[K12OSN] Re: Load average sky-high but why????????

[dahopkins at comcast.net]

All, replying this way because for some reason my comcast email is not showing any responses to the k12 list.  In fact, I haven't even recieved an acknowledgement from the listserve that my first message was accepted.

Anyhow, the system is completely up-to-date on all installed packages.  I have been watching the load as users login/off and launch apps.  Firefox really spikes the load average on the server (it was over 30 just a few minutes ago), and then it drops off quickly (back to around 2-3).  The teachers are using firefox and thunderbird (similar behavior as well it seems) for email access to the state servers (state uses imail).  

To add a little more confusion, the authentication server (FC4 running ldap) still has an issue with nscd dying periodically. It is also fully patched except for samba (seems to be alot of issues with the latest samba release 23a).   

Reverting back to the prior version is also not an option since getting the local device support and improved sound (in theory) was the driving factor for the upgrade to begin with.  At least I am not losing my mind yet.

Thanks for the responses.  At least I am not losing my mind yet.


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: dahopkins at comcast.net
> I love k12tlsp, really, really, but .... recently it seems all I can do is 
> 'complain'.  After the rebuild of my systems here at NCS, the load average is 
> hitting 2+ with just a few users (4 or 5).  This is new behavior.  Using top, 
> firefox seems to take alot of the CPU, as does StarOffice.  Now, the system is 
> also using software RAID 1.  I was leery about this but resorted to it because 
> anaconda does not support my RAID card, and getting k12ltsp onto the system via 
> other methods was also proving to be difficult.
> 
> In the prior years, there were not issues until we reached 40 Users on a system.  
> Now, I am at wits end.  Teachers/staff/anyone connecting to the system are 
> becoming very very upset, to the point that they are asking for Windows and 
> desktop systems (which is a huge change in attitude from the prior years).
> 
> Because of state proxy setups, I can't use IRC, so I am left with email.
> 
> Again, this is alot of frustration and I am sure the solution will be simple.  I 
> am not seeing it.
> 
> Sorry for the Monday morning crisis.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Dave Hopkins