system fast enough?
 

hi there everyone,

First I've got to tell you all, LINUX is soo damn sweet, I really love it! :p

I'm currently in the process of trying to make my system faster and would like to get some ideas and help from y'all.

System Specs:
Intel Pentium 4 1.3 Ghz
RAM: 512 RDRAM (I know, I know, wish it was DDR)
Vid card: Geforce 2 MX 400
3 HDDs:
1)
Seagate Barracuda ATA IV ST380021A
Capacity:80 GB
Speed:7200 rpm
Seek time:9.5 ms avg
2)
WD Caviar WD600BBRTL
Capacity:60GB
Speed:7200 rpm
Seek time:8.9 ms avg
3)
IBM DESKSTAR 120GB
Capacity:120GB
Speed:7200 rpm
Seek time: 8.7 avg

(sorry for all detailed info, but better to post now before someone asks for the specs :D)

OK, I already switched to fluxbox which is really a lot faster than GNOME -SPEED INCREASE

Whenever my system is up, I see that I have 62 processes running - I found out that there are several 'k' apps/processes and I coudn't find out what those were good for. Maybe you can tell me which I can safely turn off and how.

here is my ps -aux
http://www.qxsoldier.com/ps-aux

I'm currently not running a webserver or ftp - I am not using my printer (so maybe I can turn cups off too?..) PLEASE ADVISE


Another thing I looked into was hdparm

# hdparm -Tt /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.25 seconds =512.00 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 1.63 seconds = 39.26 MB/sec
[root@SmyTech legacy]# hdparm -Tt /dev/hdb

/dev/hdb:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.29 seconds =441.38 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 2.04 seconds = 31.37 MB/sec
[root@SmyTech legacy]# hdparm -Tt /dev/hdd

/dev/hdd:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.26 seconds =492.31 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 1.54 seconds = 41.56 MB/sec

hdparm /dev/hda /dev/hdb /dev/hdd
SAME INFO ON ALL:

multcount = 16 (on)
IO_support = 0 (default 16-bit)
unmaskirq = 0 (off)
using_dma = 1 (on)
keepsettings = 0 (off)
readonly = 0 (off)
readahead = 8 (on)
and different geometry of course for each drive

Do you think this is good enough? Or should I try to make it faster? PLEASE ADVISE

THANKS A LOT GUY! Can't wait for some info hehe...especially the processes..I think that is my main concern rigth there.

You could defintely turn of cups and any other printer stuff.

The link in your post doesn't work.

I'm sorry, lol, you were too fast replying! try again :D

Most of the k stuff is for the kernel.

The stuff pulling CPU's are Galeon, X, bash, init, gnome-terminal and gkrellm.

I didn't notice anything that was there that shouldn't be.

The new 2.6 kernels could spped things up, you could always give it a whirl.

thank you very much leonscape,

I'll look into the 2.6 kernel - just hope I don't do anything wrong hehe - I like the way my system works at this moment... :)

pentium 4's have a built-in protection against getting too hot, they slow themselves down. if you notice after an extended kernel compile or whatever that the machine lags a bit, you might need a better heatsink/fan. just a thought.

To stop services that would ordinarily run on start up you can always delete your chosen S symlinks in the relevant /etc/rc.d subdirectory ( /etc/rc.d/rc5.d for run-level 5 ) - be careful if you do this - and keep a note of what symlinks you've deleted - I've recently deleted about 7 or 8 symlinks to services in /etc/rc.d/init.d that ordinarily started up in Red Hat 9 that I dont need. (just an idea - but be careful)

thank you very much rshaw for the info. Once finances are looking good, I think i'd be paying a visit to frys or Altex :)

I'm checking your step out right at this moment Skyline! Thanks to you too for the advise...

You say you are not running web or FTP, but how about mail? Are you needing to run the mail server?

Other ways to speed things up:
Rebuild the RPM's from SRPMS so they are for your system specifically;
Do more things from the console, use alternative applications (such as sylpheed for gui email, mutt for CLI);
Switch system loggers;
Rebuild a kernel...

:)

Cool

should I remove the symlinks from /etc/rc.d/rc5.d OR /etc/rc.d/init.d

ahh, now I see it..the first one is for apps or processes that startup through runlvl 5 and /etc/rc.d/init.d are the processes that startup automatically with RH 9.0 itself such as pcmcia which i don't need since it's my systme is not a laptop...am I correct? :D

thanks MasterC

nope, I'm not running a mail server on this system :D - I'm still learning. I'll remember to use SRPMS from now on if possible.
I already got used to Kmail, guess it's about the same with sylpheed.

yeah, I should look into rebuilding my kernel...just wonder how I do that hehe...

You'll have to use a shell as root user to delete a symlink in these directories - you delete the symlinks form

/etc/rc.d/rcx.d

where x is the relevant run level

DON'T delete anything out of /etc/rc.d/init.d


init.d contains the actuall services themselves

ok...now I understand :)

what happens if I create a folder

mkdir /etc/rc.5/rc5.d/bkp and move the symlinks I want to "remove" into that folder - will the system still start up those processes?

if it does, maybe i should just move these symlinks to something like

/root/bkprc5.d/ or so

I suspect it would work that way -

kewl! thanks again everyone!!