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#1 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

I'm running Aix 4.3 on a decently quick 43P-140 332mhz workstation. After
logging in, it takes at least 2-3 minutes for the desktop to appear, and
then a huge lag after launching applications, etc. Its driving me crazy and
its hard to use the computer. Any suggestions? I've tried reinstalling
many times with no luck.

Thanks,
Matt

#2 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

Matt wrote:
> I'm running Aix 4.3 on a decently quick 43P-140 332mhz workstation. After
> logging in, it takes at least 2-3 minutes for the desktop to appear, and
> then a huge lag after launching applications, etc. Its driving me crazy and
> its hard to use the computer. Any suggestions? I've tried reinstalling
> many times with no luck.

Work on your (hopefully fast) Windows/Linux desktop machine,
export your DISPLAY and start your app. This is usually much
faster than running a full blown CDE on the RS/6000.
If you're just using the CDE to run more then one (x)term at
a time consider SSH-Connections as an option.

Regards,

Frank

#3 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

>I'm running Aix 4.3 on a decently quick 43P-140 332mhz workstation. After
>logging in, it takes at least 2-3 minutes for the desktop to appear, and
>then a huge lag after launching applications, etc. Its driving me crazy >and
>its hard to use the computer. Any suggestions? I've tried reinstalling
>many times with no luck

Install NMON for AIX 4.3 and look at CPU,Memory and I/O

Give more info, like vmstat and iostat numbers, vmtune info etc.

By desktop, do you mean CDE?
Is AIX 4.3 current on ML maintenance?
Is firmware and drivers current on your 43P?

Many times long delays can be related to your network adapter settings,
and how you choose to resolve DNS.

#4 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

"Matt" <matt@xtlab.com> wrote in news:2Chpe.6$145.585@news.uswest.net:

> I'm running Aix 4.3 on a decently quick 43P-140 332mhz workstation.
> After logging in, it takes at least 2-3 minutes for the desktop to
> appear, and then a huge lag after launching applications, etc. Its
> driving me crazy and its hard to use the computer. Any suggestions?
> I've tried reinstalling many times with no luck.

Well, 332MHz is slow (by today's standards) but not very slow.

If the wait is in the order of 30 seconds or more, you're probably having a
DNS resolution timeout.

Make sure that "127.0.0.1 localhost loopback" is in /etc/hosts as well as
the host's IP and name.

If you're on DHCP, your IP address MUST resolve or fail immediately instead
of timming out.

Make sure you're resolving via /etc/hosts first and only IPv4 addresses
afterwards: in /etc/netsvc.conf:
hosts = local, bind4

--
Doing AIX support was the most monty-pythonesque
activity available at the time.
Eagerly awaiting my thin chocolat mint.

#5 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

Matt wrote:
> I'm running Aix 4.3 on a decently quick 43P-140 332mhz workstation. After
> logging in, it takes at least 2-3 minutes for the desktop to appear, and
> then a huge lag after launching applications, etc. Its driving me crazy and
> its hard to use the computer. Any suggestions? I've tried reinstalling
> many times with no luck.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Matt
>
The problem is the underpowered SCSI bandwidth in the 43p. See my
post about a week ago titled "Blown 43p-140" for advice on a new SCSI
controller. Aim for Ultra or Ultra2 level cards and drives that can
operate at these speeds and you should see acceptable peroformance.

#6 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

Ok.. AIX isn't slow itself. After applications come up, everything is fast
and smooth. Its just after logging in specifically OR clicking on something
that it takes its time coming up. First thing I thought was network
related, but I even assigned a static IP + DNS and it did the same thing.

"Matt" <matt@xtlab.com> wrote in message
news:2Chpe.6$145.585@news.uswest.net...
> I'm running Aix 4.3 on a decently quick 43P-140 332mhz workstation. After
> logging in, it takes at least 2-3 minutes for the desktop to appear, and
> then a huge lag after launching applications, etc. Its driving me crazy
> and its hard to use the computer. Any suggestions? I've tried
> reinstalling many times with no luck.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Matt
>
>
>
>

#7 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:38 AM

Matt wrote:
> Ok.. AIX isn't slow itself. After applications come up, everything is fast
> and smooth. Its just after logging in specifically OR clicking on something
> that it takes its time coming up. First thing I thought was network
> related, but I even assigned a static IP + DNS and it did the same thing.
Even more reason to believe I/O bandwidth is at fault. AIX caches
things in to RAM, so after it gets running things speed up. Watch NMON
while performing tasks and see if I/O wait state is high.

#8 (**permalink**) 01-05-2008, 06:44 AM

Looks like name resolution problem. Check the DNS setup, /etc/hosts and
/etc/netsvc.conf.

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