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Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.carno.net.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!news.wildstar.net!cancer.vividnet.com!hunter.premier.net!www.nntp.primenet.com!nntp.primenet.com!howland.erols.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!news-in2.uu.net!news2.new-york.net!main.put.com!not-for-mail From: le@put.com (Louis Epstein) Subject: Re: FreeBSD as news-server?? X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 950824BETA PL0] X-Nntp-Posting-User: le Lines: 65 Organization: Putnam Internet Services Message-ID: <Dz722J.84r@news2.new-york.net> References: <537ddl$3cc@amd40.wecs.org> <3258CCD5.ABD322C@FreeBSD.org> <53brfc$sbe@twwells.com> <53ffcu$ktm@itchy.serv.net> <Dz375G.76v@news2.new-york.net> <Dz67pz.87y@interactive.net> X-Trace: 845176121/9067 X-Nntp-Posting-Host: main.put.com Date: Sun, 13 Oct 1996 03:08:43 GMT Chris Mauritz (ritz@interactive.net) wrote: : Louis Epstein <le@put.com> wrote: : :)Sean T. Lamont (zeno@serv.net) wrote: : :): My recommendations after futzing with news under freebsd for about the last : :): 9 months (after giving up on NEXTSTEP for the purpose after ~ 4): : :): : :): - keep overview on a separate disk : :): - keep history on a separate disk : :): - you probably want to keep alt on a separate disk : :): - consider at least 128M. If you have insufficient memory, consider : :): getting a dedicated swap disk. : :): - disable the extended news log (the one generated from the server, not : :): through syslog) or put it on a separate disk. : : :)Hmmm...right now my news server(a 486DX4-120 with 48MB RAM) : :)has a 1GB disk with the OS,history,and local hierarchies : :)a 4GB disk with alt.binaries.* : :)a 4GB disk with alt.(not binaries) : :)a 4GB disk with (not alt).* : : :)...it runs C News,not INN,on the advice of my net-end provider. : :)I'm running FreeBSD 2.1R. : : :)It has problems keeping up. : : :)What would seem most likely to increase performance? : : :)Faster CPU?(would require new motherboard and SCSI controller) : :)More RAM? : :)More disks? : :)Upgrade to 2.1.5? : : Fast disk controller (PCI or VLB) I like buslogic cards and : use the 956C fast-wide controllers on my news box. I have a BusLogic BT445C(on your recommendation,as I recall). : Fastest disks you can afford. I like Seagate barracudas. My alt.binaries disk,which has the fastest turnover,is a Barracuda, the others the slower Hawk...but I'm told that's not the criterion that determines need for disk speed. : More RAM. I like putting 128mb in my news boxes. It seems : to work well. FBSD does need some form of tweak to go over 64,right? : Faster net connection. Last I heard, you were using a 56k : link. That simply isn't fat enough for a newsfeed. I have had a 384k line from the beginning,NEVER a 56k. : I'd go further and say that you really need at least 128k just : for news since there's lot's of nntp overhead slop to deal : with as well. Last I checked, I was getting roughly 1-1.5g : of news per day (depending on how busy the twits on the various : warez and nudie picture groups have been). I get at least one flush a day,so I'm not sure how much is queued for me. : The speed of the cpu is probably the least of your worries. If I do change CPU,I need a new motherboard too.