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RE: [Xen-devel] RE: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network Throughput of a

>Re: [Xen-users] Error: Device 0 (vif) could notbeconnected. Hotplugscripts not working‏
>From:     Carlos Echevarne (cechevarne@xxxxxxxxx)
>Sent:     March 4, 2010 3:36:18 AM
>
>Hola Jose!
>
>Try to comment the line "handle_iptable" of /etc/xen/vif-bridge.
>
>I think that's a problem with iptables.

I did not attempt this, I believe this suggestion was fixing a hotplug issue... but it was in reply to How to: Improve Network Throughput of a XEN kernel?

> Subject: RE: [Xen-devel] RE: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network Throughput of a XEN kernel?
> From: lists@xxxxxxxxx
> To: viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 19:07:40 +0100
> CC: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx; xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Hi,
>
> Am Mittwoch, den 03.03.2010, 10:44 -0500 schrieb Mike Viau:
> > >
> > > O n Tue, Mar 02, 2010 at 07:50:59PM -0500, Mike Viau wrote:
> > > > >Any
> > just first argument dummy=dummy should on kenel line.
> > > > > Read Wiki one more time. It works.
> > > >
> > > > I believe you that it does work. I was able to see (XEN) messages
> > coming from the hypervisor, but no matter how I changed the option I
> > kept getting a kernel fault.
> > > >
> > > > I feel like it was time to stop mucking around with getting Ubuntu
> > and the grub2 boot loader to work with XEN so I decided to install a
> > headless OpenSUSE 11.2 system.
> > > >
> > > > The openSUSE distribution supported Xen 3.4.1 tools, and had a
> > 2.6.31.12 xenified kernel. On this setup I experience identical
> > network performance.
> > > >
> > > > ~1MB/s - w/ xen kernel
> > > > ~4.5 MB/s - w/ non-xen kernel
> > > >
> > > > I use the e1000e kernel module driver for my Ethernet card.
> > > >
> > > > Is this typical Dom0 (or Xen Host) network performance with a
> > xenified kernel or is just in my two setups that one encounters such a
> > network performance hit to the Dom0?
> > > >
> > >
> > > No, it's not typical.
> > >
> > > How are you measuring the performance? In a gigabit network you
> > should be able
> > > to push around 110 MB/sec.. 4.5 MB/sec sounds really slow.
> >
> >
> > I am using Fast Ethernet (100MB). What sort of throughput should I
> > expect becasue I also believe ~1MB is too slow, even just to/from the
> > Dom0, without any network emulation to the DomUs.
>
> 10 - 12 MB/s should be expecte d....
>
> >
> > I simply used SCP, HTTP, and FTP file transfer protocols on the Xen
> > host to another computer on the LAN.
>
> Please do something like
>
> Start netCat on a "server"
>
> Server: # nc -l 1111 > /dev/null
>
> and start dd+nc on your XEN-Box/Client
>
> Client: # dd if=/dev/zero bs=1M count=10000 | nc $SERVER-IP 1111
>
> This should show up raw network throughput....
>
>

Yup I was able to get 8MB/s, this time I believe the network equipement is to blame, but this has been a wonderful suggestion, thank you. I'd just like to note the -p option was required to start netcats listening on the specified port number.

> > The ~4.5MB/s bottleneck is the hard drive on the other computer so I
> > suspect the true bandwidth would be higher, but getting past the
> > ~1MB/s roadblock is my major concern.
& gt;
> use /dev/null instead of HDDs
>
> > I have tried two linux distros and both forward ported xenified and
> > parvirtualized xen kernel.
> >
> > Does the Xen hypervisor have any effect on the network throughput?
>
> No, but the underlying dom0-Kernel could affect the NIC-Performance...
> Had some Issues with running Intel 10GB-NICs (ixgbe) on a 2.6.18-Kernel,
> while 2.6.27/29 performed nice.
>

This is what I specualt to have been the issue to. After using a stable xenified 2.6.33 kernel my throughput shot up 8 times to the Dom0! Also I noted that between kernel versions 2.6.31 and 2.6.33 the exact same module driver version was used.

filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.33-xen/kernel/drivers/net/e1000e/e1000e.ko
version:        1.0.2-k2

filename:       /lib/modules/2.6.31.12-x en/kernel/drivers/net/e1000e/e1000e.ko
version:        1.0.2-k2



> > Would updating the Intel E1000E kernel module driver affect the
> > network throughput?

So I guess in this case updating the kernel module driver was not required.

> >
> >
> > -M
>
>
> hth,
>
> thomas
>
> >
> >
> > >
> > > -- Pasi
> > >
> > > > -M
> > > >
> > > > --- On Mon, 3/1/10, Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > Subject: RE: [Xen-devel] RE: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network
> > Throughput of a XEN kernel?
> > > > To: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx
> > > > Cc: xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xen-users @lists.xensource.com
> > > > Date: Monday, March 1, 2010, 2:52 PM
> > > >
> > > > Why using grub2 vs grub is baffling am not sure....
> > > >
> > > > I think I'd prefer to use the kernel command line in grub2 so that
> > the options may be changed easier laster on. However I still have been
> > having so success with boot
> > > > XEN with Ubuntu's grub2 boot loader.
> > > >
> > > > Am I correct to conclude CONFIG_CMDLINE_BOL must = N to allow
> > GRUB2 to pass kernel options?
> > > > [1]http://cateee.net/lkddb/web-lkddb/CMDLINE_BOOL.html
> > > >
> > > > I have read through the Wiki page at
> > [2]http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XenCommonProblems. I am running a
> > 64-bit Xen Hypervisor.
> > > >
> > > > Thus far I have been having no success with using the example
> > entry found at
> > [3]http://old.nabble.com/Strange-interaction-from-grub2-and-XEN-td26464067.html
> > > >
> > > > A question regarding that entry is what would be the root device
> > when there are separate /boot and root partitions? I am using the
> > partition with the /boot (grub2) as
> > > > my 'set root' device right?
> > > >
> > > > I am also using the dummy=dummy as the first option on the first
> > module line, again as discovered on the wiki.
> > > >
> > > > Additionally posted on another thread here in the Xen mailing list
> > was:
> > > >
> > > > > On 1 March 2010 08:09, Luke Carrier <luke.carrier@xxxxxxxxx>
> > wrote:
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Not sure about Debian, but I know Ubuntu isn*t ideal for Xen
> > any more
> > > > >> because of the presence of GRUB2 * the new boot loader doesn*t
> > support
> > > > >> passing certain command lines and the current multiboot
> > implementation
> > > > >> breaks the method Xen uses to load the
> > > > Dom0 kernel * you can*t use Ubuntu
> > > > >> 9.10 Server with Xen.
> > > >
> > > > I am confused now because Boris clearly created a wordpress.com
> > weblog in where Ubuntu 9.10 Server was
> > > > used with XEN.
> > > >
> > > > Lastly, out of curiosity, what (or what kind) of commands cannot
> > be passed with GRUB2?
> > > >
> > > > ThX!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -M
> > > >
> > > >
> > ; --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:20:31 -0800
> > > > From: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx
> > > > Subject: Re: [Xen-devel] RE: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network
> > Throughput of a XEN kernel?
> > > > To: mike.viau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > CC: xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >
> > > > In Xen Wiki is mentioned , that parameters for kernel may be set
> > via command line as follows:-
> > > >
> > ************************************************************************************************************
> > > > module (hd1,10)/vmlinuz-2.6.31.8 dummy=dummy root=/dev/sda7 ro
> > console=tty0
> > > >
> > ************************************************************************************************************
> > > > # cat /proc/cmdline
> > > >
> > > > shows that GRUB2 skips first argument, what causes problem.
> > > >
> > > > Compiling built-in CMD_LINE is just an option.
> > > > Read all Wiki written by Pasi and you would never be surprised ;)
> > > >
> > > > > P.S: What is your feeling on using a recent Ubuntu system with
> > > > > grub-legacy as the boot loader? I noticed that Squeeze has
> > adopted grub2 > package as well too...
> > > >
> > > > I have development Xen 3.4.3 instance on top Ubuntu 9.10 Server
> > with GRUB2 ( baremetall) loading any from 3 mentioned bellow kernels
> > under Xen 3.4.3
> > > >
> > > > 1.) 2.6.32.9 PVOPS
> > > > 2.) 2.6.31.6 PVOPS
> > > > 3.) 2.6.31.12 xenified
> > > >
> > > > with no problems with dummy=dummy as first parameter ( thanks
> > Pasi).
> > > > It may also may be done via compiling kernels with built-in
> > CMD_LINE.
> > > > It works fine as well.
> > > >
> > > > Boris.
> > > >
> > > > --- On Sat, 2/27/10, Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > Subject: [Xen-devel] RE: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network
> > Throughput of a XEN kernel?
> > > > To: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx
> > > > Cc: xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Date: Saturday, February 27, 2010, 12:03 PM
> > > >
> > > > Yes, thank you Boris for pointing that out. I found that was
> > defiantly true. The 3.2.1 xen hypervisor could only boot the 2.6.26-2
> > xen kernel and the xenified
> > > > 2.6.31.12.
> > > >
> > > > Additionally I found that:
> > > >
> > > > Xend does not start when using pv_ops dom0 kernel?
> > > >
> > > > In December 2009 pv_ops dom0 kernel modules were renamed to have a
> > "xen-" prefix in them, ie. "evtchn.ko" became "xen-evtchn.ko".
> > > >
> > > > This makes Xen 3.4.x xend fail to start, because it tried to load
> > "evtchn.ko", but that doesn't exist. You need to load "xen-evtchn.ko"
> > and then start xend. Fedora 12
> > > > xen-3.4.2-2 rpms have this problem fixed.
> > > >
> > > > Also m ake sure you have xenfs mounted to "/proc/xen", that's
> > needed aswell.
> > > >
> > > > [Source: [4]http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XenParavirtOps]
> > > >
> > > > And it appears the Debian xen-3.4.2-2 debs (in squeeze) have not
> > fixed this problem.
> > > >
> > > > Lastly I am still doing some reading on the grub2 package and how
> > to configure it. It turns out that I have been using grub-legacy (or
> > just good old grub) for so long
> > > > that configuring the grub2 boot loader is turning out to be my own
> > personal kryptonite.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I am still working on getting the hypervisor to load the dom0
> > kernel in a Ubuntu system.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > &g t; I have noticed an example in your wordpress @ [5]Set up Xen
> > 3.4.3-rc2 & Libvirt 0.7.0 Dom0 (with 2.6.31.8 xenified aka Suse
> > kernel) on top of Ubuntu 9.10 Server
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > With CONFIG_CMDLINE="root=/dev/sdb11 ro console=tty0"
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > menuentry "Xen 3.4 / Ubuntu 9.10 kernel 2.6.31.8 xenified" {
> > > > insmod ext2
> > > > set root=(hd1,10)
> > > > multiboot (hd1,10)/xen-3.4.gz
> > > > module (hd1,10)/vmlinuz-2.6.31.8
> > > > module (hd1,10)/initrd-2.6.31.8.img
> > > > }
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I am sure you wouldn't of mentioned the CONFIG_CMDLINE kernel
> > option is it was not important for using with grub2 right? I have not
> > have to compile a kernel with the
> > > > command line previous as I was just able to supply the arguments
> > on the kernel line of my menu.lst (grub configuration file).
> > > >
> > > > P.S: What is your feeling on using a recent Ubuntu system with
> > grub-legacy as the boot loader? I noticed that Squeeze has adopted
> > grub2 package as well too...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -M
> > > >
> > > >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:32:59 -0800
> > > > From: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx
> > > > Subject: Re: FW: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network Throughput of
> > a XEN kernel?
> > > > To: jbeulich@xxxxxxxxxx; mike.viau@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > CC: xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >
> > > > You cannot load pvops kernel under xen-hypervisor 3.2.1 ( >=3.4.0
> > in general)
> > > >
> > > > Boris.
> > > >
> > > > --- On Fri, 2/26/10, Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > Subject: FW: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network Throughput of a
> > XEN kernel?
> > > > To: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx, jbeulich@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Cc: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 3:19 PM
> > > >
> > > > Hello again,
&g t; > > >
> > > > Just a quick update...
> > > >
> > > > I was really hoping it was just going to be an issue with the
> > kernel .config, however I copied exact configuration from the working
> > Debain 2.6.26-2-xen-amd64 kernel
> > > > and used a make oldconfig but the end result was the same.
> > > >
> > > > After booting the xenified (2.6.31.12) or pvops kernel (2.6.31.6)
> > via both xen-hypervisor 3.2.1 or xen-hypervisor 3.4.2 the maximum data
> > transfer to/from the Dom0
> > > > (Xen host) is ~1MB/s.
> > > >
> > > > Next I plan on re-trying my efforts on a Ubuntu system to see if
> > same network bottlenecking is present.
> > > >
> > > >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:16:59 -0800
> > > > From: bderzhavets@xxxxxxxxx
> > > > Subject: Re: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network Throughput of a
> > XEN kernel?
> > > > To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >
> > > > Would escalate to xen-devel. 2.6.31.8 (12) aka Suse xenified was
> > Jan Beulich stuff.
> > > > He might have an answer.
> > > > Boris.
> > > >
> > > > --- On Fri, 2/26/10, Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > From: Mike Viau <viaum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > > Subject: [Xen-users] How to: Improve Network Throughput of a XEN
> > kernel?
> > > > To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx m
> > > > Cc: waldi@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > > Date: Friday, February 26, 2010, 12:09 PM
> > > >
> > > > Hi there,
> > > >
> > > > I am starting a new thread to try and solve a problem I am having
> > will slow network throughput to the XEN host (not to a domU).
> > > >
> > > > I have confirmed my problem occurs with PVOPS 'xen/master' kernel
> > as well using
> > > >
> > [6]http://pasik.reaktio.net/xen/pv_ops-dom0-debug/config-2.6.31.6-pvops-dom0-xen-master-x86_64 as the .config.
> > > >
> > > > It also occurs with a forward ported xenified kernel (2.6.31.12)
> > using the attached config-11-xen (.config).
> > > >
> > > > However when using the xen kernel found in debain lenny (2.6.26-2)
> > for the amd64 architecture I get similiar transfer rates to my Xen
> > host as I do on a baremetel
> > > > kernel.
> > > >
> > > > Bastian Blank perhaps you could point me in the right direction in
> > regards to a debian specific customization or patch I should be aware
> > of?
> > > > Maxium transfer rate (to/from hard disk) using the PVOPS
> > 'xen/master' kernel and forward ported xenified kernel (2.6.31.12) is
> > bottlenecking at ~1MB/s. On the
> > > > debain lenny xen kernel I am getting ~4.5MB/s.
> > > >
> > > > I was hoping one could suggest options in the .config that might
> > be modified in order to improve network throughput of a XEN kernel and
> > therefor increase the data
> > > > transfer rates over the netowork to and from the Xen host.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks alot for any help! As always I will be willing to accept
> > any suggestions :)
> > > >
> > > > -M



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