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Re: FileSystems, Partition sizes, LARGE files??



On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 08:10:14 +0000 (GMT)
debian@provision.net wrote:

> 
> Hello all,
> I've added 4 WD 250Gig IDE 8MB cache hard drives to an existing IDE
> fileserver running an ABIT KT7-RAID mainboard with an AMD 1.4GHz CPU and 1
> Gig of ram. There is currently 1 existing 120Gig hard drive containing the
> main system and current data.
> 
> These drives will only be used for archiving large (500MB to 700MB) files
> of which there will be at least a few hundred. The system has the ability
> to have an additional 3 hard drives added at a later date if needed.
> 
> Once setup there will be a second identical server built acting as a
> rsynced mirror to be run nightly. This 2nd server is directly connected
> via 2nd network cards.
> 
> Access to these files is via Samba on a small but fast local network. I'm
> currently looking at using the ext3 filesystem dividing each drive into 5
> 50Gig partitions, setting the Block Size to 4096 and the reserved blocks
> percentage option to either 1% or 0%.
> 
> 
> 1. Is the ext3 filesystem the best choice for this type of job? I've read
> where many people have chosen to use the Reiser filesystem for this but I
> thought it best suited for small files.

Reiserfs is better for small files. I would go with Xfs here.

> 
> 2. I have not used it before but was thinking of installing LVM (Logical
> Volume Manager) along with the ext3 filesystem. Comments?

Yes, definitely. Resizing, if required becomes so much easier.

> 
> 3. Is there a problem with setting the reserved blocks percentage 0% or
> should I set it to 1%?

Don't know enough to advise here.

> 
> 4. Where I'm only using large files, is the Block Size set to 4k by
> default ok or should it be changed higher or lower to 2k or 8k?

Or here.

> 
> 5. Should the number of inodes be modified in anyway as to not waste
> space? I saw this mentioned on another list but I dont quite understand
> the benefits.
> 
> 6 Regarding the size of the files would it be better to create the smaller
> 50Gig partitions on each drive or used as full 250Gig partitions for each?
> 
> Any comments, opinions and suggestions are more than welcome as I'm really
> not to sure what the best way to have such a system properly setup.
> 
> Many thanks!!!!

Someone else will have to advise you on the rest. I don't have the experience to advise on your situation, other than what I have. The answers I have given are based on researches I have done while building my new server.
Regards,

David.



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