Re: Perfomance problem backupscript

"R.J. Baart" <[email protected]> wrote:

> We use for several years now we use star to make the backup. Until this summer we 
> used SuSE (7.x, 8.x and 9.x). Now we have switched to Debian sarge. With the 
> SuSE distribution performance was just fine. But now a backup that took in case of 
> the SuSE distribution 2-3 hours takes now +/- 12 hours.
>
> I have no idea where to search: kernel, driver, star? Perhaps someone has an idea?
>
> Our hard- and software more specific:
> - star 1.5a57 (i686-pc-linux-gnu)
> - system is running a self compiled kernel 2.6.12-3 (SMP, 686)
> - The hardware is Intel serverboard, Xeon processor, Adaptec 210S RAID controller, 
> seagate barracuda disk
> - Sony AIT SDX-700C controlled by aic79xx controller on board. (/proc/scsi/aic79xx: 
> Curr: 160.000MB/s transfers (80.000MHz DT, 16bit))
> - most relevant kernel modules aic79xx, st
>
> Command used to backup: 
>     /bin/star VOLHDR="rmnd-ux4.rmnd.in.aoc:20050828-02:30" -acl \
>     -c -v H=exustar -f /dev/st0 ./home/rmnd .....( more directories) ...

I am sorry, if you do not give enough information, it is impossible to help....

In general:

-	if you change the OS and get worse results, the problem is the OS.

-	star-1.5a57 is really old.

-	Note that 80% of all problems I see with my programs on Linux is a 
	result of the patches that the "maintainers" of the distributions
	did apply. So it is always wise to self compile.

-	If you like to make backups, why don't you use the the backup mode
	of star?

	see:

	INCREMENTAL BACKUPS
	BACKUP SCHEDULES
	INCREMENTAL RESTORES
	SYNCHRONIZING FILESYSTEMS

-	If you like fast backups, why then don't you read the star man page
	and follow the instructions for better tape throughput?

-	The Linux mt driver does not always work as usual on UNIX.
	UNIX puts blocked tapes into blocked mode by default and thus
	results in better thoughput.

Jörg

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