[U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Perry Taylor
Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely unresponsive 
when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is being created 
the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.  Until the kernel can 
flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for I/O operations from other 
processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of this is the transaction 
logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting us as risk if we were to 
have a failure of some kind.

I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much as 
possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how to get 
CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?

Thanks.
Perry
Perry Taylor
Senior MV Architect
ZirMed
888 West Market Street, Suite 400
Louisville, KY 40202
www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any 
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) 
and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any
unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is 
prohibited. ZirMed, Inc. has strict policies regarding the 
content of e-mail communications, specifically Protected Health 
Information, any communications containing such material will 
be returned to the originating party with such advisement 
noted. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact 
the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the 
original message.
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Symeon Breen
 A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
file system, and how much ram do you have

-Original Message-
From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
[mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
To: U2-Users List
Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of
this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting
us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.

I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?

Thanks.
Perry
Perry Taylor
Senior MV Architect
ZirMed
888 West Market Street, Suite 400
Louisville, KY 40202
www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is
for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential
and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
distribution is prohibited. ZirMed, Inc. has strict policies regarding the
content of e-mail communications, specifically Protected Health Information,
any communications containing such material will be returned to the
originating party with such advisement noted. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies
of the original message.
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2238 / Virus Database: 2639/5579 - Release Date: 02/03/13

___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Perry Taylor
We're on RHEL5 (2.6.18-348.el5), ext3 and 132GB ram.

-Original Message-
From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
[mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:23 AM
To: 'U2 Users List'
Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

 A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
file system, and how much ram do you have

-Original Message-
From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
[mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
To: U2-Users List
Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of
this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting
us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.

I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?

Thanks.
Perry
Perry Taylor
Senior MV Architect
ZirMed
888 West Market Street, Suite 400
Louisville, KY 40202
www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is
for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential
and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
distribution is prohibited. ZirMed, Inc. has strict policies regarding the
content of e-mail communications, specifically Protected Health Information,
any communications containing such material will be returned to the
originating party with such advisement noted. If you are not the intended
recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies
of the original message.
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.2238 / Virus Database: 2639/5579 - Release Date: 02/03/13

___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Dan Fitzgerald

What's the value in /proc/sys/vm/swappiness?
 
 From: perry.tay...@zirmed.com
 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
 Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 20:53:13 +
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
 We're on RHEL5 (2.6.18-348.el5), ext3 and 132GB ram.
 
 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen
 Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:23 AM
 To: 'U2 Users List'
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
  A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
 file system, and how much ram do you have
 
 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
 Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
 To: U2-Users List
 Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
 Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
 unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
 being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
 Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
 I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of
 this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting
 us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.
 
 I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
 as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
 to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?
 
 Thanks.
 Perry
 Perry Taylor
 Senior MV Architect
 ZirMed
 888 West Market Street, Suite 400
 Louisville, KY 40202
 www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/
 
 
 
 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is
 for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential
 and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
 distribution is prohibited. ZirMed, Inc. has strict policies regarding the
 content of e-mail communications, specifically Protected Health Information,
 any communications containing such material will be returned to the
 originating party with such advisement noted. If you are not the intended
 recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies
 of the original message.
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
 -
 No virus found in this message.
 Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
 Version: 2012.0.2238 / Virus Database: 2639/5579 - Release Date: 02/03/13
 
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
  
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Wols Lists
On 04/02/13 21:05, Dan Fitzgerald wrote:
 
 What's the value in /proc/sys/vm/swappiness?

How will that make any difference? 2.6.18-348 SOUNDS like an ancient (in
linux terms) kernel. Are you on RedHat support?

This is a problem with the linux kernel that was addressed recently,
iirc. Large amounts of io from a single process can swamp the queue, and
the latest kernels have it fixed.

If you've got RH support, see if you can find out if that's been
backported into your kernel.

Cheers,
Wol
  
 From: perry.tay...@zirmed.com
 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
 Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 20:53:13 +
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

 We're on RHEL5 (2.6.18-348.el5), ext3 and 132GB ram.

 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen
 Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:23 AM
 To: 'U2 Users List'
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

  A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
 file system, and how much ram do you have

 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
 Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
 To: U2-Users List
 Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

 Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
 unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
 being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
 Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
 I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of
 this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting
 us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.

 I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
 as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
 to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?

 Thanks.
 Perry
 Perry Taylor
 Senior MV Architect
 ZirMed
 888 West Market Street, Suite 400
 Louisville, KY 40202
 www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/

___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Perry Taylor
70.

-Original Message-
From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
[mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Dan Fitzgerald
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 2:06 PM
To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux


What's the value in /proc/sys/vm/swappiness?
 
 From: perry.tay...@zirmed.com
 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
 Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 20:53:13 +
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
 We're on RHEL5 (2.6.18-348.el5), ext3 and 132GB ram.
 
 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen
 Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:23 AM
 To: 'U2 Users List'
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
  A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
 file system, and how much ram do you have
 
 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
 Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
 To: U2-Users List
 Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
 Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
 unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
 being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
 Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
 I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of
 this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting
 us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.
 
 I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
 as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
 to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?
 
 Thanks.
 Perry
 Perry Taylor
 Senior MV Architect
 ZirMed
 888 West Market Street, Suite 400
 Louisville, KY 40202
 www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/
 
 
 
 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is
 for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential
 and privileged information.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
 distribution is prohibited. ZirMed, Inc. has strict policies regarding the
 content of e-mail communications, specifically Protected Health Information,
 any communications containing such material will be returned to the
 originating party with such advisement noted. If you are not the intended
 recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies
 of the original message.
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
 -
 No virus found in this message.
 Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
 Version: 2012.0.2238 / Virus Database: 2639/5579 - Release Date: 02/03/13
 
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
  
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Perry Taylor
Yes we are on RH support.  I'll run it by them and see.

Thanks.

-Original Message-
From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
[mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Wols Lists
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 2:15 PM
To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

On 04/02/13 21:05, Dan Fitzgerald wrote:
 
 What's the value in /proc/sys/vm/swappiness?

How will that make any difference? 2.6.18-348 SOUNDS like an ancient (in
linux terms) kernel. Are you on RedHat support?

This is a problem with the linux kernel that was addressed recently,
iirc. Large amounts of io from a single process can swamp the queue, and
the latest kernels have it fixed.

If you've got RH support, see if you can find out if that's been
backported into your kernel.

Cheers,
Wol
  
 From: perry.tay...@zirmed.com
 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
 Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 20:53:13 +
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

 We're on RHEL5 (2.6.18-348.el5), ext3 and 132GB ram.

 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen
 Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:23 AM
 To: 'U2 Users List'
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

  A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
 file system, and how much ram do you have

 -Original Message-
 From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
 [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
 Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
 To: U2-Users List
 Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

 Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
 unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
 being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
 Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
 I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation of
 this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind putting
 us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.

 I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
 as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
 to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?

 Thanks.
 Perry
 Perry Taylor
 Senior MV Architect
 ZirMed
 888 West Market Street, Suite 400
 Louisville, KY 40202
 www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/

___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any 
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) 
and may contain confidential and privileged information.  Any
unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is 
prohibited. ZirMed, Inc. has strict policies regarding the 
content of e-mail communications, specifically Protected Health 
Information, any communications containing such material will 
be returned to the originating party with such advisement 
noted. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact 
the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the 
original message.
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Wols Lists
On 04/02/13 21:34, Perry Taylor wrote:
 Yes we are on RH support.  I'll run it by them and see.

Again, this is from memory, but I think somebody noticed that copying a
single very large file brought a system to its knees until the copy
finished, and the whole thing spiralled from there. Probably about 6
months to a year ago.

Chances are I picked up the story from LWN.
 
 Thanks.

Cheers,
Wol
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users


Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux

2013-02-04 Thread Dan Fitzgerald

Other users could have been hanging at malloc. With a swappiness of 100 (on 
some kernels) or 100 (on others) or not 0 or 100(not sure which behavior you 
get on 2.6.18), pages wouldn't be getting freed up quickly enough duing the 
creation/copying of a large file.
 
Another thing to look at (although I prefer the support route, since you have 
it), is /sys/kernel/mm/transparent_hugepage/defrag. Other people who have had 
this problem alleviated it by setting this to never.
 
Of course, others fixed it by updating the kernel. My aged eyes read what you 
have as 2.6.8.1...
 
 Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 21:15:25 +
 From: antli...@youngman.org.uk
 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
 Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
 On 04/02/13 21:05, Dan Fitzgerald wrote:
  
  What's the value in /proc/sys/vm/swappiness?
 
 How will that make any difference? 2.6.18-348 SOUNDS like an ancient (in
 linux terms) kernel. Are you on RedHat support?
 
 This is a problem with the linux kernel that was addressed recently,
 iirc. Large amounts of io from a single process can swamp the queue, and
 the latest kernels have it fixed.
 
 If you've got RH support, see if you can find out if that's been
 backported into your kernel.
 
 Cheers,
 Wol
   
  From: perry.tay...@zirmed.com
  To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org
  Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2013 20:53:13 +
  Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
  We're on RHEL5 (2.6.18-348.el5), ext3 and 132GB ram.
 
  -Original Message-
  From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org 
  [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen
  Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:23 AM
  To: 'U2 Users List'
  Subject: Re: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
   A few questions - What linux version/distro are you on and what type of
  file system, and how much ram do you have
 
  -Original Message-
  From: u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org
  [mailto:u2-users-boun...@listserver.u2ug.org] On Behalf Of Perry Taylor
  Sent: 04 February 2013 15:57
  To: U2-Users List
  Subject: [U2] [UV] Large File Operations Kill Linux
 
  Looking for some ideas on how to keep Linux from becoming largely
  unresponsive when creating large files.  What happens is as the new file is
  being created the I/O buffer cache quickly fills up with dirty buffers.
  Until the kernel can flush these out to disk there is no avail buffers for
  I/O operations from other processes.  .  The most troubling manifestation 
  of
  this is the transaction logging check point daemon gets *way* behind 
  putting
  us as risk if we were to have a failure of some kind.
 
  I have tried using ionice and renice to slow the file creation down as much
  as possible.  This help a little but is still a big problem.  Any ideas how
  to get CREATE.FILE/RESIZE to play nice on Linux?
 
  Thanks.
  Perry
  Perry Taylor
  Senior MV Architect
  ZirMed
  888 West Market Street, Suite 400
  Louisville, KY 40202
  www.zirmed.comhttp://www.zirmed.com/
 
 ___
 U2-Users mailing list
 U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
 http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users
  
___
U2-Users mailing list
U2-Users@listserver.u2ug.org
http://listserver.u2ug.org/mailman/listinfo/u2-users