ZENworks imaging seems slow. Is there any way to improve performance?
Articles and Tips: qna
01 Mar 2004
Q.
ZENworks imaging seems slow. Is there any way to improve performance?
A.
First, ensure that you are using a version of ZENworks that uses the Linux 2.4.18 kernel. This includes IDE drivers compiled into the kernel that offer considerable performance enhancements over earlier versions of ZENworks. Next, make sure you are using compression that is Optimized for Speed, which generally offers the best performance and gives a higher compression ratio.
Another trick that can significantly improve performance is to enable Ultra DMA support if the hard drive and controller support it. It is not uncommon for this to result in a reduction in the image restoration time of 50 percent or more. To determine if this is beneficial to you, do the following:
Boot to Manual Mode ZENworks Imaging from CD or PXE. At the bash prompt type hdparm -Tt /dev/hda. (The primary IDE HDD is /dev/hda. You can also issue the same command from /dev/hdb, /dev/hdc (usually the CD-ROM), and /dev/hdd.) This command will run a throughput test. Note the fairly low second number that comes from disk reads.
Now type hdparm -i /dev/hda and verify that the modes include at least udma0. If so, type hdparm -d1 /dev/hda to enable UDMA support in the IDE driver. Then redo the hdparm - Tt /dev/hda command. This should result in a considerable performance improvement. If you verify that this is beneficial, add the following commands to either the SETTINGS.TXT file on the CD or to the RUNME.S, just prior to the RUNLEVEL checks, contained in the INITRD.GZ image:
# Check to see that the IDE drives in the machine support ultra DMA if hdparm -i /dev/hda | grep udma0; then hdparm -d1 /dev/hda fi if hdparm -i /dev/hdb | grep udma0; then hdparm -d1 /dev/hdb fi if hdparm -i /dev/hdc | grep udma0; then hdparm -d1 /dev/hdc fi if hdparm -i /dev/hdc | grep udma0; then hdparm -d1 /dev/hdc fi
* Originally published in Novell Connection Magazine
Disclaimer
The origin of this information may be internal or external to Novell. While Novell makes all reasonable efforts to verify this information, Novell does not make explicit or implied claims to its validity.