Dual Xeon 2.4gig coming in, how to use it?

[Overgrow]

We've purchased a new server and need your expert opinions on the best configuration! We currently run on two similar servers, split by Apache/mySQL. Is it better to use one large honkin server or should we still run two with one being much slower?

Best existing server:
Dual P3-1000
1 gig RAM
20 gigs 10k RPM fast-ATA

New Server:
Dual P4-Xeon 2.4
4 gigs RAM
60 gigs of SCSI RAID @ 15,000 RPM

I don't have the exact specs on the RAID array or the controller card, but they are the latest and greatest. Is it better to put all the load on the big guy or is it still more efficient to have another server and split the load?

How should the split be done if that is the best way? I wouldn't be opposed to some minor (cheap) upgrades on the second box, such as new processors, if it would be effective.

Site specs:
500 to 700 online, 800+ peak
1.6 million posts, 50k users

[eva2000]

Originally posted by Overgrow
We've purchased a new server and need your expert opinions on the best configuration! We currently run on two similar servers, split by Apache/mySQL. Is it better to use one large honkin server or should we still run two with one being much slower?

Best existing server:
Dual P3-1000
1 gig RAM
20 gigs 10k RPM fast-ATA

New Server:
Dual P4-Xeon 2.4
4 gigs RAM
60 gigs of SCSI RAID @ 15,000 RPM

I don't have the exact specs on the RAID array or the controller card, but they are the latest and greatest. Is it better to put all the load on the big guy or is it still more efficient to have another server and split the load?

How should the split be done if that is the best way?

Site specs:
500 to 700 online, 800+ peak
1.6 million posts, 50k users put the new server in as database server, it's alot easier to add the smaller servers as load balanced web servers if/when you need to

of course you can also just give me the new server :D ** drools **

[Overgrow]

Thanks for the quick response George, I was hoping to hear from you (and chris). We only own one of the boxes we're using now so we could only use one as the webserver and not load-share them. So in your expert opinion, it is best to keep the one smaller box as the Apache server and use the new box as the DB?

My partner thinks the new box should be used as both the web and DB since it has the blazing RAID and could do both. We did have to disable gzip because the web-box couldn't handle the load while running on the current dual 1-gig. I'm not sure what to do anymore.... so I will show him this thread.

[AWS]

Originally posted by Overgrow
Thanks for the quick response George, I was hoping to hear from you (and chris). We only own one of the boxes we're using now so we could only use one as the webserver and not load-share them. So in your expert opinion, it is best to keep the one smaller box as the Apache server and use the new box as the DB?

My partner thinks the new box should be used as both the web and DB since it has the blazing RAID and could do both. We did have to disable gzip because the web-box couldn't handle the load while running on the current dual 1-gig. I'm not sure what to do anymore.... so I will show him this thread. That is the exact same specs of the server I just built. Turn on hyperthreading, it should be on by default, and use it as the db server as eva suggested. One suggestion. Use gigabyte nics and cable to connect the 2. If you use a router make sure it is gig capable. No matter how much processor power you have if it can't get data through the pipe it does no good.
You will be absolutely amazed at the way that xeon box will handle the db.

[fastforward]

Seems everyone is getting new servers for christmas! I've just got me a shiny new dual xeon too. Only 2.2Ghz though. I concur with the hyperthreading. Check out the system info of this: http://64.106.154.80/sysinfo/ 17563.64 Bogomips :eek: It's also got 6 drives in a raid 10 config.

I plan to run both database and web on the same box.

[eva2000]

Originally posted by Overgrow
Thanks for the quick response George, I was hoping to hear from you (and chris). We only own one of the boxes we're using now so we could only use one as the webserver and not load-share them. So in your expert opinion, it is best to keep the one smaller box as the Apache server and use the new box as the DB?

My partner thinks the new box should be used as both the web and DB since it has the blazing RAID and could do both. We did have to disable gzip because the web-box couldn't handle the load while running on the current dual 1-gig. I'm not sure what to do anymore.... so I will show him this thread. use new server as database server, it will scale better for mysql, and the existing server as web server, you may find the web server will always be the one with the higher daily av cpu load

[eva2000]

Originally posted by fastforward
Seems everyone is getting new servers for christmas! I've just got me a shiny new dual xeon too. Only 2.2Ghz though. I concur with the hyperthreading. Check out the system info of this: http://64.106.154.80/sysinfo/ 17563.64 Bogomips :eek: It's also got 6 drives in a raid 10 config.

I plan to run both database and web on the same box. :drools: yummmmm

must of cost an arm and leg!

[Overgrow]

Thank you for the help everyone. Looks like the Xeon will be the database and I will upgrade the processors as far as I can with the web box, maybe another gig of ram as well. The suggestion of gigabyte nics is right on, I will see what is possible.

ps. WOW nice QUAD-xeon there ;)

[KrON]

Overgrow, that "quad" processor xeon is probably just a dualie. With hyperthreading top and other utils see your 2 cpus as 4 cpus, because effectively you have 4 (with out going into specifics).

Just 4 short hours ago I put our new dual xeon server.

Its hardly peak usage for us now, but this thing is a monster. We went with a Dual 2.4ghz xeon w/ 2gb of ram, 4x18 in raid 5 (1 spare), dual giganics, etc..

Its just running our database server, and our other box (a dual 933 p3 w/ 2gb) is running web, dns, mail, and a slave mysql server replicating the big db.

At peak usage we were doing about 400 users on at a time, but i think it was that "low" because our site was so dog slow before..

Only time will tell, but I think this new box is the machine of my dreams :)

[Hooper]

Originally posted by Overgrow
We've purchased a new server and need your expert opinions on the best configuration! We currently run on two similar servers, split by Apache/mySQL. Is it better to use one large honkin server or should we still run two with one being much slower?


Hi Overgrow. This is the configuration I use. Current processors are 2.20 and I have machines coming in with 2.4 as well. The most important issue is with the Xeon. Pre 7.3 RH, controllers like Mylex had issues with Xeon. Performance wasn't what it should be. Later patches and updtated controller bios flash allows full function of the hardware. You will know if you have issues if you compile a kernel and find hyperthreading not performing or working correctly. After you get your opsys on the machine just do a Top and find out if it shows 4 piped processors. If you see 4 processors, then find out what it shows for an overall throughput bogomip. You should be in the area of 18,000 20,000. Then run some diagnostics and verify a good throughput. If you have done everything correctly, you will find that you have one powerful SQL server.

Another bit of advice, If you choose to use redhat 7.3 (don't like 8),
change your up2date conf and allow kernel upgrade to the latest. Otherwise you may have .-3 img kernel in which had a couple issues as well.

2.4.18-18.7.xbigmem (SMP)

Processors 4
Model Intel(R) XEON(TM) CPU 2.20GHz
Chip MHz 2199.81
Cache Size 512 KB
System Bogomips 17559.83
PCI Devices Intel Corp. 82801CA IDE U100
Intel Corp. 82870P2 P64H2 I/OxAPIC (#2)
Intel Corp. 82870P2 P64H2 I/OxAPIC
Intel Corp. 82544EI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Mylex Corporation AcceleRAID 352/170/160 support Device
ATI Technologies Inc Rage XL
Intel Corp. 82557/8/9 [Ethernet Pro 100]
IDE Devices hdc: SAMSUNG CD-ROM SN-124
SCSI Devices Mylex Corporation AcceleRAID 352/170/160 support Device

Currently the Mylex is a 4-18G /R5 Seagate SCSI config.

No. Use your PIII 1 GHZ for your test machine , dns, mail etc. I wouldn't let the PIII stand in the way of your new hardware. The new machine will blow you away if you have never experienced Xeon Hyperthreading.

Have a 10/100+1Gig nic as well. Currently running 4Gig of DDR ECC and had 6Gig in it at one point. There wasn't quite the need for 6Gig so the modules went to another DXeon box. 4 Gig is plenty for large db's. Just make sure you are purchasing premium ECC. There is a difference.

Seriously, It will blow your socks off. Mean Mean SQL machine!!! And that is a fact.

Congratulations Overgrow!!

[Joe Gronlund]

Hey overgrow how ya doin, great new server, looking good.

just so you know your microstats hack is installed incorrectly