Messages in this thread |  | | Date | 20 Apr 1999 08:19:51 -0000 | Subject | Linux Tuning | From | Hard Work <> |
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Dear Sirs, Madams,
Thank you very much for your very enthusiastic messages. I would like to apologize for this late of mine for I have been away for the past several days.
Here is a summary of the replies I have received:
George Bonser <grep@shorelink.com>, Timothy Writer <Tim.Writer@ftlsol.com>, Brent Verner <brent@linux1.org>, Aaron T Porter <atporter@entropy.muc.muohio.edu> and Rik van Riel <riel@nl.linux.org> all have offered to help.
In fact, they have already started a discussion regarding ways to gather Tuning Tips for Linux, including
* Making preliminary identification on fields that may need tuning the most (database, webserver),
* Suggesting the set up of a reference system, finding potential hosts to host the project, (including comparing various potential host's bandwidth),
* Brainstorming on name(s) for the project,
* Reviving the linux-perf mailing list,
* Inviting heavyweights like Alan Cox, Mark Lord and many others to contribute the various ways to fine-tune Linux,
* PR campaign like making an announcement on slashdot.org, etc.
Mat Kovach <mkovach@cleveland.lug.net> has generously offered to start a mailing list on their newly acquired linuxgroups.org domain to discuss ways to optimize Linux and various related applications.
Peter Waltenberg <peterw@dascom.com> has wrote in to suggest that a deamon "tuningd" be created to dynamically tweaks the system, while Horst von Brand <vonbrand@inf.utfsm.cl> thinks one or more HOWTO(s) may do the trick.
J.C. (John Clifford) Armbruster <jcarmbruster@earthlink.net> and Chuck Lever <cel@monkey.org> have also enthusiastically offering their help.
[Note: If I inevitably have left out your name, please accept my apology.
My linux-kernel feed has been cut-off by the majordomo again (apparently because of bounced mails), so I have no way to gauge exactly how many have responded.
I include the email addresses of the persons who responded in hoping to foster a further discussion to work out the kinks and if possible, obtain a concensus of what should be done next.
I am also making this reply available to the linux-kernel list for people who are interested to get contact with each others.]
This discussion of Fine-tuning Linux was brought about by, - and ironically thanks to, - Mindcraft's questionable "benchmark comparison" of NT vs Linux.
For years we Linux users already know the fact, that Linux is not only more solid and robust than NT, Linux is _FASTER_ as well.
Not only faster, but many, many *TIMES* faster !!!
One thing that the Mindcraft's "report" has shown us, however, is that a TUNE-DOWN Linux machine can be *slower* than NT.
If Linux can be TUNE-DOWN to a crawl, as Mindcraft's case has shown, Linux can be TUNE-UP too !! The question is thus
How many of those tune-up tips and tricks are available to the average Joe Blow Linux-user?
Truth is, there are tons of tips and tricks to fine-tune Linux. But unfortunately, they are scattered everywhere.
For the average Joe Blow Linux-user, finding the correct find-tuning tips involve the task of searching high and low in the thousands of Linux-related websites, posting and re-posting their questions to various mailing lists, newsgroups, and to their friends. And since there are more and more applications being ported to Linux, and there are more and more peripherals that Linux recognizes, the chance for finding _really_ useful tips for the myriad combo of apps/peripherals/distros may be so minute that many Joe Blow Linux-users are running their Linux machines under-optimized.
IMHO, the biggest problem most Linux-users are facing, in term of getting the correct tune-up tips, is a logistical one --- on where and how to find those tips and tricks, and the people who offered them in the first place.
Only if there is an effort to gather all of the tips and gurus to one place, categorize all the information, and put it in an organized fashion for the world to use, and thanks to the people I mentioned above, something _is_ happening.
There are several different approaches being suggested (Howtos, deamons, OS-app tips, mailing-list and websites as clearinghouse for the info) and I think all of the approaches are valid in their own right, and they should be further exploited.
As I have said in my previous post, I am not an "expert"although I've been using Linux since the 0.9x.y time. I have my share of tip-search and code-tweaking, and still there is something that constantly bugs me --- that my Linux machines are not tapping their full potentials. Call me a performance freak if you like, but one thing that make me stick with Linux all the while was that Windoze (including NT) is way too buggy, too bloated, and too s-l-o-w.
I will do whatever I can to help out the effort in making the Fine-Tuning tips for Linux available to the world, I will even share my very limited knowledge if it helps, but I know there are others who are much, MUCH better than me out there.
Since Mr. Porter may've found a host with T3 connection, and Messrs. Verner, Bonser, van Riel, Waltenberg, Lever, Writer, Armbruster, Kovach, von Brand and many others have offered enthusiastic ideas, helps and supports, I think my place in this endeavor - other than occassionally offer my limited understanding of Linux, - may be running a mirror site to the project dedicated to Fine-Tuning Linux. I hope in times the project will proof to be a boost to Linux Operating System, and help the Joe Blow Linux-users of the world in making their Linux machines fly as high as they should be.
Before I end this boring message of mine, I do have to mention the following:
The Linux community is *truly* amazing.
The absolutely positive responses I've received from so many enthusiastic people of the Linux community is a proof that we not only share a common vision, we work _HARD_ to make it into a reality.
Again I wish to convey my most sincere heartfelt thanks to all of you.
Most respectfully, Pete teamwork@freemail.c3.hu
PS. While I am using terms like "optimizing" and "fine-tuning", I have to thank the many, many dedicated people on the L-K list for their excellent success in fine-tuning the Linux Kernel, and to people from other OpenSource groups who have devoted countless precious hours in debugging and optimizing their respective OpenSource codes.
PPS. A special mention (since Rik is involved in it) is the Stampede Linux. AFAIK, Stampede is an optimized-kernel distro for the X86 platform which reportedly is 5 - 30% faster (depend on who you talk to) than the garden-variety Linux. I believe Rik can fill you the rest of the Stampede stuff.
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