Internet UNIX Energized ASE AlphaServer 4x00 DIGITAL HiTest Notes

This document, the "DIGITAL HiTest Notes," provides a comprehensive overview and detailed technical information regarding the interoperability test results for the Internet UNIX Energized ASE AlphaServer 4x00 HiTest Suite. It serves as a guideline for configuring prequalified computer systems, ensuring high system reliability, application performance, and upgradability for Internet servers, including a TruCluster Available Server configuration for enhanced availability and failover.

The document covers:

• Configuration Data: Detailed specifications of tested hardware (AlphaServer 4000/4100 models, memory from 512MB to 2GB, various storage and network options) and software components (DIGITAL UNIX, Internet AlphaServer, BMC Patrol, AdvFS, LSM, TruCluster). Components are categorized into Foundation (base system, OS, middleware) and AppSet (solution-specific software). Special configuration rules, such as memory allocation and unique SCSI host IDs for TruCluster nodes, are also provided.
• System Installation and Setup: Instructions for hardware installation, disk storage configuration (HSZ50 controllers, AdvFS file systems, swap space setup), operating system installation (DIGITAL UNIX with all kernel options and TruCluster software), and application-specific procedures for Internet AlphaServer, IAS conversion, AdvFS, LSM, and BMC, including recommended kernel parameter settings.
• Interoperability Tests and Results: Confirmation of successful interoperability testing, verifying the expected functioning of IAS processes in both single AlphaServer 4x00 and TruCluster configurations. It outlines the test environment, the tools used (WebTest for web pages, NNTP for news articles, MailTest for email), and the configurations (minimum and maximum) under which the tests were run for an average of 18 hours.
• System Limits and Characterization Data: Performance characteristics observed during testing, including Web test throughput (over a million pages at 10 pages/second, 5GB transferred), Mail test throughput (1000 messages/second sent, 7 messages/second received, 500MB transferred), and NNTP test throughput (0.2 articles/second posted, 5 articles/second read).
• Problems and Resolutions: A section detailing problems encountered during testing for the Operating System, IAS Installation, TruCluster Available Server, and BMC Patrol, along with their respective resolutions. These include issues like AdvFS metadata extent exhaustion, FTP crashes, IAS installation difficulties (e.g., single CD drive, browser installation loop, unlabelled disks), LSM spool device restrictions, TruCluster relocation issues, and mail daemon corruption.
• Detailed Hardware Configuration (Appendix): Supplementary information with diagrams and tables for minimum and maximum hardware configurations, including system diagrams, PCI slot usage, motherboard layouts, configuration cabling, and disk architecture.