[Box Backup] Controlling rate in lazy mode

Per Thomsen boxbackup@fluffy.co.uk
Fri, 08 Oct 2004 03:01:34 -0700


On 10/8/04 1:13 AM, Ben Summers wrote:

>
> On 8 Oct 2004, at 08:40, Adrian Cox wrote:
>
>> I'm using boxbackup on three Debian boxes. I've found that lazy mode is
>> really more like hyperactive mode, and the continual churning of the
>> disks has a noticeable effect on interactive use of the machine.
>>
>> I can cure the problem by switching to snapshot mode and running nightly
>> snapshots. But I do like the concept of lazy mode, and it would be
>> useful to be able to throttle the rate of disk I/O. Any suggestions as
>> to how I could do that?
>
>
> I assume you're running it over a LAN connection, so it can go as fast 
> as it wants? I'm surprised that one process can hog your machine so 
> much though.
>
> Eventually I plan to add in rate limiting, so you can restrict the 
> amount of bandwidth it uses. And on a timed basis, so you can throttle 
> it right down during the working day and let it rip during the night.
> [snip]

I back up 5 machines at this point (2 in snapshot mode, and 3 in lazy), 
and I'm not seeing anything like this. I will say that the machine 
that's running bbstored is a server with no interactive users, so I 
can't say if there would be any effect on the responsiveness of the machine.

About the question: What about the 'UpdateStoreInterval', 
'MinimumFileAge', and 'MaxUploadWait' parameters in bbackupd.conf? 
Couldn't those be used to change the rate at which the clients are 
uploading stuff?

I do think an I/O throttle is a good idea, don't get me wrong.

Thanks,
Per

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