mkfs and disk performance

[Craig W. Shaver]

In article <5.17784 at infoserv.com>, fiasco at infoserv.com (Mr. Gircys) writes:
> I recently had to add inodes to my news directory, and in doing
	...
> I suspect the problem is that I used default values for "gap blocks/cyl"
> parameters. Does anyone have suggestions on how to choose proper values 
> for gap & blks/cyl.

The esix people need to revise their install script and programs to allow
for mods on the root file system during the install process.  When adding 
a second disk I modified the adddisk script (diskadd?) to stop when addparts
had been created.  (excuse any errors, this is from memory)  then I modified
the parms for the partitions file to show the correct number of cylinders and
did something else to make it use less inodes and have an interleave of 1.

On a subsequent re-install I modified the boot floppy (remove write protect,
mount it, edit INSTALL).  I wanted to allocate fewer inodes and have an
interleave of 1.  It works.

I would like to know what mkfs does with the gap?  It seems to be an anachronism
from days of pdp-11's.  I could not believe the gap/interleave I got when I
did a scsi that spoofed 64 cylinders (?) and the gap came out something like
38.  I think this will slow the system down.  If anyone knows please let me
know also.

	Craig W. Shaver

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