From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG  Wed May 11 05:44:42 2005
Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG>
Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org
Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 7D60C16A4CE
	for <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>;
	Wed, 11 May 2005 05:44:42 +0000 (GMT)
Received: from web54008.mail.yahoo.com (web54008.mail.yahoo.com
	[206.190.36.232])
	by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with SMTP id F3A1343D53
	for <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>;
	Wed, 11 May 2005 05:44:41 +0000 (GMT)
	(envelope-from spamrefuse@yahoo.com)
Received: (qmail 69094 invoked by uid 60001); 11 May 2005 05:44:41 -0000
Message-ID: <20050511054441.69092.qmail@web54008.mail.yahoo.com>
Received: from [147.46.44.181] by web54008.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP;
	Tue, 10 May 2005 22:44:41 PDT
Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 22:44:41 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rob <spamrefuse@yahoo.com>
To: Subhro <subhro.kar@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <42819770.9070007@gmail.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
cc: FreeBSD Stable <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>
Subject: Re: xl(4) & polling
X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1
Precedence: list
List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code
	<freebsd-stable.freebsd.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable>,
	<mailto:freebsd-stable-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-stable>
List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>
List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-stable-request@freebsd.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable>,
	<mailto:freebsd-stable-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe>
X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 05:44:42 -0000


--- Subhro <subhro.kar@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 5/11/2005 10:40, Rob wrote:
> 
> >--- Subhro <subhro.kar@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >  
> >
> >>On 5/11/2005 8:04, Rob wrote:
> >>
> >>    
> >>
> >>>All computers are running 5-Stable, as of May 10.
> >>>All, but PC1 with fxp, use polling, with:
> >>>  options DEVICE_POLLING
> >>>  options HZ=1000
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>1000 IMHO seems a bit too heavy. Try something
> >>lower.
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >What is heavy and what is not?
> >Does 100 sound better?
> >
> >How can I develop a feeling for the 'heaviness' of
> >this HZ number? Is it related to the CPU speed?
> >
> >Thanks for clarifying!
> >
> >Rob.
> >
> >  
> >
> Before I answer this question, I would like to
> clarify a few things. 

Thanks for the detailed explanation.
I now got a much better idea of what polling actually
means. Great!

> When I have to put up a new FreeBSD box, I start
> from 100 and start beefing up the number until I
> find a good balance.

Hmmm, how do you "find a good balance" ?
Network access speed vs. lost connections.....?

---

I'm now trying a kernel with HZ=100 and will report
the result shortly.

Interestingly: HZ=1000 is apparently a problem with
the xl devices (3Com 3c905B-TX), but not with the
rl devices (RealTek 8139).
What could cause that difference? Could a difference
in buffer size on the LAN card cause this?

Rob.


		
Yahoo! Mail
Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour:
http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html