Re: [Xen-users] Running Xen 2.0 for Counter Strike: Source

[Mark Williamson <mark.williamson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm running Xen on a dual xeon system at the moment and somehow the
> results are a bit less than what i expected. I?ve started to do some
> monitoring on it to see how bad it is. you can see for yourself on:
> http://core.zokahn.com/cs-01/
>
> I've installed Xen 2.0 using the howto in howtoforge:
> http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_xen_setup_debian_ubuntu
>
> This virtual machine is running 2 counter-strike public servers. Games has
> always been a fine benchmark tool :-) The fps number should be much
> higher. On my home server (a single p4 running lots and lots of stuff) the
> reading is 150-200 average untweaked with basic settings.

Hmmmm.  Sounds like performance is degrading badly somewhere.  Have you run 
any more basic benchmarks to determine if network / disk are performing as 
they should?

How have you set up the CPU allocation?  Are you pinning the servers to 
different CPUs?  Are you using hyperthreading?

I imagine that CS doesn't make optimal use of the network from a 
virtualisation PoV, but I'm still a little surpised its that poor.

> In the counter strike forums there is word about the kernel hz. They say
> the kernel should be configured to 1000hz. fortunately the used 2.6.11.12
> kernel has a standard setting of 1000hz. As you can see in the kernel
> source: include/i386/param.h. However current readings in cs are more like
> hz is set to 250!

Nb. I think the kernel HZ value was reduced to 250 in later kernels anyhow.  
The kernel developers seem a bit unsure of what to set it to, or whether 
they're actually that bothered about it.

> Can I expect this to be the same in xen 3.0?

It's worth using Xen 3.0 in any case, since it'll get performance and bug 
fixes that wouldn't go into 2.0.  Without understanding more of what's 
causing your problem I can't be more specific.

Cheers,
Mark

-- 
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat?  And no pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!

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