Configuring Linux systems for disk performance

When you configure disks for IBM Storage Protect, use the Logical Volume Manager (LVM).

• Use Linux® Logical Volume Manager (LVM) to create logical volumes on the disk LUNs for all disks that are used for IBM Storage Protect components.

  Set the LVM read-ahead to 0 for all logical volumes on disk systems that provide adaptive read-ahead capabilities, for example, enterprise-type disk systems.

  If more space is needed, the logical volumes provide an easy way to extend the volumes and file systems. LVM also provides striping, which can be used to improve sequential I/O performance.

• For the IBM Storage Protect database and logs, use either the ext3 or ext4 file system.
  As a best practice, use the following file system that is appropriate for your operating system and level:

  • For Red Hat® Enterprise Linux x86_64, use the ext3 or ext4 file system. Use the ext4 file system only if Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 or later is installed.
  • For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and for Red Hat Enterprise Linux ppc64, use the ext3 file system.
• For IBM Storage Protect storage pools, use the ext4 file system.
  The ext4 file system has the following advantages for use with storage pools:

  • You do not have to write out each block I/O to allocate the storage pool volume, which improves the performance of the DEFINE VOLUME command.
  • You can avoid file and free space fragmentation, which improves read and write performance.
  • When you define new volumes, the IBM Storage Protect server activities that are running are not negatively affected.