Thread: Benchmarking postgres on Solaris/Linux

Benchmarking postgres on Solaris/Linux

From
"Subbiah, Stalin"
Date:
As anyone done benchmarking tests with postgres running on solaris and linux
(redhat) assuming both environment has similar hardware, memory, processing
speed etc. By reading few posts here, i can see linux would outperform
solaris cause linux being very good at kernel caching than solaris which is
being the key performance booster for postgres.  what is the preferred OS
for postgres deployment if given an option between linux and solaris. As
well as filesystem to be used (xfs, ufs, ext3...). Any pointer to source of
information is appreciated.

Thanks,
Stalin

Re: [PERFORM] Benchmarking postgres on Solaris/Linux

From
Josh Berkus
Date:
Mark,

> It might be worth considering Apple if you want a 64-bit chip that has a
> clock speed comparable to Intel's - the Xserv is similarly priced to Sun
> V210 (both dual cpu 1U's).

Personally I'd stay *far* away from the XServs until Apple learns to build
some real server harware.    The current XServs have internal parts more
appropriate to a Dell desktop (promise controller, low-speed commodity IDE
drives), than a server.

If Apple has prices these IU desktop machines similar to Sun, then I sense
doom ahead for the Apple Server Division.

--
Josh Berkus
Aglio Database Solutions
San Francisco

Re: [PERFORM] Benchmarking postgres on Solaris/Linux

From
Mark Kirkwood
Date:

Josh Berkus wrote:

>Mark,
>
>
>
>>It might be worth considering Apple if you want a 64-bit chip that has a
>>clock speed comparable to Intel's - the Xserv is similarly priced to Sun
>>V210 (both dual cpu 1U's).
>>
>>
>
>Personally I'd stay *far* away from the XServs until Apple learns to build
>some real server harware.    The current XServs have internal parts more
>appropriate to a Dell desktop (promise controller, low-speed commodity IDE
>drives), than a server.
>
>If Apple has prices these IU desktop machines similar to Sun, then I sense
>doom ahead for the Apple Server Division.
>
>
>
(thinks...) Point taken - the Xserv is pretty "entry level"...

However, having recently benchmarked  a 280R vs a PIII Dell using a
Promise ide raid controller - and finding the Dell comparable (with
write cache *disabled*), I suspect that the Xserv has a pretty good
chance of outperforming a V210  (certainly would be interesting to try
out....)

What I think has happened is that over the last few years then "cheap /
slow" ide stuff has gotten pretty fast - even when you make "write mean
write"....

cheers

Mark


Re: [PERFORM] Benchmarking postgres on Solaris/Linux

From
Mark Kirkwood
Date:
The hardware platform to deploy onto may well influence your choice :

Intel is usually the most cost effective , which means using Linux makes
sense in that case (anybody measured Pg performance on Solaris/Intel....?).

If however, you are going to run a very "big in some sense" database,
then 64 bit hardware is desirable and you can look at the Sun offerings.
In this case you can run either Linux or Solaris (some informal
benchmarks suggest that for small numbers of cpus, Linux is probably
faster).

It might be worth considering Apple if you want a 64-bit chip that has a
clock speed comparable to Intel's - the Xserv is similarly priced to Sun
V210 (both dual cpu 1U's).

Are you free to choose any hardware?

best wishes

Mark

Subbiah, Stalin wrote:

>(snipped) what is the preferred OS
>for postgres deployment if given an option between linux and solaris.
>
>
>


Re: [PERFORM] Benchmarking postgres on Solaris/Linux

From
Josh Berkus
Date:
Stalin,

> As anyone done benchmarking tests with postgres running on solaris and linux
> (redhat) assuming both environment has similar hardware, memory, processing
> speed etc. By reading few posts here, i can see linux would outperform
> solaris cause linux being very good at kernel caching than solaris which is
> being the key performance booster for postgres.  what is the preferred OS
> for postgres deployment if given an option between linux and solaris. As
> well as filesystem to be used (xfs, ufs, ext3...). Any pointer to source of
> information is appreciated.

Most of that is a matter of opinion.   Read the cumulative archives of this
list.

--
-Josh Berkus
 Aglio Database Solutions
 San Francisco