On Tue, 6 Aug 2002, Robert Davies wrote:
> On Tuesday 06 August 2002 13:24, you wrote:
> > On Tue, 6 Aug 2002, Robert Davies wrote:
>
> > I did it for an Architect in London on a contract, but might try it at
>
> Cool :)
Yeah, weekend moonlighting is fun, especailly to escape from Nottingham.
> > Issues with certain software meant it was less effective as I could only
> > bond two cards and the third one had to go back to being a single channel.
>
> Did the throughput double?
Not quite, but performace testing was not rigourous - it was mostly a case
of FTP and File Sharing transactions. I can't provide figures this second.
> Was there any impact on latency?
The server in question does file serving - if there was additional
latency, it's not noticable in that installation. I would be surprised if
you noticed above regular Ethernet overheads.
> Was it kernel software, or applications and briefly what kind of issues?
Kernel and supporting application software - I think there was an article
in one of the Linux magazines a while ago too, might be worth looking
through I believe "Linux Magazine"'s website or somesuch. You effectively
get a bond0 device from the two regular ethernet ones IIRC.
> > > Were the channels put through a switching hub, or simply created a
> > > private dedicated network using X-over cables? Are there any gotchas you
> > Through a switch configured in trunking mode.
>
> Not ever had to do that, is that setting up permanent virtual circuits
> between 2 ports?
Yes, I believe that would be the correct nomenclature.
> > Nope, you don't make them "visible" in that sense, they're bonded.
>
> OK, I guess I should read up on it, but I guess 'bonded' means you have a
> dedicated Point to Point fat pipe, using 2 NICs?
Yes, hence "trunking" :P
> > > Considering the idea myself but would appreciate benefit of other's
> > > experience.
> >
> > No problem - what do you want to do?
>
> Well I'm considering utilising some spare ports on 4 port NICs, and
> remembered your project as something 'interesting', to look into when I got
> time. I guess the main question was if the time put into it paid off, and
> would you do it again, or insist on the Giga-Ethernet route?
I've got giga on my desktops at work - but to be honest I don't get more
than 20MB/s on 32bit PCI with these Intel cards and their kernel driver. I
suggest bonding unless you think you'll do better/have 64bit PCI.
Jon.
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