Trying to build a speed demon

[Randy Grafton]

Hi All,

I am trying to build a Samba file server that will serve 2TB to a single 
dept. The dept will have a large variety of file types being saved to 
the server; thousands of small (<32K) files to hundreds of medium to 
large files (a few hundred KB in size to a few hundred MB in size). I am 
using a 3ware 9500 series card in a PCX slot with 8 SATA drives 
connected to it in a RAID 5 config. The proc is an Intel 3.2GHz with 4GB 
of 400MHz DDR ECC Dual Channel RAM. The computer also has a single GB 
Ethernet. The clients are all XP Pro. I have put 5.3 on it and 
recompiled the kernel with only the items (drivers?) in it that are 
physically on the system and being used. For example I've turned off 
USB, Serial and Parallel ports in the motherboard's BIOS and have 
removed them from my kernel. Do you gurus have anything else you could 
recommend? I know that RAID5 will have a slowdown in write performance 
as will using UFS (Journaled file system). Of course I'm not 
specifically asking for Samba help but any advice for kernel/OS/Network 
config or insight to fine tuning SAMBA on FreeBSD, so that this machine 
can set new land speed records. I was also wondering about dual NIC for 
load balancing as I'm hoping that the network is actually going to be 
the bottleneck here.

On a quick side note, I have been a part of this list for a couple of 
years now and have offered support when I can or wasn't already beaten 
to it. I just wanted to give a BIG Thank You to the developers for hands 
down 'The Best OS' on the planet and to the individuals on this list who 
have consistently taken time from their day to offer their technical 
expertise and talent in an effort to further FreeBSD!


Sincerely,
-Randy Grafton