Why is SCSI so slow?

[dbzeag]

So we are wrestling with this at work. Our Dell server machines running with SCSI 15K rpm drives are slower to boot, slower to take disk images (this is before any OS interaction), slower to copy files, slower to shut down, and make more heat and noise than the SATA servers we are running.

Could someone tell me why SCSI sucks so badly when compared even to IDE let alone to SATA?

[Coqui]

Because someone configured everything inmproperly.

[dbzeag]

Because someone configured everything inmproperly.

That must be true, but how? I mean what is there to configure and tweak when you are running non-RAID drives and running bootable media into a non-Windows application?

I know there are Windows drivers and such if you are going to be running within an OS, but we are seeing piss-poor performance even before the Windows splash screen.

[Coqui]

Could be a faulty controller board too

[dbzeag]

Could be a faulty controller board too

On every single Dell server machine we have ever purchased?

[HydroSqueegee]

On every single Dell server machine we have ever purchased?

could just be that its a dell...

[ChikkenNoodul]

Outdated disk firmware perhaps

[dbzeag]

Outdated disk firmware perhaps


Updated that and the backplane firmware as well. This is the same type of comparisons we have been seeing for ages, though.

[dbzeag]

could just be that its a dell...


Our HP machines are by far worse. So much so we don't use them anymore.

[dbzeag]

Maybe I should just have made this a Blog :(

[HydroSqueegee]

Our HP machines are by far worse. So much so we don't use them anymore.

i just got done specing and pricing new laptops and desktops for the next purchase cycle. The HP's were the cheapest and i hope to god they do not buy them.

[ChikkenNoodul]

They gotta be better than the Dell's we got stuck with that have the Intel 900 GMA graphics chipsets :rant:

[HydroSqueegee]

Intel 82945G Express Chipset Family FTW!

the dell desktops (optiplex gx620) we have here are really decent. I was surprised.

[ChikkenNoodul]

arrrrgh, that's almost as bad!

[w_a_w]

i just got done specing and pricing new laptops and desktops for the next purchase cycle. The HP's were the cheapest and i hope to god they do not buy them.

We have 8 zillion HP DL series servers. We swear by them on the enterprise level and they've been treating us well for many years.

[HydroSqueegee]

arrrrgh, that's almost as bad!

its not bad for what we do. But anything more than a flash animation will rape it.

[HydroSqueegee]

We have 8 zillion HP DL series servers. We swear by them on the enterprise level and they've been treating us well for many years.

servers are one thing... desktop level systems are a whole different can of worms.

[w_a_w]

servers are one thing... desktop level systems are a whole different can of worms.

nm, for some reason I thought you said servers in the post I quoted
we use dell for desktops and laptops...gx desktops and latitude laptops

[dbzeag]

We have 8 zillion HP DL series servers. We swear by them on the enterprise level and they've been treating us well for many years.

We have M Prolient machines because that's what the German market uses ("home" of HP don't you know) so we have to test our stuff on them.

Needless to say, our company only recommends Dells now. :fly:

[HydroSqueegee]

nm, for some reason I thought you said servers in the post I quoted
we use dell for desktops and laptops...gx desktops and latitude laptops

gx620's and D820's here. :D

[Onnotangu]

Intel 82945G Express Chipset Family FTW!

the dell desktops (optiplex gx620) we have here are really decent. I was surprised.
you beter hope those machines don't have maxtor hard drive in them. or else you are going to see problems .

[Onnotangu]

nm, for some reason I thought you said servers in the post I quoted
we use dell for desktops and laptops...gx desktops and latitude laptopswhat model gxs? 270s have motherboard capacitor problems , gx 260s have bad maxtor hard drives the 280s are ok.

[w_a_w]

you beter hope those machines don't have maxtor hard drive in them. or else you are going to see problems .

dell sent us trays of drives to swap out in affected comps...that was over a year ago iirc

we're on gx745's now for new deployments

[w_a_w]

what model gxs? 270s have motherboard capacitor problems , gx 260s have bad maxtor hard drives the 280s are ok.

we go through 1000's of comps a year so we have all of those models in house somewhere

[Onnotangu]

dell sent us trays of drives to swap out in affected comps...that was over a year ago iirc

we're on gx745's now for new deployments
Woot!

sadly enough we are still fixing ours on a case by case basis.

[HydroSqueegee]

you beter hope those machines don't have maxtor hard drive in them. or else you are going to see problems .

havent had any problems so far, but most of our 620's have been used for less than a year.

[fly]

what model gxs? 270s have motherboard capacitor problems , gx 260s have bad maxtor hard drives the 280s are ok.

I'm not sure I understand your statement, but the fucking GX280s were HORRIBLE. We bought ~300 of them and I bet we've replaced over 50 hard drives.

[Jonny_B]

i've never even heard of Dell gx. We use Precision workstations. I'm looking forward to my new P960 if they ever get around to approving the request. My P340 is getting a little long in the tooth.

[Sp`ange]

SCSI takes a lot longer to initialize. Especially if you have an array and not running it in a RAID configuration. I would check to see if you have an SCSI ports or cables on the machines not terminated (I don't trust that auto-terminating crap).