ac.nz!cc-server4.massey.ac.nz!G.Eustace From: G.Eustace@massey.ac.nz (Glen Eustace) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.nfs Subject: Re: how many nfsd's should I run? Message-ID: <1991Feb24.195507.16042@massey.ac.nz> Date: 24 Feb 91 19:55:07 GMT References: <28975@cs.yale.edu> <1991Feb24.025821.11354@news.iastate.edu> Organization: Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Lines: 26 X-Reader: NETNEWS/PC Version 2.2 The appropriate number of nfsds is definitely environment and for that matter application (client) dependent. We followed the recommendations of our SE when our Pyramid 9815 was installed, 3 disks and 2 ethernets. Whatever formula was applied ( a guess is as godd as any :-) ), the number arrived at was 8. After running this way for over a year and having continual problems with slow network response and insufficient CPU available on the server, a performance analysis was conducted. Now for the counter-intuitive part !! We have reduced the number of nfsds to 4 and most of our problems have gone away. The network performance is better ( but could still be improved ) and we have sufficient CPU left over to do some other useful activities like servicing mount requests and pcnfs authentication and print requests etc :-;. From this experience we have stuck to 4 nfsds and where appropriate 4 biods on all other machines, DEC3100s and a DEC5000. We have found this to be satisfactory. The moral of the story: in calculating the nfsds the other processor activity needs to be considered. -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Glen Eustace, Software Manager, Computer Centre, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. EMail: G.Eustace@massey.ac.nz Phone: +64 63 69099 x7440, Fax: +64 63 505 607, Timezone: GMT-12 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com