System load problems; like some info

[allbery at ncoast.UUCP]

Our computer (net site ``tdi2'', connected to ncoast) is a Plexus P/60-plus
with 68020 processor board, IMSP disk controller, 4 ICPs, Cipher tape
controller, (presently) 5 MB of RAM and two 144MB hard drives (Fujitsu B
series, as opposed to M-series ``Eagles'').  We run System V.2.  (no paging)

Our problem:  We average 16 users and peak at 18 at certain times during the
day.  So does apparent system load; I watched a program take over seven
minutes to display a screen today.  Insofar as I have been able to determine,
the cause of the slowdown is a constant stream of large processes that start
up, run for a few minutes, and exit, then repeat with another large program.
This cannot be changed easily; if it were made one large program, that program
would force too much swapping to occur if run by the 14 users who use the
system doing the fork()s daily at the same time.

Our question:  Can anyone suggest changes to our installation to help us
keep a reasonable response time with this kind of load?  (Aside from scrapping
the Plexus in favor of a Cray 1...)  We would prefer a solution which does
not require replacement of the P/60, although if that's the only way...

Please EMAIL replies to ..cbatt!cwruecmp!ncoast!allbery or ..!ncoast!bobw.

Brandon S. Allbery, Manager of Data Processing
Robert L. Weinberg, Division Manager -- Electronic Products
Tridelta Industries, Inc.
7350 Corporate Boulevard
Mentor, Ohio 44060
(216) 255-1080
-- 
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