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Jul
09

gentoo

After my last unsuccessful attempt at a Stage 3 gentoo linux install, I decided to try again yesterday. This time I went through the procedure for a Stage 2 install, and things seem to be working thus far.

After finding out that gentoo still used DevFS with the 2.6(.7) kernels, I rebuilt it to enable that. I also found out I had not compiled in support for the right chipset, so I was unable to enable DMA support for the drive. After correcting that issue, the speed came up to where it needs to be:

Original:
gentoo linux # hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 760 MB in 2.01 seconds = 378.17 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 14 MB in 3.39 seconds = 4.13 MB/sec

After enabling DMA:
gentoo root # hdparm -tT /dev/hda

/dev/hda:
Timing buffer-cache reads: 760 MB in 2.01 seconds = 378.17 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 160 MB in 3.01 seconds = 53.20 MB/sec

Clearly a significant improvement in buffered reads. And now that the processor speed settings have been corrected, the machine is snappier all around.

On to getting some useful packages installed…

1 comment

  1. CWS says:

    [root@angelica root]# hdparm -tT /dev/hda

    /dev/hda:
    Timing buffer-cache reads: 1028 MB in 2.00 seconds = 513.05 MB/sec
    Timing buffered disk reads: 130 MB in 3.04 seconds = 42.83 MB/sec

    Fedora smoking that lazy box of yours!

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