[cvsnt] performence problem

[John Peacock]

Stéphane Nicoll wrote:

> 1/ Checkout of the entire repository on the server itself using a CVSROOT like that :pserver:sni at localhost:/ourRepo

Hmm, sorry, I suggested you try a checkout on the local box as a 
performance check (to eliminate the NIC), but I didn't think you'd try 
to check out the whole repository. :-(

I'd like to revise that suggestion as follows:

1) Check out the same sort of working copy that a typical user might 
check out (normally something below the repository root); if your users 
/normally/ check out the entire repository, that could certainly explain 
some of the load issues.

2) Try using sspi instead of pserver (no real reason except that I would 
think native NT authentication would be faster, since the auth token 
will be cached).

The other things to think about:

a) Is the server part of an NT domain or an Active Directory Tree?  If 
so, try logging in as a local user (not domain) and see if that makes 
any difference.  Also, hardcode the domain controller information on the 
server (using LMHOSTS) to eliminate any broadcast issues (even if you 
are using localhost, the network can be used for authentication).  If 
you have the opportunity, since you are using pserver, disconnect the 
server completely from the network and see if that makes any difference.

b) Have you scanned the server for viruses/worms/spyware?  I know you 
had McAfee installed, but that doesn't guarantee that the machine is 
clean.  While you are at it, make sure that the machine is up to date on 
all M$loth patches.

c) Was the performance always this bad or has it gotten worse (or better 
yet for diagnostic purposes, changed a lot recently)?  Examine the 
machine to see what was installed recently.

d) Consider going to a Linux server (also running CVSNT) at least as a 
test.  As I said before, NTFS has some odd scaling issues at times, 
though your configuration of lots of directories containing few files 
doesn't fit the normal profile.

HTH

John