Nfs 2 Nics/Computer?

[lazlow]

Hey guys

I had an idea and need to know if it is possible. My situation is that I have two machines with Nfs connected thruough a linksys router. My Nfs file transfers seem a little slow, 4.4gb in 6 minutes. I have two open connectiors on the router and I can get two more nics for cheap ($5 each at the swap shop). I know I could replace all the stuff with gigabit parts but the routers are a little spendy. Can two nics (per machine) be "teamed" together through one router to the second machine (with two nics also) to increase transfer speed. I realize that this will not change my speed going out to the net. Machine B has raid 0 already and machine A will have shortly. Currently /sbin/hdparm -t /dev/hda is 58 for machine A and 98 for machine B.

Any suggestions?

Lazlow

[jamieaus]

You can set this up yes it is called IP bonding

Take a look at this sight for a guide

http://www.cyberciti.biz/nixcraft/vivek/blogger/2006/04/linux-bond-or-team-multiple-network.php

[lazlow]

jamieaus

Thanks, looks like it is time for a trip to the swapshop.

Lazow

Will post further when I can.

[lazlow]

Intalled two nics in machine B. Followed link above except used dhcp. It fired up just as described. Tested speed change going to machine A. Speed was the same or a little slower. I figured that I was "choking" machine A (only 1 nic). One of my patch cords is a little short so I had to move machine B (it has needed moving for the last month anyway). When I rebooted machine B it gave a bond0 failure no link check cable. I assumed I had pulled something loose or broke something. After an hour of switching around I backed out all the bond0 stuff and reset nics to "normal" mode. Each nic works fine. Redid link above just as before, no joy. Any suggestions?

Lazlow

[ccrvic]

My Nfs file transfers seem a little slow, 4.4gb in 6 minutes.

That's *almost exactly* 100Mb/s...

I know I could replace all the stuff with gigabit parts but the routers are a little spendy.

I bought a 5-port gigabit switch a few weeks back for 30GBP. They're not that dear any more...

Any suggestions?

Bonding will roughly double your speed, but I wonder how long that will be fast enough. Compression might help - but I'm not aware of a way to get nfs working in a compressed mode (although it might well exist - I'm no NFS guru!)

If you're regularly doing NFS task of several GB, I think you'd be better off biting the bullet and installing gigabit networking...

Vic.

[lazlow]

Vic
Two reasons I am waiting are: 1. Slight cash flow problem (too many toys in too short a time).
2. When I move up to gigabit, I may bond that too (just a little greedy).

I am curious what the limit on pci and pci x4 will be in real life. At what speed will the raid speed out run the pci bus?

Thanks
Lazlow

[lazlow]

It helps when you remember #modprobe bonding LOL

Now to remember how to make it stick.

lazlow

[lazlow]

Ok, this is driving me a little nuts. If I boot with bond0 active it screws up (as above) but if I boot with eth0 and eth1 "normal" dhcp and then switch on bond0 it works. Any clues as to where the hiccup is?

Thanks
Lazlow

[jamieaus]

Sorry Lazlow

I have never actually done this havn't had a need to just knew it could be done hopefully someone else here can help you.