"Lee and Nadine" <lee.nadine@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:Ic5Ra.81020$JA5.1643994@news.xtra.co.nz...
>
> We are looking at different aspects on what to do about our older unix
sco
> 5.5 server that tends to run slow at times (333mhz with 196 meg ram).
using
> cpqmon it shows the CPU "2 sec avg" the "10 sec avg" and the "20 sec avg"
as
> maxxed out when things run slow. One idea was to buy another processor
and
> more ram, however this is what one supplier has told us - see below. I
have
> no idea if what he is saying is correct of if hes trying to drum up more
> sales. Some ideas on what he wrote would be greatly appreciated.
>
> As quickly discussed on the phone today the server is dual processor
> capable.
>
> Your server has only 1 processor.
>
> Memory is not an issue unless the system is swapping , if this was the
case
> on your system you would not be able to login.
>
> Your system is not swapping and so is not the cause of the slow system.
>
> The server is only 333 MHz, what would a 5 year old 333 MHz PC with 75
users
> logged in run like?
>
> The Unix system takes full advantage of Symmetric Multi Processing when
the
> SMP license is installed.
>
> The only advantage of this would be seen when the system as it stands
gets
> processor bound and slows down , with dual processors the load is shared
and
> this processor bound state takes a little longer to occur .
>
> A second processor does not speed up a server but shares load at current
> processor speed. i.e. 333Mhz
>
> It should be noted that even with a second processor the system may
become
> processor bound very quickly.
>
> Estimated Pricing:
>
> SCO Unix SMP License
> $2,900
>
> Second 333 MHz Processor [ subject to availability]
> $1,000
>
> Installation approximately 2 days labour [ out of hours rate ]
> $ 2,400
>
> Plus travel and accommodation
>
> Estimated pricing does not include GST.
>
>
>
> As discussed this is not a very good idea due to the small possible
> advantage it may bring during peek usage and cost benefit. Even after
> installation you may find that there has been no improvement in
performance
> .
>
> Again as mentioned on the phone we need to get the new server installed
as
> soon as possible so users can benefit from superior technology
enhancements
> of the past 5 years.


If you are looking at getting a new server soon anyway, why spend $6k now?
(Go NZ dollars! Even worse than AU! :P)

As for the rest. As you've not said what you're doing, it's hard to say.

The output of things like 'sar -r' would be nice, also what does 'sar -d'
report. You might need to enable sar first, and leave it running for a day
before it gives you any reasonable results (/usr/lib/sa/sar_enable -y, if
it isn't already eanbled).

If it's processor bound, using 'mpstat' (if you've got SMP software
installed already atleast) will show you as it's happening.

Just one or two things to get you started. I'm sure the other guy's will
go into more detail later.

bkx