From owner-freebsd-fs@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Sep 4 14:41:27 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-fs@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2A45E10656CB for ; Sat, 4 Sep 2010 14:41:27 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from prvs=18630f88c7=killing@multiplay.co.uk) Received: from mail1.multiplay.co.uk (mail1.multiplay.co.uk [85.236.96.23]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B953C8FC13 for ; Sat, 4 Sep 2010 14:41:26 +0000 (UTC) X-MDAV-Processed: mail1.multiplay.co.uk, Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:41:22 +0100 X-Spam-Processed: mail1.multiplay.co.uk, Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:41:22 +0100 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.2.5 (2008-06-10) on mail1.multiplay.co.uk X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-5.0 required=6.0 tests=USER_IN_WHITELIST shortcircuit=ham autolearn=disabled version=3.2.5 Received: from r2d2 by mail1.multiplay.co.uk (MDaemon PRO v10.0.4) with ESMTP id md50011182480.msg for ; Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:41:22 +0100 X-Authenticated-Sender: Killing@multiplay.co.uk X-MDRemoteIP: 188.220.16.49 X-Return-Path: prvs=18630f88c7=killing@multiplay.co.uk X-Envelope-From: killing@multiplay.co.uk X-MDaemon-Deliver-To: freebsd-fs@freebsd.org Message-ID: From: "Steven Hartland" To: "Artem Belevich" References: <5DB6E7C798E44D33A05673F4B773405E@multiplay.co.uk> Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2010 15:41:26 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.5931 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5931 Cc: freebsd-fs@freebsd.org Subject: Re: zfs very poor performance compared to ufs due to lack of cache? X-BeenThere: freebsd-fs@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Filesystems List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:41:27 -0000 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Artem Belevich" >> For reference top shows:- >> Mem: 42M Active, 3129M Inact, 565M Wired, 3188K Cache, 19M Buf, 203M Free > > Here's your problem -- inactive list got all your memory and starved ZFS ARC. > Easy workaround is to set vfs.zfs.arc_min to a value that would > guarantee that ARC does not give up too much memory. Let's say - 2GB. > Be warned that it would effectively make those 2GB unavailable to > applications. > > Long term, though, there were number of patches posted on > freebsd-current and freebsd-hackers recently that do improve that > particular issue with ZFS. This patch in particular may help you: > http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-hackers/2010-August/032731.html Thanks for that Artem, is there an way to tell what caused this starvation? With the machine running only nginx, which uses next to nothing, I cant think of anything which would have used the memory. Hmmm could this have been caused by nfs as the volume is shared over standard nfs as well. Regards Steve ================================================ This e.mail is private and confidential between Multiplay (UK) Ltd. and the person or entity to whom it is addressed. In the event of misdirection, the recipient is prohibited from using, copying, printing or otherwise disseminating it or any information contained in it. In the event of misdirection, illegible or incomplete transmission please telephone +44 845 868 1337 or return the E.mail to postmaster@multiplay.co.uk.