Thanks a lot for the comments Bill, has brought a few things to light.

Appreciated.

Lee


"Bill Vermillion" <bv@wjv.comREMOVE> wrote in message
news:HI5C7B.5FA@wjv.com...
> In article <Ic5Ra.81020$JA5.1643994@news.xtra.co.nz>,
> Lee and Nadine <lee.nadine@xtra.co.nz> wrote:
>
> >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.
>
> Put 'maxed out' into real numbers.
>
> >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.
>
> That's not true. You can still log in on a system that is swapping
> - but the login may be slow. Only when you get to the point of
> massive thrashing do you lose any ability to log in.
>
> >Your system is not swapping and so is not the cause of the slow system.
>
> Did he check the system when it was running the slowest?
>
> >The server is only 333 MHz, what would a 5 year old 333 MHz PC
> >with 75 users logged in run like?
>
> Well I've had systems like that with 120 users logged in - but it
> was only 300MHz - and it ran pretty well. It had a fast disk
> system.
>
> One thing I don't see mentioned is disk performance.
>
> Output of sar with about 10 results from about 15 second intervals
> when the system is slow would surely help. Don't run intervals
> less than 10 seconds or sar itself will likely impact the results.
>
> >The Unix system takes full advantage of Symmetric Multi
> >Processing when the SMP license is installed.
>
> But your programs nay not.
>
> >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.
>
> Was anything done to determine if the machine was processor bound.
> That was not stated.
>
> >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
>
> It's been quite typical that upgrades to older systems don't bring
> the perfomance of a newer system.
>
> >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.
>
> You need to do some more testing to find out exactly where the
> problem lies. You didn't mention the program you used - some
> database designs should be taken out and destroyed.
>
> Your question is sort of like asking 'how big a truck do I need to
> move from xx to yy?' - without saying what you have to move.
>
>
>
> --
> Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com