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xen-users
Re: [Xen-users] Please comment on proposed configuration
Dirk
Thank you for your input...
xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote on 11/01/2005 04:33:15 AM:
> Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2005 10:32:34 +0100
> From: "Dirk H. Schulz" <dirk.schulz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Please comment on proposed configuration
> To: John S Little <JSLittl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
> xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Message-ID: <43673632.70603@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> John S Little schrieb:
>
> >Hello all,
> >
> >Having built 1 test Xen machine and followed this list now for several
> >weeks I hope that I have some understanding of what I can/can't
> >should/shouldn't do.
> >
> >Hardware configuration:
> >I have a hardware configuration consisting of a Sun Fire V20z, dual
proc
> >AMD 272 and 4gb of ram. The dom0 is SuSE 9.3, patched with the "in the
> >box" version of Xen 2.0.5. The machine has two Broadcom Gb nics, an
added
> >Intel dual port Gb nic card, connected to Gb switches. Storage
consists
> >of a single Qlogic QLA2342-E-SP dual port connected to a McData switch
> >using an EMC CX600 for storage. The Qlogic card will be hidden from
dom0.
> >
> >An overview of what I want to do:
> >Provide domU Samba file servers for various departments. Each file
> >server would carry about 50 users. Heavier use departments would be
> >paired with lighter use departments. Each domU would be configured to
use
> >512Mb of memory (dom0 is configured with 128Mb). This would allow me
to
> >have 7 domU and about 350 users. The domUs are configured with SLES9
sp1.
> >
> >A future consideration would be to add heartbeat into the mix and
create a
> >failover server using the shared storage.
> >
> >1. Is this to much of a load for Xen file serving? Conversely could
more
> >users be added than this? I realize that this is somewhat subjective
and
> >would depend on utilization rates but I need to start somewhere :-)
> >
> >
> There is nothing to add to that. You simply have to measure.
Ok good.
>
> >2. Are the two extra nic ports provided by the Intel card going to be
> >useful? I read just today that the domU machines are only going to see
> >one NIC?
> >
> >
> The NICs in the domU are virtual (as long as you do not set up
> privileged domUs and move real PCI devices to them). You can have as
> many NICs in domU as you want (there is a maniac called Marcus who uses
> 12 NICs in one of his setups ... look at the thread "ideallistic firewal
> design" in the archives).
Ok I'll have a look at this.
> >3. Would the Intel slot be better served by using a 2nd Qogic hba?
> >
> >
> Depends on what you want to achieve. Having a second way to the storage
> system is good as long as your SAN can be configured to use it.
My SAN supports multipath but I was thinking more of the paths required
for heartbeat. I would prefer to have at least 3 paths (2 lan and 1
serial)
> >4. Since each domU is running the same server (SLES 9) do (can?) I use
the
> >same kernel? My guess is that the best solution is to use separate
> >kernels for each domU else if one crashes they all crash..
> >
> >
> No, you can use the same kernel because every domU starts its own
> instance of this kernel. If one of them crashes the others ought to go
on.
Ok.
> >5. Since this is a production server in a hospital, when servers don't
> >work (even file servers) things get critical in a hurry. This is one
of
> >the reasons I am hesitant to consider Xen 3. Would Xen 3 be better
suited
> >for this environment? If so should I wait on it or could I deploy it
now?
> >
> >
> I tried Xen3 2 oder 3 weeks ago and was disappointed of stability (sorry
> to the developpers) - I would not recommend it in a production
> environment. As long as you do not want to use 64 Bit
> Applications/Systems or hardware based virtualization (VT), I do not see
> a reason to wait for xen 3.
Does this mean that I shouldn't or can't use SLES9 64 bit for the OS? I
wasn't planning on using hardware based virtualization.
> >One last question-When I compile a kernel for use with domU do I
compile
> >it inside domU or inside dom0?
> >
> >
> Since you need a ready kernel to start domU you cannot compile it inside
> domU? Or do I misunderstand your question?
> I use xen sources as a starting point and always compile in dom0 since
> all the kernels are stored in dom0 anyway.
Doh! ok. You understood it correctly. I was thinking, incorrectly of
course, that you brought up a domU with a stock kernel and then compiled a
kernel to match.
>
> Dirk
Thanks for helping me understand this more.
John
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