[olug] Network Performance

[Phil Brutsche]

Mike Peterson wrote:

> Which is a faster server FTP or HTTP?
> 
> Can a 10 MB Network ever run at 10 MB or is 6-7 MB fantastic?

If you're using a hub that's probably typical.  If that's a switch you 
need to get a new one.  Even a cheap Linksys can push 95mbit+ for 2 or 3 
hosts.

> I am trying to speed up deployment of Fedora over network installs.

DEFINITELY get more than 10mbit to at least the server.

> At present I am using Fedora and Apache as the Server side and the install
> takes over 1.5 hours.
> The system are P4 and have gigabit cards but the switches are limited to 10
> MB so the NIC only boots at 10 MB.
> Would an anonymous FTP install be faster or is Apache the faster of the 2?

No idea.

> With doing an HTTP install the server system is idling

Most systems in the PII (or faster) range will be.  For being a simple 
HTTP/FTP server a PIII-450 will be able to come close to saturating 
100mbit at less than 20% CPU provided the drive can keep up.  Compared 
to that P4s are so insanely powerful its not even worth mentioning CPU 
utilization.

 > and the network throughput as per iptraf reaches close to 7000 k/sec.
> I adjusted the httpd.conf to try to get the best performance.
> I shutdown any non-essential services.
> Maybe I just need to hope for 100 MB switches in the future.

No need to hope.  24-port unmanaged Linksyses are incredibly cheap ($130 
at my sources).

-- 

Phil Brutsche
phil at brutsche.us