Improving Disk Performance
How to get the most out of your hard disks.
Tuesday, November 15th, 2005
Many Linux users, like computer users generally, are speed freaks. We buy the latest hardware (or the latest hardware we can afford) in an effort to trim a few seconds here and there. In the case of desktop users, this is done for personal benefit, but for server computers, the benefit is improved server performance, which can be very important for a busy server.
In general, the same optimization principles apply to both types of system, although some performance measures are more important for some applications. A server isn’t likely to need the latest and greatest video card, for instance, but a desktop system that’s used for gaming or other video-intensive tasks might.
This column focuses on just one class of performance optimization: hard disks. Hard disk performance affects many different aspects of system operation, including boot time, program launch time, file load and save times, program compile times, and swap efficiency. A poor configuration can produce very sluggish performance, making even a brand-new computer feel like one that’s several years behind the times. A good configuration, on the other hand, can help you get the most out of your computer, and perhaps even extend the useful life of a middle-aged computer.
