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Power Tools 1993 November - Disc 2
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1992-09-02
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Novell NetWare Performance Note
Hewlett-Packard Company
General Systems Division
4/28/92
This note contains the results of a benchmark comparing an HP 9000
Model 837S running Novell NetWare for UNIX (formerly Portable NetWare)
with an Intel-based 386 PC running Native NetWare. This performance
information should assist you in selecting the right PC LAN server for
your needs.
SUMMARY
For large numbers of users, to accommodate future growth, or for
running other applications in addition to acting as a LAN server, the
HP 9000/8X7S is the best solution. Its low level of CPU utilization at
greater than 50 users and its scalability make it the preferable
solution. For PC LAN servers with few users and no additional load
from other applications, both the HP 9000/8X7S and the 386 PC can
effectively handle the load. A 486 PC showed throughput comparable to
the 386 PC.
BENCHMARK
The PC LAN benchmark was originally published in PC Magazine on May 29,
1990. While not ideal, it is the most widely available PC LAN
benchmark. The benchmark sequentially and randomly reads and writes to
a one megabyte file. The test is run using three different buffer
sizes and various network loads. The benchmark reports the throughput
that one client will experience while various network loads are
simulated with load stations, each approximating ten to twenty users.
As with any benchmark, it has limitations. The following are some of
the problems associated with it.
o This benchmark does not in any way represent or predict the
performance that you might expect from your application. It shows the
performance, under ideal conditions, of one particular configuration.
o This particular benchmark was not run using the same version of
NetWare on each system. While the 386 PC used NetWare version 3.11,
the HP 9000 Model 837S used NetWare version 3.01. Running NetWare
version 3.11, which will be available soon on the HP 9000/8X7S, will
boost performance further.
o 10 to 20 users are simulated on one PC load station. This does not
accurately represent the load of 10 to 20 real users. With 10 PCs on a
system, they will sometimes request services at the same time. With
one PC simulating multiple users, the requests are serialized. This
will cause a different load on the system. Also, the reported server
performance varies greatly depending on the performance of the clients.
o This benchmark only measures throughput. Response time is also
important. While the average response time may be reasonable,
individual response times could be very erratic.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS
The HP 9000/837S under test was equipped with a floating point co-
processor and ran NetWare for UNIX Version 3.01. The PC was a 25 Mhz
Intel 386. There were up to 10 PCs acting as client load stations.
These clients included Compaq 386s, Vectra 386s, and Vectra 286s.
PERFORMANCE RESULTS
There are two important performance considerations when selecting the
right server. First, the server needs to have enough power to handle
the current user load of the LAN. If the power is insufficient, users
will experience poor response time from the server. Equally important
is the CPU utilization. If the CPU is 100% utilized, any increase in
the number of users will significantly degrade the response time.
Also, other applications on the same system will not run with adequate
performance. This is particularly important for customers who
anticipate future growth or who may want to use their server to run
other applications.
Performance and capacity utilization results are shown in the graph on
the next page. Keep in mind when viewing this graph that the 386
currently has two advantages that will be going away in the coming
months. The PC was running Native NetWare which is historically 10% to
100% faster than NetWare for UNIX. Also, the PC was using NetWare
version 3.11 while the HP 9000/837S was using the older version 3.01.
While the 386 has slightly better performance, the HP 9000/837 has
better CPU utilization. The 386, at four loads, has 27% free CPU and
is declining rapidly (this was not tested past four loads.) The HP
9000/837S, on the other hand, is at 30% free CPU and has leveled off.
Even at 10 loads (approximately 100 users), the HP 9000/837S still has
significant capacity available for other processing or additional
users.
A 486 PC, while not shown on the graph, generally performed similarly
to the 386 PC. At most user loads tested, their throughput was within
10% of each other.
.PA RECOMMENDATION
When selecting a PC LAN server, consider how you will be using it. In
dedicated environments with a limited number of users and no
expectations for future growth, either the 386 or an HP 9000/817S or
larger can effectively manage the workload. In this environment, look
at other key factors such as existing environment and type of LAN
applications being used (peer-to-peer file sharing, wide-area
networking, etc.)
When the system will be doing more than supporting a limited number of
users on a dedicated PC LAN server, the HP 9000/8X7S is the right
choice. For lighter loads, the HP 9000/817S will be adequate. For
heavier loads, you will need an HP 9000/837S or larger. The HP
9000/8X7S's lower rate of CPU utilization makes it ideal for
concurrently running other applications in addition to acting as a LAN
server. Also, if the server will be supporting a large number of
users, the HP 9000/837S is the safest choice. This benchmark showed
that while the PC supported 50 users successfully (5 load stations),
the HP 9000/837S easily accommodated 100 users* (10 load stations) with
capacity to spare.
Several other factors favor the HP 9000/8X7S. It can accommodate
significant future growth. With its extra capacity, as well as the
ease of scaling up to larger systems, it provides significant room for
growth over the long term. The HP 9000/8X7S also has the ability to
run thousands of existing UNIX applications. Finally, these systems
provide strong network and systems management capabilities as well as
high levels of connectivity to legacy systems.
* The PC was not tested at greater than 5 load stations.