Re: Comments wanted on a Setup/Configuration

Ray Brighenti writes:
> Was just after comments/suggestions for the following possible setup,
>
> PII 450, 256Mb RAM with onboard Adaptec SCSI + Adaptec PCI SCSI + 4 x 4Gb
> SCSI HDDs with FreeBSD
[...]
> Other questions are
> - Is it worth using disk striping at all???

I'd say no from what I've gleaned so far - software disk striping
boosts performance mostly for long sequential reads. With Squid you
will see random access, and hashing should distribute cache across the
3 or 4 drives. If you don't do hardware RAID, there is probably no
benefit from striping.

> - Is it wise to put the OS and Squid on IDE, I mean is there still enough
> activity going to be happening on the drive to warrant a small SCSI instead?

Don't forget an area to store the log files, and a swap area for
emergencies (even though normally you should be running completely in
RAM) - I think that warrants keeping at least part of one SCSI disk for
everything else. I'd say add a 2GB or similar small SCSI for OS &
logs, piggybacked on one of the SCSIs, and spread your cache across 4
complete 4GB drives.
  -- Clifton

-- 
 Clifton Royston  --  LavaNet Systems Architect --  cliftonr@lava.net
        "An absolute monarch would be absolutely wise and good.  
           But no man is strong enough to have no interest.  
             Therefore the best king would be Pure Chance.  
              It is Pure Chance that rules the Universe; 
          therefore, and only therefore, life is good." - AC