SGI Altix Performance Evaluation and Tuning II

Topics Covered

• Virtual memory
• Swap - kswapd
• Filesystem layout
• XVM
• XFS
• RAID
• Buffer cache - bdflush
• Interprocess communication
• CPU scheduler
• Multi-CPU systems
• Kernel locks

Skills Addressed

• Describe Linux virtual memory concepts
• Monitor system memory use and identify problems
• Configure swap and monitor activity
• Determine the I/O path and monitor activity
• Plan filesystem layout and I/O distribution and monitor use
• Build striped, concatenated and mirror XVM filesystem and monitor use
• Build an XFS filesystem with best mkfs options
• Describe tradeoffs in different RAID levels
• Describe interprocess communication and monitor use
• Describe the CPU scheduler and monitor the workload
• Use runon, dplace and cpusets for topology placement

Prerequisites
Students should have completed the following courses:

• Linux® System Administration or Red Hat Certification (RHCE)
• SGI® Altix® Family Systems Administration
• SGI® Altix® Family Performance Evaluation and Tuning

Accreditation
This course is part of the Accreditation for Continued Excellence (ACE) program. An optional ACE examination is offered during the afternoon of the last day of class. The examination period follows the completion of the standard coursework.

There is no additional charge to take this examination on the last day of class. If you wait to take the examination at a later time, an examination charge will be accessed per the conditions of the ACE program.

If you plan to take the examination on the last day of class, ensure that your travel arrangements allow for up to two (2) hours in the afternoon to complete the examination.